Wicked Compassion

(Proverbs 12:10 KJV)  A righteous man regardeth the life of his beast: but the tender mercies of the wicked are cruel.

Sin is often taking something that was intended for blessing and using it in disobedience.  Thus the sexual blessing of marriage becomes adultery, rape and prostitution.  It would seem that the same thing can be said about “tender mercies” (compassion NASB) (7356).  This is a glorious Hebrew word.  It seems to be as lofty as chesed, or lovingkindness.  I love the KJV translation of “tender mercies”.  How can something like this be counterfeited and turned “wicked” (7563)?  The same way that thrift can become greed.  The same way that appreciation can become coveting. 

A primary way to take a God given behavior and turn it into sin is to make it self-serving.  It doesn’t take much to take an organization like the chaplains in the military and turn them into a force for evil.  You allow politicians and advocates of deviant life styles to forbid them from sharing the Gospel and the teachings of the Bible.  You put the chaplains in charge of morale and sensitivity training.  It doesn’t take long before they are doing the devil’s work.  Are they there yet?  Probably not, but it is coming.

The same can be said for us at work or in our communities. 

So?  As in all things requiring holy living we will need to engage our minds as well as our feelings.  We will need to either gain discernment or listen to those who have it.  The life of the believer is not going to get easier but it can still remain straight.