The Pulpit Commentary — Micah — Section 113

pardoning grace: "Ho retaineth not," etc. (vers. 18, 19). Let us reflect 11pon the incomparableness of the Lord our God, viewed as the Divine Forgiver. Consider- I. WHAT THIS DIVINE FOnOIVENE88 IMPLIES. 1. The great /uct of ain. There arn those who have endeavoured to explain a.way this solemn fact of sin; who contend that there is not to be found in man any intentional preference of wrong to right; that what we call sin is something predicable of society rather than of the in<lividual; that man himself is right enough, but lacks the science required to org;anize society rightly; •.and that what we call sin is after all only the development of these discordant causes in society, See Bushnell's reply to this, setting forth on this theory our inconsistency in blaming the persons by whom sinful act~ have been wrought, and in censuring -Ourselves when we have done unworthy acts, etc. (' Nature and the Supernatural,' ,eh. v.). There is no escape from admitting the great fact of sin. The Word is • unerring BS it declares that "a.II have sinned, and come short of the glory of God" (Rom. iii. 23); that " there is none that doeth good, no, not one" (Rom. iii. 12); and that " every mouth must be stopped, and the whole world stand guilty before God " •(Rom. iii. 19). 2. The Divine interposition with a view to the de/,iverana of the race from this tern'ble blight. We can form no true conception of the Divine forgiveness ,unless these facts of personal guilt and transgression, and of the Divine interposition in -0rder to our deliverance, are kept prominently before llll. And even at this stage our ·.admiration is called into exercise, and we cry, "Who is a God like unto thee?" ThiBI is intensified as we consider- II. WHAT TBIB DIVL'IE FORGIVENESS INCLUDES. It includes deliverance from the 11Bd •consequences of sin. Note what these are, 1. Mark thB consequences of tin to ·the individual. (1) There is loss of power. Every spiritual defeat is attended by the weakening of mor~l strength. (2) There is disquietude of conscience. (3) S,paratwn, from God. There can be no communion where there is contrariety of nature. "How .,can two walk together except they be agreed?" (4) Suffering and death. The con- nection between the spirit and the body is so intimate that the body necessarily suffers through the disorganization sin has wrought in the soul. 2. Consequences resv.'ting lo tJociety. These also a.re sad and distressing. "The bad inheritance passes, and fears, ·frnuds, crimes against property, character, and life, abuses of power, oppressions of the weak, persecntions of the good, piracies, wars of revolt, we.re of conquest, are the staple -0f the world's bitter history. It is e. pitiless and dreadful power, a.s fallen society must .necessarily be'·' (Bushnell, ' Nature and the Supernatural,' p. 123). The Divine for- giveness· means. deliverance from all these sad consequences of evil. It is not a bare pardon merely; but it carries with it enfranchisement from the blighting effects of evil There is the impartation to the forgiven of a Divine power, an inward spiritual force to ,,enable -them ·to resist the evil and downward tendcncie~; the lost power is restored, ,and which is mighty in" subduing our iniquities" (ver. 19). There is the impartation to the forgiven of peace of conscience; the discordant and disturbing elements a.re hushed; the harmonies are restored. There is the experience of renewed communion -with the Eternal. The soul, accepted and renewed, would ever abide at the feet or the Lord. There is oneness and agreement now, and hence fellowship is possibfo .and practicable, yea, is felt to be de;irable and essential "Blessed are the pure in •heart: for they shall see God.'' And whilst suffering and death remain, yet by a. Divine alchemy, the character of these life-sorrows becomes entirely changed, and they cease to be ·viewed as harsh inflictions, but are accepted as the loving discipline by which •the Divine·Father renders the character perfect and entire, whilst" the sting of death" ,having been taken away, the terror also is gone. And as men become thus brought into this holy experience will the regeneration of the world and its complete deliverance from, evil ·be brought to pass. W\Jat a fulness of meaning, then, there is when God ·is spoken of a.s "pardoning iniquity" I And as we think how that this forgiveness .carries with it all the privileges, honours, and enjoyments here and hereafter of the •spiritual life, our admiration of him who has made all this possible to the iudividual and the·race rises higher still, and we cry with wondering and adoring love," Who is a. God lil{e unto th, e?" III. WHAT THIS DIVINE FOROIVE~Ess INVOLVES. 1. It has invPlved on the part of .(]od all that is comprehended in the gift and work of his Soo Jesus Christ; for it is <:through C\Jrist o.lone that thia forgiveness of sin is aecured. "1n him have wa 116 THE BOOK OF MICAII. [en. vn. 1-20.