Micah 7:18 Who is a God like to you, that pardons iniquity, and passes by the transgression of the remnant of his heritage?… I. THE CHIEF PARTICULARS OF GOD'S GRACIOUS DEALINGS WITH HIS PEOPLE (ver. 18). What now calls forth the admiration and praise of the prophet, is the manner in which God deals with His people's sins. Our God is distinguished from all others as a God that pardoneth iniquity. All iniquity is rebellion against infinite love and goodness, a trampling upon God's laws, a casting off of His authority, a doubt of His holiness, a contempt for His power. Then it surely is marvellous that the Most High God should pardon iniquity; and go about to pardon iniquity in such a costly way, even by the incarnation and death of His own co-equal Son. But the prophet is not content with merely stating this precious truth, but he amplifies it, and keeps our attention fixed on it, by adding more particularly, "and passeth by the transgression of the remnant of His heritage." God calls His Church His heritage or possession, His "peculiar treasure." His heritage is only a remnant. And even this remnant, is not pure and holy. As a person can least brook faults or blemishes in that which he hath especially set apart for his own honour and pleasure, so it was least to be expected that the "transgression of the remnant of God's heritage" should be spared. It was every way most justly to be feared that they would be cast off as unprofitable, rejected forever. But such are not the ways of our God. He passeth by their transgression. The reason is not in them, but in God Himself. He is thus merciful to them, because He "delighteth in mercy." II. THE BELIEVER'S ENCOURAGEMENT IN THE EXPECTATION OF YET FUTURE MERCIES. This is the invariable result of a lively sense of God's goodness, it leads us to desire and look for more. The Lord hath always abundantly more grace in store for His people than they have appetite to enjoy. The prophet adds to his previous account of God's great mercy to His people, this confiding expectation of future blessing. It is not all God's desire that sin should be forgiven, He would also have it overcome. He will subdue our iniquities. III. THE BELIEVER'S WARRANT FOR HIS HOPEFUL ANTICIPATIONS. The grounds on which these promises rest for their fulfilment. It is because of the covenant which God made with Abraham and his seed for evermore, that we may confidently look for the sure performance of God's gracious word to them that believe. It is called "mercy to Abraham," because it was made with him, in the first instance, entirely of God's free grace. This covenant was "truth to Jacob," because the faithfulness of God was now engaged to make good to the son of Isaac what He had freely promised to his father. And God confirmed His promise to Abraham by an oath. And "because God could swear by no greater, He sware by Himself." This covenant was made sure in Christ. Can we then, after this brief review of God's great mercy to us in Christ, refuse to unite with the prophet in ascribing glory to His name? And must we not, at the same time, be careful to see to it, that we answer to this description of Christ's covenant members; and that we "do justly, and love mercy, and walk humbly with our God"? (W. E. Light, M. A.) Parallel Verses KJV: Who is a God like unto thee, that pardoneth iniquity, and passeth by the transgression of the remnant of his heritage? he retaineth not his anger for ever, because he delighteth in mercy. |
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