Psalm 86:15 But you, O Lord, are a God full of compassion, and gracious, long suffering, and plenteous in mercy and truth. Full of compassion, and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy and truth The term "gracious," as applied to God, brings in ideas of tenderness, gentleness, considerateness, in dealing with those who are frail and weak. It is like "pitiful," but does not imply conditions of special poverty or distress. "Gracious" fits into God's ordinary ways with ordinary people. If we used the term of our fellow men, we should single out those who were sympathetic and sweet mannered and gentle toned. It brings in a somewhat fresh, and a very attractive, view of God, thus to associate the word "gracious" with him. The precise shades of meaning that may be attached to the term will come to view upon a study of the following passages: Exodus 22:27, "And it shall come to pass, when he crieth unto me, that I will hear; for I am gracious;" Exodus 34:6, "And the Lord passed by before him, and proclaimed, The Lord, the Lord God, merciful and gracious;" 2 Samuel 12:22, "Who can tell whether God will be gracious to me, that the child may live?" Nehemiah 9:17, "A God ready to pardon, gracious and merciful;" Psalm 4:1, margin, "Be gracious unto me, and hear my prayer;" Isaiah 30:18, "And therefore will the Lord wait, that he may be gracious unto you;" Jonah 4:2, "For I knew that thou art a gracious God, and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repentest thee of the evil." Evidently the term is used to express God's relations with sinners, as distinct from his relations with sin; and it especially describes the Divine response to penitent sinners. "Grace," as favour, mercy, was the highest blessing under the Old Testament dispensation. Joseph, in the fulness of his feelings on seeing his brother Benjamin, cried, "God be gracious to thee, my son!" The synonyms of the term "gracious" may be found suggestive - kindly, beneficent, benignant, condescending, pleasing. Bring out the point that not only does God save and sanctify, but he saves and sanctifies in a gentle, considerate, and delightful way. Put into a figure, he never "breaks the bruised reed, or quenches the smoking flax." - R.T. Parallel Verses KJV: But thou, O Lord, art a God full of compassion, and gracious, longsuffering, and plenteous in mercy and truth. |
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