Severe Mercy: When Mercy Triumphs Over Judgment

Discussion Questions

• Where do you tend to “count your fighting men”? In other words, what numbers, achievements, or forms of security (money, success, reputation, influence) do you rely on instead of trusting God?
• What is the difference between being “conscience-stricken” and “consequence-stricken”? How can we tell whether our repentance is truly about the sin itself rather than just the consequences we are facing?
• The passage reveals God as both holy and compassionate. Why is it important not to reduce God to only one of these attributes, and how might our view of God shape the way we treat and relate to others?