God's gift of Christ to mankind was an act of mercy, as was His gift of the Law to the Israelites.
1. Mercy from ignorance. God doesn't exist simply because He revealed Himself to humanity, He exists because He does. The same goes for right and wrong. Holiness and its antithesis existed far before God gave the law to Moses. Once He did, the Israelites no longer had to live as hopeless, oblivious pagans destined for death, but were then gifted with guidelines to follow so that each man and woman could put himself in right standing with God. In this way, the law gives mercy from ignorance.
2. Mercy from wickedness. If someone destroys my property I can, as an individual, show mercy by not pressing charges. This is showing mercy on an individual level. But if someone commits a crime, it is the governing body's duty to punish him for his crime. In doing so, the governing body shows mercy to the rest of the nation. This is mercy from wickedness. The law of Moses gives mercy to Israel from their own wickedness.
3. Mercy from death. The law of Moses, in essence, paves a pathway to holiness. Because holiness and life are conflated with one another; as are sin and death; the law of Moses also provides a pathway to life. Since the just consequence of sin is death, it is just for God to let Israel pass judgement on themselves by way of lawlessness. Without the law there is no knowledge of right and wrong, and without knowledge of right and wrong, there is violence and chaos and death. Which again, without Christ, is what we deserve. But instead God is merciful and provides Israel with the law of Moses. This is mercy from death.
Further thoughts:
The opposite of justice is not mercy. The opposite of justice is injustice. Law provides a framework for mercy to be shown. On one side of the coin there is law, justice and mercy and on the other side there is lawlessness, injustice and cruelty.
Jesus has redeemed humanity but we still live in a fallen world. This means that though the Holy Spirit has invaded those of us who confess that Jesus is our personal Lord and Savior, reconciling us to God through personal relationship with Him, the Kingdom of Heaven has not yet overthrown our world. Jesus came as a man for the redemption of man, but He will come again as a King for the redemption of Kingdoms. We are made perfect through Christ; His holiness has been imparted to us. But our governments have not been made perfect through Christ the King. I believe this is why it's the individual's job to show compassion, but it's the government's responsibility to uphold the law. Or, more accurately, the government shows compassion to the righteous by punishing the wicked. The law is good for those who obey it. And the law should be really bad for those who disobey it. A merciful, compassionate, government is a government that punishes wickedness always. Leniency for criminals is not merciful. The government's job is to ensure the well-being of the larger body of citizens; not the individual. By punishing the law-breaker with a punishment that fits the crime the government is honoring, encouraging and rewarding the citizens who have not broken the law. This is good and right.
Further thoughts:
The opposite of justice is not mercy. The opposite of justice is injustice. Law provides a framework for mercy to be shown. On one side of the coin there is law, justice and mercy and on the other side there is lawlessness, injustice and cruelty.
Jesus has redeemed humanity but we still live in a fallen world. This means that though the Holy Spirit has invaded those of us who confess that Jesus is our personal Lord and Savior, reconciling us to God through personal relationship with Him, the Kingdom of Heaven has not yet overthrown our world. Jesus came as a man for the redemption of man, but He will come again as a King for the redemption of Kingdoms. We are made perfect through Christ; His holiness has been imparted to us. But our governments have not been made perfect through Christ the King. I believe this is why it's the individual's job to show compassion, but it's the government's responsibility to uphold the law. Or, more accurately, the government shows compassion to the righteous by punishing the wicked. The law is good for those who obey it. And the law should be really bad for those who disobey it. A merciful, compassionate, government is a government that punishes wickedness always. Leniency for criminals is not merciful. The government's job is to ensure the well-being of the larger body of citizens; not the individual. By punishing the law-breaker with a punishment that fits the crime the government is honoring, encouraging and rewarding the citizens who have not broken the law. This is good and right.
