The Pulpit Commentary — Micah — Section 121

power (Deut. xxxiii. 26), his faithfulness (1 Kings viii. 23), his deliverance of the oppressed (Ps. xxxv. 10), his condescension to the lowly (Ps. cxiii. 5, 6). In a won!., in his character o,nd in all his dealings he stands alone (Ps. lxxxix. 6---8). II. "THAT PARDON ETH INIQUITY," This is as essential a part of God's character a~ is maternal love in a mother's heart. When Moses said to God, "I beseech thee, show me thy glory," the answer was, "I will make all my goodne/J$ pass before thee, and I will proclaim the Name of the Lord before thee" (Exod. xxxiii. 18, 19). And when the eub!ime proclamation was made, one of the essential elements of Jehovah's character, as revealed in his Ne.me, was "forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin" (Exo<l. xxxiv. 5-7). God loves to be reminded of his Na.me, and to see that it is that on. which our hopes of pardon rest; e.g. Numb. :xiv. 17-20; Ps. xxv. 11; lxx:xvi. 5, 15; cxxx. 4 ; Dan. ix. 9. III. "AND PASBETH DY THE TDANSGBEBSION OJ' THE REMNANT OF HIS HEBITAGE," This denotes a continua.I action on the pa.rt of God. Isolated acts of pardon would not meet the case. He comes with bis eyes as a flame of £re, and yet he does not " mark iniquities" (Ps. cxx.x. 3; and cf. Numb. xx.iii. 21). What he commends he practises (Prov. xix. 11). Yet not because of any laxity in bis relations to sin, but because of his righteoll8 grace. Such declarations of Divine mercy as the Old Testament is full of can only be perfectly understood when read in the light of the New Testament, and of the atoning sacrifice of Christ, "for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the fust covenant;" "Whom God set forth to be a Propitiation, through faith, by his blood, to show his righteoll8ness, because of the passing 011er of the sins done afore- time, in the forbearance of God " (Rom. iii. 25; Beb. ix. 15). IV, "HE BETAINETH NOT BIB ANGEB FOB EVER, BECAUSE HE DELIGETETB IN l\lERCY." In the midst of words of grace we have a distinct recognition of anger as one of God's perfections. So in Exod. :x.x:xiv. 7, "that will by no means clear the guilty." If he were not angry with sinners he would be less perfect. This truth needs to be emphasized in the present days of superficial views of sin. But if he were to retain hia anger for ever, it would be fatal (Isa. lvii. 16). So "he will not always chide," etc.; he "will not cast olf for ever ; but though he call8e grief, yet will he have compassion according to the multitude of his mercies" (Ps. ciii. 9 ; Lam. iii. 31, 32). Antl this "becall8e he delighteth in mercy." In its literal sense "he is bent on mercy." Proofa of this crowd on us from every side. We see it in the history of Israel (N eh. ix.16-19, 26-31; Ps. lx:xviii.), in the cross of Christ (1 John iv.10), in the long lives of many of the most impenitent (Rom. ii. 4), and in the experience of those who are now rejoicing in salvation (Eph. ii. 4-7; Titus ill. 4-7). It is therefore a joy to God to forgive and save. The parables of Luke xv. 1-10 remind us of this. The pearl of parables that follows might be called, not" 'l'he prodigal son," but" The long-suffering and rejoicing father." v. "HE WILL TURN AGAIN, HE WILL HAVE COMPASSION UPON us." In our idiom 11 He will again have compassion on us." When God sent Jesus Christ "preaching peace" to Israel, it was no new thing. It was the latest and sublimest illnstration of a Divine habit (Heb. i. 1). In the wilderness-days," he, being full of compassion, forgave their iniquity, and destroyed them not: yea, many a time turned he his anger away, and did not stir up all his wrath " (Ps. lx:x.viii. 38). Th113 God treated them all through their history. See the summary of the later history of Judah in 2 Chron. xxxvi. 14-16, " . . . till there was no remedy," etc. Bnt he again had compassion; he turned again their captivity, according to his promises by Moses (Deut. x.u. 1-6). And though they crucified the Christ, and were " broken off," they are still " beloved for the fathers' sake." God will again have compassion on them (Zech. xii. 10-14; xiii. 1). " And so all Israel shall be saved." These repeated acts of the mercy in, which God delights may encourage the vilest to appeal for forgiveness, "according nnto the multitude of thy tender mercies" (Ps. li. 1). VI. "HE WILL SUBDUE OUR INIQUITIES." He will tread them down, trample them underfoot. One of the marked peculiarities of the Divine forgiveness is the result on the sinner himself. No one pardons with such a good effect on the sinner pardoned. Some are disappointed in those they forgive. Not so God. Whenever he remits siu he reforms the sinner, His salvation being from the love and the power as wel-l as the :punishment oi &in, a sinner cannot grasp the pardon and neglect the purity. Nor docs 124 THE BOOK OF MICAH. [on. VIL 1-20.