6180. 'And show me mercy and truth' means humility. This is clear from the meaning of 'showing mercy' as the good of love, and from the meaning of 'showing truth' as the truth of faith, both of which meanings are dealt with below. When these words are spoken they are words of entreaty, thus of humility. The reason why 'showing mercy' means the good of love is that all mercy is an expression of love, for one who has love or charity also has mercy; and his love and charity become mercy when his neighbour is poor or in misery and he comes to that neighbour's aid while he is in that condition. This is why 'mercy' means the good of love. 'Showing truth' means the truth of faith for the reason that all truth is the province of faith, which explains why in the original language the word for truth also means faith.
[2] Since the good of love and the truth of faith exist completely joined together and one does not exist without the other, 'mercy and truth' was a phrase in common use among the ancients, for they knew well that the good of love was inseparable from the truth of faith. Since they are inseparable the two are mentioned jointly many times in the Word, as in Exodus,
Jehovah great in mercy and truth. Exodus 34:6.
In the second Book of Samuel,
David said to the men of Jabesh, May Jehovah show you mercy and truth. 2 Samuel 2:5-6.
In the same book,
David said to Ittai the Gittite, Return and take your brethren back with you with mercy and truth. 2 Samuel 15:20.
In Hosea,
Jehovah's controversy with the inhabitants of the land because there is no truth and no mercy, and no knowledge of God 1
in the land. Hosea 4:1.
In David,
All the ways of Jehovah are mercy and truth to those keeping His covenant. Psalms 25:10.
In the same author,
O Jehovah, You will not hold back from me Your mercies; let Your mercy and Your truth continually keep me safe. Psalms 40:11.
In the same author,
I will sing the eternal mercies of Jehovah, to generation after generation [I will make known] Your truth with my mouth. For I have said, For ever will mercy be built, in the very heavens You will make firm Your truth. Righteousness and judgement are the support of Your throne, mercy and truth stand before Your face. Psalms 89:1-2, 14.
Also other places in David besides these - Psalms 26:3; 76:5; 57:3, 10; 61:7; 85:10; 86:15; 89:24, 33; 92:2.
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