When The Cat Strikes…

Morning!

Raises his cup of coffee

It’s Thursday March 27th of 2025.  It is a chilly, blustery, clear morning with a high in the high fifties forecast.

The LORD is merciful.  Thank You, Jesus, for that.  This morning, we’re continuing in our Psalm 119 challenge, and right from the start, David asks for the mercies of the LORD to come to him.

That got me thinking…

What exactly is mercy?

Psalm 119: 41-48

“Let Your mercies come also to me, O LORD- Your salvation according to Your Word.  So shall I have an answer for him who reproaches me.  For I trust in Your Word.  And take not the Word of truth utterly out of my mouth, for I have hoped in Your ordinances.  So shall I keep Your law continually, forever and ever.  And I will walk at liberty, for I seek Your precepts.  I will speak of Your testimonies also before kings, and will not be ashamed.  And I will delight myself in Your commandments, which I love.  My hands also I will lift up to Your commandments, which I love, and I will meditate on Your statutes.”

Part of meditating on the Word of God is meditating on the attributes of God that the Word of God reveals.  Mercy is one of these attributes.  Jesus teaches us in the sermon on the mount…

Matthew 5: 7

“Blessed are the merciful for they shall obtain mercy.”

In our text in Psalms the word for mercies used is…

Chesed: (Hebrew)

- Kindness

- Piety

- (rarely) Beauty

- Favor, good deed, kindly, loving-kindness, mercy, pity

In English:

Mercy: (noun)

- Compassion or forbearance shown especially to an offender or to one subject to one’s power

- A blessing that is an act of divine favor or compassion; a fortunate circumstance

- Compassionate treatment of those in distress

David is praying and asking God for His compassion and forbearance to come to him. He’s asking God to honor His Word— And God always will, because God is Truth, and the Word of God stands forever.  But asking for mercy carries weight.  It implies need—a need for compassion from someone who holds power over you.  It implies a transgression—something has been done wrong.  And instead of justice, mercy asks for kindness in return.

Blessed are the merciful for they shall obtain mercy.

So.

Do we trust in The Word of God as David is showing us?

Do we practice mercy?

Mercy has always seemed like a fancy word to me—one I tend to associate with big situations.  You know, someone caught in adultery needs mercy.

Someone who’s taken a life—no matter the reason—they’re in desperate need of mercy.  But it makes me wonder…. What does everyday mercy look like?

Proverbs 3: 1-8

“My son, do not forget my law, but let your heart keep my commands; for length of days and long life and peace they will add to you.  Let not mercy and truth forsake you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart, and so find favor and high esteem in the sight of God and man.  Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.  Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD and depart from evil.  It will be health to your flesh and strength to your bones.”

If any of us have kids, then everyday mercy is probably second nature.  It takes mercy—and loving-kindness—to change a diaper.  Our children, at that age, are completely dependent. They are entirely subject to our power.  There is nothing they can do on their own—not even keep themselves clean.  Now, I know for some, especially at first, changing diapers might even be a bit of a joy. But let’s take a moment and give credit where credit is due: A parent changing a diaper is practicing mercy and loving-kindness toward their child.  That’s everyday mercy.  And it matters.

Do any of us have animals?  I have a tuxedo cat named Katie. Katie’s a good cat. She’s loving and talkative when she’s home. She keeps a vigilant watch for mice and patrols her territory like a seasoned guardian.  But when she’s hungry?  Katie becomes a different cat entirely.  Suddenly, she’s walking across every counter, desk, and table in the house—knocking things off left and right. Sometimes, things even get broken. Like most cats, she doesn’t seem especially sorry about it either.  But here’s the thing: Cleaning up after the cat… and forgiving the cat?  That’s mercy.  An everyday boring and mundane act of mercy—but mercy nonetheless.

Let’s go back to the car for a moment.  One of the things I run into a lot when I’m driving is… pedestrians.  (Not literally, of course—just to be clear.)  Where I live, there are a lot of pedestrians sharing the road. And one thing I’ve learned from living in different cities is this: pedestrians act differently depending on where you are.  In the Washington D.C. area, pedestrians are… let’s just say, bold.  I’ve had people step into the crosswalk without warning, without looking, and without any awareness of the traffic around them. They move forward with full confidence that the law says drivers must stop for anyone in the crosswalk—even if your front tires are already in the crosswalk and you have no time to stop safely.  They throw themselves in front of your car like they’re invincible. And there you are—slamming on the brakes, lurching forward, sending your dog or your kids into the front seat.

