He's the Only One Who Can Grant Pardon

545- Today's Prime Time Devo comes from: 2Sa 14:8-11, “Then the king said to the woman, "Go to your house, and I will give orders concerning you." 9 And the woman of Tekoa said to the king, "My lord, O king, let the iniquity be on me and on my father's house, and the king and his throne be guiltless." 10 So the king said, "Whoever says anything to you, bring him to me, and he shall not touch you anymore." 11 Then she said, "Please let the king remember the LORD your God, and do not permit the avenger of blood to destroy anymore, lest they destroy my son." And he said, "As the LORD lives, not one hair of your son shall fall to the ground." (2 Sam 14:8-11) It's interesting that the woman is not satisfied with the king's first response to her request. He has given his word that she and her son would be left alone, but she wants more than the promise of the government. (Hmmmm distrust of the government? When did that start?) She wants a little more certainty and she asks David to bring the Lord into the situation. She doesn't want to appeal to the mercy of the government, rather she would base her appeal on the mercy of God. When you think about it, this is the way it should be. In this case, her son's guarantee of safety must come from someone higher than the government, and that Someone is the Lawgiver Himself, the Lord God Almighty. He made this Law concerning murder, and He is the only One who has the authority to grant a pardon. Good government, should follow God's guidelines for civility, but what if government were in charge of carrying out punishment for our sins? We would all be dead! No, our only hope must come from the Supreme Merciful Lawgiver! It is only he who can grant clemency to sinners. In Rom 9:15 we read, “For He says to Moses, "I will have mercy on whomever I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whomever I will have compassion." And rather than avenge us for our sinful ways, God has chosen to offer mercy to us through faith in Jesus Christ. His justice was served by the death of His Son on the cross, and His mercy comes to you and I through His grace. Appeal to the higher authority of God for your sins, receive His mercy and be saved!