8th.: Have Mercy upon Me, O Lord
In the conversation between God and Jeremiah (Jeremiah 10:14-22),
God shared more his concerns. Some of these were:
1) The errors of mankind (v15)
2) How God Himself was hurt (v19)
3) How judgement is coming (v22)
Jeremiah responded,
“O Lord, I know that the way of man is not in himself, it is not in man that walks to direct his steps.
O Lord, correct me, but with judgement, not in thine anger, lest thou bring me to nothing.
Pour thy fury upon the heathen that know thee not, and upon the families that call not on thy name.
For they have eaten up Jacob, and devoured him, and consumed him, and have made his habitation desolate.” (Jer. 10:23-25).
Jeremiah wanted to make sure he was right with God.
Therefore, he admitted:
1) The natural path that a man takes, will only lead him in the wrong way (i.e. his sinful nature).
2) Asked the Lord to fix him, and let this fixing be done only as needed, according to the wrongs that Jeremiah has done, lest he be totally obliterated.
3) If God is to pour out his unfiltered anger, let it be upon those who do not want to know God.
Let our prayers likewise admit that we need God's help and mercy.
“Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness.
According unto the multitude of they tender mercies blot out my transgressions.
Wash me thoroughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin.” (Psalm 51:1-2)