The horrors of the Holocaust are remembered around the world through museums, memorials, and the testimonies of those who lived through that tragic time. We will never know the full magnitude of how badly the prisoners of concentration camps suffered and the torture they went through. If there were anyone whose anger and bitterness could be justified, it’s those who were wrongfully imprisoned, beaten, worked, and then killed. Yet from this cold, bitter memory springs hope in the form of a letter written by a Jewish child in the camp. Weeks after the Nazi rule was broken over Germany and American soldiers were inspecting the camps, a soldier ran across the following prayer written by a child and stuffed in the child’s coat perhaps just hours before the child was executed:
“O Lord, remember not only the men and woman of good will, but also those of ill will. But do not remember all of the suffering they have inflicted upon us: Instead remember the fruits we have borne because of this suffering, our fellowship, our loyalty to one another, our humility, our courage, our generosity, the greatness of heart that has grown from this trouble. When our persecutors come to be judged by you, let all of these fruits that we have borne be their forgiveness.”
This child’s mercy speaks volumes about God’s mercy that was evident even amidst the horror of the Nazi concentration camps.
While retaliation may feel natural after being wrongfully attacked, mercy always has the greater impact. Notice how David’s mercy impacted Saul, “And it came to pass, when David had made an end of speaking these words unto Saul, that Saul said, Is this thy voice, my son David? And Saul lifted up his voice, and wept. And he said to David, Thou art more righteous than I: for thou hast rewarded me good, whereas I have rewarded thee evil.” Saul wept when he thought of how David had spared his life even though Saul perhaps deserved death or punishment for all he’d done to David.
Understand that had David killed Saul, he would have felt better and would have benefited from it, yet he chose the more godly response of showing mercy. He didn’t know how Saul would respond to his mercy, yet he showed mercy anyway.
God’s desire for you is that you always choose mercy. Remember Christ on the Cross when He looked down at those who mocked Him and wrongfully crucified Him and He said, “Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do” (Luke 23:34).
What good will come of retaliation? Sure, it will make you feel better but it resolves nothing. Angry words spoken in haste never lead to good, yet mercy is always a cooling salve on even the rawest of situations. Choose to respond to attackers with mercy today. Meditate on Ephesians 4:31-32 as you seek to walk in mercy today, “Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice: And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.”
