I have been thinking about this for a while.
We are made in God’s image. That is so, yet we are still in the beginning stages of being in his image. Time is closing in on us. I would like to continue with the subject of righteousness.
If we are made in God’s image then we need to constantly be looking at just who he is. There are 155 scriptures to look at when you punch in ‘God is’ in a bible program. I’ve only chosen one scripture to expound and study. I took meanings from Strongs, the free dictionary, and one other scripture where gracious, righteous, and merciful are used. This is not an exhaustive study, but can be expanded as we learn how to be like God.
Psalm 116:5
Gracious is the LORD, and righteous; yea, our God is merciful.
From Strongs Hebrew:
GRACIOUS
02587–2603 properly, to bend or stoop in kindness to an inferior; to favor, bestow; causatively to implore (i.e. move to favor by petition):–beseech, X fair, (be, find, shew) favour(-able), be (deal, give, grant (gracious(-ly), intreat, (be) merciful, have (shew) mercy (on, upon), have pity upon, pray, make supplication, X very. see HEBREW for 02583
From the free dictionary:
Gracious – marked by kindness, sympathy, and unaffected politeness: gracious to visitors; a cordial welcome; a genial guest; enjoyed a sociable chat.
Psalm 86:15
But thou, O Lord, art a God full of compassion, and gracious, longsuffering, and plenteous in mercy and truth.
From Strongs Hebrew:
RIGHTEOUS
06662 -just, lawful, righteous (man). see HEBREW for
06663—to make right in a moral sense, cleanse, clear self, turn to righteousness.
From the free dictionary:
Righteous – Morally upright; without guilt or sin: 2.In accordance with virtue or morality: a righteous judgment. 3. Morally justifiable: righteous anger. See Synonyms at moral.
Psalm 119:172
My tongue shall speak of thy word: for all thy commandments are righteousness.
From Strongs Hebrew:
MERCIFUL
7355 a primitive root; to fondle; by implication, to love, especially to compassionate:–have compassion (on, upon), love, (find, have, obtain, shew) mercy(-iful, on, upon), (have) pity, Ruhamah, X surely.
From the free dictionary:
Merciful – showing or giving mercy; compassionate.
Kind – having or showing a tender and considerate and helpful nature; especially of persons and their behavior; “kind to sick patients”; “a kind master”; “kind words showing understanding and sympathy”; “thanked her for her kind letter.”
Gracious – characterized by charm, good taste, and generosity of spirit; “gracious even to unexpected visitors”; “gracious living”; “he bears insult with gracious good humor”
Nehemiah 9:17
And refused to obey, neither were mindful of thy wonders that thou didst among them; but hardened their necks, and in their rebellion appointed a captain to return to their bondage: but thou art a God ready to pardon, gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and forsookest them not.
-Eileen