[markomalley]

The word mercy and the word merchant come from the same root.

Not so much...particularly if you look at the original languages of the Scriptures. In Greek, mercy is ἔλεος (eleos), while merchant is ἔμπορος (émporos). Two completely different words.

Even in the English, the etymology of the words is not the same: they both have Latin roots. Mercy is derived from the Latin misereri (to have pity or compassion on), while merchant is derived from the Latin mercari ("to trade, traffic, deal in").

That is not to say that we aren't redeemed by the precious blood of the Lamb of God (1Pe 1:18-19), but the two words are not at all related.

[HiTech RedNeck]

I was going to do a humble mea culpa, but I double checked on Wiktionary. Which says

Etymology

From Middle English merci, from Anglo-Norman merci (compare Old French merci, mercit), from Latin mercēdem, accusative of mercēs (“wages, fee, price”), from merx (“wares, merchandise”). Displaced native Middle English are, ore "mercy" (from Old English ār "mercy, grace"), Middle English mildse "mercy, clemency" (from Old English milds, milts "mercy, kindness").

I think you're comparing the Latin words. I mean in English of course. Not in Greek or Latin.

[HiTech RedNeck]

But I would agree in the sense that the highest purpose of mercy from God is to make possible the restoration of a right relationship. The movement of spirit which does that is called repentance.

I think maybe it could be likened to untying a knotted cord. You need some space in which to do it. That space is like mercy. Once it’s untied you don’t need that much space for the untied cord.