The Lord gave his law, the 10 Commandments, to Moses on Mount Sinai. Listen to how he introduces himself as he delivered these binding commands:
The Lord passed before him and proclaimed, “The Lord, the Lord, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness, (Ex. 34:6)
Even as he delivers iron-clad laws, he says, “I am the God of mercy.”
This is the moment in our service in which God’s holy laws and his steadfast mercy meet. In this moment we confess we are worse off as sinners than we realized, and God’s mercy is stronger than we ever dared to hope.
While he will by no means clear the guilty, his mercy is far above the heavens. In Revelation 4:3 he is seated on a throne surrounded by a rainbow which is a sign of God’s mercy to sinners. The Scriptures present God more often in white robes of mercy than in the blood-red robes of judgment. We’re told that mercy is in his right hand—in other words, it comes easy to him, while we’re told that inflicting punishment is strange work. (Isa. 28:21) And when he shaves the pride of a nation in Isa. 7, he has to borrow a razor as if he didn’t own one. (Isa. 7:20)
So, what does that have to do with you? A lot, actually. Friend, in this moment, God is ready to hear your confession if you’ll make it honestly and humbly. The well of his mercy is ready for your bucket. You say, “I know he can forgive, but I have some big sins.” His mercy covers all just like the sea covers grains of sand and giant boulders. Even the Roman centurion who helped nail Jesus to the cross found God’s mercy. So, make your confession believing in the sure and steadfast mercies of Christ.