We have previously studied the important Hebrew word חֶסֶד (hesed), God’s covenant mercy. This lovingkindness is, for the most part, separated from emotion and compassion. God has mercy upon His children because He has promised to do so. His mercy is a covenant mercy; its administration is not dependent upon circumstances.

We should not get the mistaken view that God’s mercy is divorced entirely from feelings of pity, compassion, and tenderness. No! Our God is an emotional Being Who feels, knows, and experiences. His mercy is motivated by His eternal promises. That is חֶסֶד (hesed). But there is another Hebrew word that reveals to us that His mercy is motivated also by His compassion. That is רָחַם (racham).

This Hebrew word racham is variously rendered as “mercy,” “compassion,” and “pity [tender love].” It is specifically compared to the pity—the tender compassion—that a mother feels for her helpless, nursing child.

As we examine the different attributes of God, we must be very careful—and very reverent—when discussing any “feminine” aspect to the Godhead. In the Bible, God certainly refers to Himself using masculine pronouns. Yet, in the creation of the two sexes, God said of man and woman that “God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them” (Genesis 1:27).

Woman is also created “in the image of God” in a mysterious and wonderful way. God uses the example of a mother hen hovering over her chicks to illustrate His love and compassion for His children. So also, the Hebrew word רָחַם (racham), especially in the writings of the Old Testament prophets, reveals the emotional compassion that the Lord feels and expresses toward His children.

The next section includes verses that use this same Hebrew word (racham), variously rendered into English. Let’s look at the aspects of God’s merciful compassion as revealed in these Scriptures.

God’s merciful compassion:

Gives us reason to rejoice!

“Sing, O heavens; and be joyful, O earth; and break forth into singing, O mountains: for the LORD hath comforted his people, and will have mercy upon his afflicted” (Isaiah 49:13, emphasis added). The tender mercy of our Lord brings joy to people who are suffering. Isaiah wrote these words to a nation devastated by war and bloodshed. He informed them that the Lord has comforted His people. The Lord will have mercy upon His afflicted. If you ever find yourself afflicted, rejoice in the knowledge that you serve a God of mercy!

Reminds us of a mother’s pity.

“Can a woman forget her sucking child, that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb? yea, they may forget, yet will I not forget thee” (Isaiah 49:15, emphasis added). Have you ever forgotten God? Be encouraged that God has not forgotten you! In the same way that a mother can never forget the child she experienced labor pains with and gave birth to, so God will never forget any of His children that He has redeemed.

Is everlasting.

“In a little wrath I hid my face from thee for a moment; but with everlasting kindness will I have mercy on thee, saith the LORD thy Redeemer” (Isaiah 54:8, emphasis added). From our limited perspective, God’s wrath sometimes seems great and His mercy small. But from God’s perspective, His wrath is “little” and His mercy is “everlasting.” Mercy and wrath do not contradict one another; rather, they exist side by side as equally important attributes of God’s character.

Has surprising results!

“And I will shew mercies unto you, that he may have mercy upon you, and cause you to return to your own land” (Jeremiah 42:12, emphasis added). There is a surprising connection here between the mercy of God and the mercy of the king of Babylon. The context makes it clear that the “he” in this verse is none other than the Babylonian king! God’s merciful compassion upon His children will result in their return from captivity; by God’s power and design, the king of Babylon also will have compassion on God’s people!

Is extended to the undeserving.

“And I will sow her unto me in the earth; and I will have mercy upon her that had not obtained mercy; and I will say to them which were not my people, Thou art my people; and they shall say, Thou art my God” (Hosea 2:23, emphasis added). Hosea obeyed God and named his daughter Loruhamah, meaning “no mercy” and his son Loammi, meaning “not my people.” Yet, before the end of the book, God renamed these same children Ruhamah and Ammi because He has mercy upon those who do not deserve it.

Sets Him apart from all false gods.

“He will turn again, he will have compassion upon us; he will subdue our iniquities; and thou wilt cast all their sins into the depths of the sea” (Micah 7:19, emphasis added). The prophet Micah opened this passage by asking a question: “Who is a God like unto thee?” (verse 18). Part of Micah’s answer was to point the nation of Israel to the tender compassion of the God of the Bible. He subdues our iniquities, and He casts our sins into the depths of the sea!

Is extended even in the midst of wrath!

“O LORD, I have heard thy speech, and was afraid: O LORD, revive thy work in the midst of the years, in the midst of the years make known; in wrath remember mercy” (Habakkuk 3:2, emphasis added). Can God show wrath and mercy at the same time? Absolutely, He can! And He does!

God’s wrath and His mercy were both on full display at the cross of Calvary. There His wrath was satisfied, and there His mercy was manifested in the sacrifice of the Lord Jesus Christ our Savior. Truly, God remembers and administers mercy in His wrath.