1 Kings 20:30-34 ESV
Ben-hadad also fled and entered an inner chamber in the city. 31 And his servants said to him, “Behold now, we have heard that the kings of the house of Israel are merciful kings. Let us put sackcloth around our waists and ropes on our heads and go out to the king of Israel. Perhaps he will spare your life.” 32 So they tied sackcloth around their waists and put ropes on their heads and went to the king of Israel and said, “Your servant Ben-hadad says, ‘Please, let me live.’” And he said, “Does he still live? He is my brother.” 33 Now the men were watching for a sign, and they quickly took it up from him and said, “Yes, your brother Ben-hadad.” Then he said, “Go and bring him.” Then Ben-hadad came out to him, and he caused him to come up into the chariot. 34 And Ben-hadad said to him, “The cities that my father took from your father I will restore, and you may establish bazaars for yourself in Damascus, as my father did in Samaria.” And Ahab said, “I will let you go on these terms.” So he made a covenant with him and let him go.

MERCY.
The haughty king Benhadad, who was taunting earlier against Ahab, had entered into a room like a dog with tail tucked under with his servants. Indeed, he who exalts himself will be humbled. And in a moment, his servants said, “Behold now, we have heard that the kings of the house of Israel are merciful kings. Let us put sackcloth around our waists and ropes on our heads and go out to the king of Israel. Perhaps he will spare your life.” And, they did.

How did they know? Having been caught in between the devil and the deep blue sea, they tried their luck. And, it was the reputation of mercy to the kings of Israel that prompted them to do so. And, they tried their luck. When Ahab said, “Does he still live? He is my brother.” they confirmed their guess. Ahab let him go up into is chariot, made a covenant with him and let him go. This favor granted by Ahab had removed their animosity. But, God wasn’t pleased.

However, we can learn the dynamics of showing mercy here. As sinners, we are worthy of judgment. And, we couldn’t appeal in any other basis before God, except for mercy. There is no other way. As Prov 28:13 says;
“Whoever conceals his transgressions will not prosper,
but he who confesses and forsakes them will obtain mercy.”

Where mercy is demonstrated, the implementation of punishment is withdrawn. And, God won’t deal us according to our sins. As Paul had declared, “he[God] saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior.”[Titus 3:5,6]

Let’s not forget that everyday we continue to live because of His continual mercies.
“The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases;
his mercies never come to an end;
23 they are new every morning;
great is your faithfulness.”[Lam 3:22-23]

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