Mercy Said To Justice
By Michael Morrow on May 24, 2026 11:34 pm
The idea for this week’s song came a couple of weeks ago as I was writing about forgiveness. I remembered again what a crazy idea it is that God could be both Just and Forgiving. But it’s true. Sometimes the Bible talks about God by personifying his characteristics, like when Righteousness and Peace kiss in Psalm 85:10, or when wisdom gives a speech in Proverbs 8. I’ve followed in that tradition, trying to imagine what would happen if Justice and Mercy got together to negotiate what to do about sinful people.
This is quite possibly the weirdest song I’ve ever written. It helped when I came across an interview last week between Mike Errico and George Saunders. Saunders talked about ‘freakifying’ your work, which I take to mean following the weirdness of an idea to its natural freakiness. Inevitably this creates something that only you could have made. I highly recommend this interview. It’s packed full of gems for creative people.
Mercy said to Justice
‘I think that we should talk.
We are both so different
But I’d like to make it work
You and I are both so far apart
But can we try and make a start?’
Justice said, ‘You need to know
I cannot play pretend.
I cannot say that it’s alright
I cannot condescend
When the weak cry out, I can’t ignore
Otherwise what am I for?
Mercy said, ‘I know you care
And I feel just the same
But is there room for kindness
When you only speak of blame?
Don’t you think you’re hung up on the past?
I can turn around the sinner’s heart
Mercy took a breath and looked away
Justice couldn’t find a better answer
Something strong was keeping them apart
But nothing is as strong as Love
Justice said to Mercy
‘My justice must be done
I cannot leave a sinner
In the grip of guilt and shame
I believe the truth can set you free
Let the sinner come to me.’
Mercy said to Justice
‘If you had your way
You’d punish all the guilty ones
And no one would remain
Condemnation never was enough
We need to leave some room for Love’
Mercy took a breath and looked away
Justice couldn’t find a better answer
Something strong was keeping them apart
But nothing is as strong as Love
Love was waiting patiently
And hearing all they said
Love could see the things they loved
And see the way they cared
Then, when they had nothing more to say
Love showed them the better way
First he turned to Justice:
‘Let Justice punish me
Then let Mercy do her work
To set the sinner free
I will give myself so they can live
That is what it means to love’
Mercy took a breath and looked away
Justice couldn’t find a better answer
Something strong was keeping them apart
But nothing is as strong as Love
Justice couldn’t hide his shock
‘How can that be fair?
The innocent would suffer
While the guilty ones are spared!
Are you asking me to be unjust?
I expected more from Love’
Love looked back with love
And said, ‘I know a better way
But it will take a lifetime
And that life will end in pain
I will live and die as one of them
And I will break the curse of sin.’
Love began the journey
With nothing to his name
And finished on a lonely hill
Hanging there in shame
And Mercy came with Justice to the cross
And marvelled at the work of Love
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