It is a wonder to behold that so much exegeses can exist to explain the inconsistent application of "mercy".
There are two ways to figure it: either the system is so incredibly complex that it is nearly impossible to tell with any certainty whether a GOP congressman will be protected by God or if a child will be killed in an earthquake OR that sometimes bad things happen to good people and good things happen to bad people and vice versa.
I prefer to go with the more "parsimonious" explanation. Because then you don't have to be a good person who just lost the love of their life and is now trying to figure out why God would have done that thing to them while the greed monster down the street gets richer and richer by destroying lives.
The "Problem of Evil" is only important when you have to explain why an all-merciful God would ever want to withhold mercy.
Matthew 5:43-48(KJV) Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy.
44 But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;
45
That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.
46 For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same?
47 nd if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more
than others? do not even the publicans so?
48 Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.
IT RAINS ON THE JUST AND THE UNJUST
Psalms 73:9-28(KJV)
9
They set their mouth against the heavens, and their tongue walketh through the earth.
10 Therefore his people return hither: and waters of a full
cup are wrung out to them.
11
And they say, How doth God know? and is there knowledge in the most High?
12
Behold, these are the ungodly, who prosper in the world; they increase in riches.
13 Verily I have cleansed my heart
in vain, and washed my hands in innocency.
14 For all the day long have I been plagued, and chastened every morning.
15 If I say, I will speak thus; behold, I should offend
against the generation of thy children.
16 When I thought to know this, it
was too painful for me;
17 Until I went into the sanctuary of God;
then understood I their end.
18
Surely thou didst set them in slippery places: thou castedst them down into destruction.
19
How are they brought into desolation, as in a moment! they are utterly consumed with terrors.
20
As a dream when one awaketh; so, O Lord, when thou awakest, thou shalt despise their image.
21 Thus my heart was grieved, and I was pricked in my reins.
22 So foolish
was I, and ignorant: I was
as a beast before thee.
23 Nevertheless I
am continually with thee: thou hast holden
me by my right hand.
24 Thou shalt guide me with thy counsel, and afterward receive me
to glory.
25 Whom have I in heaven
but thee? and
there is none upon earth
that I desire beside thee.
26 My flesh and my heart faileth:
but God
is the strength of my heart, and my portion for ever.
27
For, lo, they that are far from thee shall perish: thou hast destroyed all them that go a whoring from thee.
28
But it is good for me to draw near to God: I have put my trust in the Lord GOD, that I may declare all thy works.
Psalm 73: Why does God allow the wicked to prosper?
