“O my God, incline your ear and hear. Open your eyes and see our desolations, and the city that is called by your name. For we do not present our pleas before you because of our righteousness, but because of your great mercy.” — Daniel 9:18
In Daniel’s wonderful prayer in Chapter 9, he prays based on God’s character and God’s interests. Daniel petitions God, not because of the Israelite’s righteousness, but because of God’s great mercy.
Above all, that has always been God’s instrument to save us — His great mercy! Truly, it is not about our righteousness. Examples of God’s mercy are found throughout Bible — from Genesis to Revelation.
I recently read an obscure example of God’s great mercy in Genesis. It encouraged me and I wanted to pass it along. Genesis (Chapter 5) lists the descendants from Adam to Noah, including their ages.
Methuselah
Trivia question, who was the oldest person in the Bible? If you said, Methuselah, you’re correct. The Bible records that Methuselah lived a remarkable 969 years (Genesis 5:27). In fact, that is the oldest age recorded in the Bible. Methuselah was also an ancestor of Jesus (Luke 3:37).
If you do a little math based on Genesis 5, it shows us Methuselah died in the same year as the global flood. So, this may be another example of God’s great mercy. Let me explain….
What does the name Methuselah mean? I did some research and discovered a variety of meanings. In particular, here are the ones I found: man of the dart, or when he is dead, it shall be sent, or he shall send his death, and when he dies, judgment.
Isn’t that remarkable? In other words, the longest recorded person’s age in the Bible may be another example of God’s great mercy. God waited for the length of Methuselah’s very long life to end before His judgment came upon the earth. In His mercy, He waits for us, too.
Thankful for His mercy,
Posted in A Word from the Pastor