Mercy

For I desire mercy, not sacrifice and acknowledgment of God rather than burnt offerings.
Hosea 6:6

Tempted to be unmerciful today? What’s the difference in this list of ways to relate to God? Why contrast mercy with sacrifice and the acknowledgment of God with burnt offerings? Obviously, burnt offerings and sacrifices are outward measurable acts, presumably done out of obedience to God’s command. Mercy and acknowledgment are a little more difficult to measure. It’s not as though we can check them off of our “to do” list every day. They are expressions of a heart that has been shaped by God. From a merciful heart flows activity that acknowledges the mercy of God we have received. The language of Hosea is piercing yet beautiful. The poetry of the prophet reveals how shallow, how fickle our love for God can be. God says, “Your love is like the morning mist, like the early dew that disappears.” (Hosea 6:4) When our love for God is fleeting and shallow, our offerings and sacrifices are meaningless. When we show mercy, we show love for God through our love for those God loves.