Have Mercy On Me

The Porter's Gate recorded “Have Mercy On Me” as a prayer that links the character of God to the way his people treat others. Each line of the first verse pairs two ideas: “The goodness of the Lord is the kindness of the Lord,” and “the power of the Lord is the meekness of the Lord, who bore humanity with brave humility.”

The chorus is a simple request, “Let Your mercy flow through us.” In the second verse the pairing continues: “The beauty of the Lord is the suffering of the Lord, is Christ upon a tree, stripped of dignity,” and “the glory of the Lord is the mercy of the Lord.” The final section turns toward neighbors in need, asking, “When they see us, may they see, when they know us, may they know.” It prays a blessing on the hands and feet of those who serve, on the broken and ashamed, and on the weary. It asks that the words people speak would “build a bridge for peace” and that doors would be opened to give refuge. The song asks for mercy to be received and then passed on to others, which gives it a practical edge.

A plea for mercy is Psalm 51:1. Acting justly and loving mercy is Micah 6:8, and the suffering servant is Isaiah 53:3.