That’s a moment where everyday mercy is needed.

Mercy to hold our tongues.

Mercy to not honk in anger.

Mercy to let it go, even if our coffee just spilled all over the console.

Now, how about yesterday?  Did we follow after the Word of God?  Did we rejoice through everything?  How did we do on praying without cease?  Did we not meet our goals for the day?

Have we had mercy on ourselves?

God is Good.

God is Merciful.

Because what else is David doing in our passage than asking God to renew his mind with Scripture?

Romans 12: 1-2

“I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service.  And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect Will of God.”

David professes his trust for the Word of God.  David has the Word of God in his mouth, he is speaking the Word of God.  David hopes in the Word of God.  David seeks the Word of God and is not ashamed of the Word of God.  He commits to delighting himself in the Word of God.

The word in our text for delight is ‘sha’a’ again, as we looked at in our previous study.

David is looking for his mind to be renewed and he has a purpose for that renewal.  David wants to delight himself in the Law of the LORD.  His purpose is to meditate on the LORD, to minister to the LORD through worship.  Paul teaches us the same if we continue in our passage in Romans.

Romans 12: 3-8

“For I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly, as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith.  For as we have many members in one body, but all the members do not have the same function, so we, being many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another.  Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, let us prophesy in proportion to our faith; or ministry, let us use it in our ministering; he who teaches, in teaching; he who exhorts, in exhortation; he who gives, with liberality; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness.”

Paul teaches us that as we renew our minds, we are to stay sober-minded—grounded in reality. He warns us not to think more of ourselves than we ought, but to see ourselves with clarity and humility.  Our renewed minds aren’t meant to serve self.  They are meant to serve the LORD.  Just as David promises in our Psalm today, we are to take the mercies God has shown us—and turn them outward. We are to minister to others in the Name of Jesus.  Paul begins this teaching with a list of spiritual gifts—gifts meant to be cultivated for the strengthening of the church. But he doesn’t stop there.  In the lines that follow, he shifts to some very everyday examples of what a renewed mind looks like in action.

Romans 12: 9-21

“Let love be without hypocrisy.  Abhor what is evil.  Cling to what is good.  Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another; not lagging in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord; rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, continuing steadfastly in prayer; distributing to the needs of the saints, given to hospitality.  Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse.  Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep.  Be of the same mind toward one another.  Do not set your mind on high things, but associate with the humble.  Do not be wise in your own opinion.  Repay no one evil for evil.   Have regard for good things in the sight of all men.  If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men.  Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, ‘Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,’ says the Lord.  Therefore ‘If your enemy hungers, feed him; if he thirsts, give him a drink; for in so doing you will heap coals of fire on his head.’  Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”

I think of this passage every time my cat knocks a vase off the counter and I’m picking up its shattered pieces.  Along with this proverb…

Proverbs 12: 10

“A righteous man regards the life of his animal, but the tender mercies of the wicked are cruel.”

If we’re going to pray and ask for the mercies of God, like David does in Psalm 119, then let’s take our example from him.  Let’s ask the LORD to renew our minds in the same way David does.  David begins by trusting in the Word of God.  Have we done that today?  He then goes on to keep the Word of God.  Are we keeping it today?  Are we abiding in the Word?  Are we keeping Jesus’ commands?  Trusting in the Word of God leads us to hope in the Word of God—just as it did for David.  And from that place of trust and hope, David prays with boldness, as we should. He says that he will speak of God’s Word before kings—and not be ashamed.

Now.

If David was not ashamed to speak the Word of God in front of kings, how are we doing with that?

Let our love of the Word be without hypocrisy.  Let’s not think of ourselves as something we are not.  Do we love the Word of God in our rooms at home?  Then do we love the Word of God on our home’s threshold as we step outside?  Do we love the Word of God as we walk into the drugstore?  Do we love the Word of God while we slam on the brakes for that pedestrian?

Let’s not forget today while we’re doing our days…

Matthew 5: 3-12

“Blessed are the poor in spirit; for there’s is the kingdom of heaven.  Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.  Blessed are the meek, for the shall inherit the earth.  Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled.  Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy.  Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.  Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.  Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.  Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake.  Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”

And one last Scripture where I always start…

Proverbs 1: 7

“The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.”

I think that’s a good start for the day.