“Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy” (Matthew 5:7).
“Lord have mercy” is more than a saying. The depth of its meaning can be found in the Hebrew word “hesed.” It is a word used in the Old Testament to express the unique quality of the love and mercy of God.
Hesed means to identify with the suffering of others. To go through something with another person. It's about understanding and accepting another person’s problems or dilemmas. We have experienced hesed in and through Jesus.
Said differently, to be merciful is to identify with the suffering of others, to empathize, and to be generous.