The Pulpit Commentary — Micah — Section 123

J. THE PREROGATIVE OF PARDON 19 OLAIMED BY GOD FOR HIMSELF. He knew the neede of hie children, and therefore proclaimed his pardoning love from the first. Even amid the terrore of Sinai he revealed himself as a God. "pardoning iniquity." David was emboldened to come into his presence, after the commission of most grievoua eine, praying," Have mercy upon me, 0 Lord, according to thy loving-kindness," etc. He pardons of hie own free-will, because, as Micah says," he delighteth in mercy,"' and with a perfect knowledge of what le worst in us, he declares his willingness to forgive all who are penitent. Thie power he has delegated to no man. If Jesus had simply been human, the Pharisees would have been justified in saying," This ma.n blasphemeth," when he forgnve the sine of the paralytic. Nor did our Lord's declaration to his apostles. "Whose sine soever ye remit, they are remitted unto them," endue them with a super- natural or exclusive privilege. Their right was only ministerial and declarative, and i& shared by all those who, by Divine grace, ha.ve ~en made" kings and priests unto God." II. DIVINE PABDON SEEMS THE M0BE WONDERFUL WHEN COMPARED WITH MAN'S FOB• GIVENEss. " As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways," etc. Suppose the case of an employe, who, ha.ving robbed his master, is detected, but on evidence of sincere contrition is reinstated in his position. His restitution ie accompanied by hard terms, he is watched suspiciously, and his employer considers that he has been exceptionally generous to restore him at all. Contrast this with what our Lord tells of God's pardoning love in his parable of the prodigal son. Instead of being refused, hie father sees him " when a great way off; " instead of angry reproaches, he has "compassion upon him ; " instead of cold reserve, he falls on his neck, and kisses him; instead of suspicion, there is gladness, and all the house is filled with music and dancing. Or take, as another contrast, the reception given at home to a girl who has gone wrong, with the touching story of our Lord's love to the woman who was a sinner. And Jesus says, "He that hath seen me bath seen the Father." "Who is a God like unto thee, that pardoneth iniquity?" III. DIVINE PABDON IS PB0FFEBED FOB ALL KINDS OF BIN'. Different words are used here and elsewhere in order to show that no sort of wrong-doing is exempt from pardon; so that the moral and the vicious, those who ha.ve sinned inwardly or out- wardly, may alike be encouraged to return to the Lord. " Transgression" is an act of evil committed against a Law acknowledged to be holy. It signifies stepping across a. line which is drawn and visible. "Iniquity" is the inward tendency which respond& to suggestions of evil; which we cannot root out, and which· makes self-reformation hopeless. " Sins" are acts done from wrong motives. All these it is promised shall be done away with on our repentance. IV. DIVINE PARDON 19 COMPLETE AND THOROUGH. 1. "Thou 1D'lit cast all Uieir sins- into the depths qf the sea." If we drop a knife into a tidal pool, we can see it and. regain it; but if we sail out of sight of Jani!, and drop it overboard in the "depths of the sea," it is gone for ever. So completely gone are our forgiven sins. 2. "He wiTZ l!Ubdue our iniquities." If our nature is not sanctified, we shall only do &,,"'lWl our evil deeds. All our affections and thoughts must be subjected to the Divine will, and this can only be the result of God's own work. CONCLUSION. How can God be }ust, and yet our Justifie:r P This mystery, which lies at the root of his moral government, finds its only answer in the cross of Christ. God's laws are eternal and inexorable. He cannot swerve from absolute righteousness. Bin must bring shame, misery, and death, here and hereafter. If, therefore, God had. said all shall be overlooked, the penalty shall be removed, the Law repealed, it would appear to myriads of intelligent beings (compared with whose multitude the human race is as nothing) that the Law was either unjust in its enunciation or unjust in its. repeal. Yet a senHe of the perfect integrity of God is the foundation of his creature's bliss. But the Son of God became the Son of man. He gathered up into himself all the sympathies, powers, and sufferings of our race. He stood forth as our Represen- tative, vindica.ting the Law by his obedience, and dying on the cross for transgressors. '!'his would evoke grander reverence for Law than if the race had been punished; and BUch a display of love wins all hearts from disobedience. "My faith would lay her hnnd On that dear head of thine, While like a penitent I sttlnd, And there 0011fe11 my sin." A. R.  120 THE BOOK OF MICAH. [OH, VII, 1-20,