on compassion

I don’t consider myself a compassionate person.

            “But you’re a nurse!” one might say. One may also think, “Didn’t you say you’re a Christian?”

            I suppose I should elaborate: I certainly feel compassion. I even act out of compassion. I feel that I lack, however, something of the innate empathy and understanding that many of my fellow nurses and fellow believers possess. Until I experience an event or circumstance, my only grasp is cognitive.

            What then am I, a vain, self-centered wannabe rock star, to do? When faced with a patient’s pain or fear or loss, I wait. I’m prepared to wait ten seconds, but it usually takes mere microseconds. The Holy Spirit does something remarkable. He floods me with a heavenly connection that melts me with divine love and mercy. I fall madly in love with the person before me and I feel like I can move heaven and earth on his or her behalf.

            A new question arises. Can a vain, self-centered wannabe rock star become a compassionate person? 

            I’m willing to try.

Nu 9: Does God make allowances?

       The Israelites celebrate their second Passover in Numbers 9. There were some men who were ceremonially unclean because they were defiled by the dead body of a man. These men wanted to keep the Passover. They come to Moses and Aaron.

       Moses has them wait until he hears from God.

       God tells Moses they may keep the Passover the next month. God then elaborates. If someone who is clean and isn’t journeying doesn’t keep the Passover, that person will be cut off from his people. Passover isn’t an option!

       Next God allows for strangers to keep the Passover if they so desire (and meet the other requirements as in Exodus 12:48). It shall be one rule, for Israelite and stranger alike.

       Going back to verses 6-7, I looked at what the men said.
6 And there were certain men, who were defiled by the dead body of a man, that they could not keep the passover on that day: and they came before Moses and before Aaron on that day:

7 And those men said unto him, We are defiled by the dead body of a man: wherefore are we kept back, that we may not offer an offering of the LORD in his appointed season among the children of Israel?

       When they spoke to Moses and Aaron, they asked why they couldn’t make an offering at this appointed time. If they are speaking honestly (not trying to impress the Levites), they are saying that Passover isn’t just in the eating, but the offering.

       I’m awash in compassion as I think about these men. Who was this dead man? Was it a loved one? Clearly they cared enough about God’s law that even if it were a loved one, they wanted to do the right thing.

       Here is one of those places where we see Psalm 85:10 in action.

Psalm 85:10 Mercy and truth are met together; righteousness and peace have kissed each other.

       God makes allowance for these men who want to do the right thing. Another amazing example is in Ezekiel 4:12-15, where God makes allowance for the priestly prophet Ezekiel. I’m convinced Ezekiel would have done what was asked to the letter, but the LORD hears his heart cry to not become unclean while doing so. One more example is when God commands the ravens (unclean beasts) to feed Elijah in his time of need (I Kings 17:4).

       Our amazing God is holy, but He knows our frame – and our weakness.

Psalm 103:8 The LORD is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy.

 9 He will not always chide: neither will he keep his anger for ever.

 10 He hath not dealt with us after our sins; nor rewarded us according to our iniquities.

 11 For as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is his mercy toward them that fear him.

 12 As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us.

 13 Like as a father pitieth his children, so the LORD pitieth them that fear him.

 14 For he knoweth our frame; he remembereth that we are dust.

       If you’ll excuse me now, I must go worship our merciful God.

’Til next time,

Shalom.