6180. And do mercy and truth with me. That this signifies humiliation, is evident from the signification of “doing mercy,” as being the good of love; and from the signification of “doing truth,” as being the truth of faith (of which significations in what follows). These words are uttered as words of supplication, thus of humiliation. That “doing mercy” denotes the good of love is because all mercy is of love; for he who is in love or charity is also in mercy, and the love and charity in him become mercy when the neighbor is in need or misery, and he affords him help in that state. Hence it is that by “mercy” is signified the good of love. That “doing truth” denotes the truth of faith is because all truth is of faith, and for this reason in the original tongue faith is meant by the same expression.

[2] Because the good of love and the truth of faith are in the closest conjunction, and the one is not possible without the other, therefore this form of speaking was usual among the ancients, because they knew that the good of love is inseparable from the truth of faith, and for this reason also these two are often spoken of conjointly in the Word, as in Exodus:

Jehovah great in mercy and truth (Exodus 34:6).

In the second book of Samuel:

David said unto the men of Jabesh, Jehovah do mercy and truth with you (2 Samuel 2:5-6).

In the same:

David said unto Ittai the Gittite, Return thou, and take back thy brethren with thee, with mercy and truth (2 Samuel 15:20).

In Hosea:

Jehovah hath a controversy with the inhabitants of the land, because there is no truth, and no mercy, and no knowledge of God in the land (Hos. 4:1).

In David:

All the ways of Jehovah are mercy and truth to them that keep His covenant (Psalms 25:10).

Again:

Thou wilt not withhold Thy mercies from me, O Jehovah; Thy mercy and Thy truth will perpetually guard me (Psalms 40:11).

Again:

I will sing the eternal mercies of Jehovah; with my mouth will I make known Thy truth to generation and generation. For I have said, Eternally shall mercy be builded; in the very heavens Thou wilt confirm Thy truth. Righteousness and judgment are the support of Thy throne; mercy and truth stand before Thy faces (Psalms 89:1-2, 89:14;

and in other passages in David (Psalms 26:3; 36:5; 57:3, 10; 61:7; 85:10; 86:15; 89:24, 33; 92:2).