Micah 7:18 Who is a God like to you, that pardons iniquity, and passes by the transgression of the remnant of his heritage?… Heathen religions rest on the principle of terror. This appears in the very aspect of their gods. The enlightened nations even formed their gods on this principle. They put the thunder into the right hand of their Jupiter; they placed the eagle at His feet; they represented Him as ruling the world by terror. It was reserved for revelation to present the Divine character in the full circle of His perfections. To "delight in mercy" was a conception, in connection with the Deity, which the heathen world would never have formed. I. THE GOD OF THE CHRISTIANS IS LOVE. "God is Love," said the Apostle John; and all His various perfections are but so many modifications of love. II. ALL HIS TRANSACTIONS WITH MEN HAVE PROVED HOW MUCH HE DELIGHTS IN MERCY. Even the covenant of works was but an introduction to the display of Divine mercy; and if sin had not entered into the world we should not have known the thousandth part of His love. III. THE GOD OF THE CHRISTIANS HAS WRITTEN HIS CHARACTER IN A BOOK. Its histories, prophecies, laws, doctrines, threatenings, promises, all tell of the mercies of the Lord. IV. ALL THE WORKS OF GOD GO TO SHOW THAT THE GOD OF THE CHRISTIANS DELIGHTETH IN MERCY. The world was made as a theatre for His mercy. His providence displays His mercy. Every act of mercy is to allure men to the provisions of mercy; every act of judgment is to alarm men that they may avail themselves of His mercy. V. VIEW THE SUBJECT IN REGARD TO THE SCHEME OF OUR RECOVERY. This, from first to last, is a revelation of the richest mercy. What is the incarnation of the Son of God? What are the miracles? What were His sighs, but the heart's breath of His mercy? What His death, but the sacrifice of His mercy? What is the Gospel, but the royal proclamation of mercy? VI. ALL THE PERFECTIONS OF GOD ARE EMPLOYED IN ILLUSTRATING HIS MERCY. His eyes are employed in exercises of mercy, in watching its objects, and ascertaining their wants. His ears are ever open to the cry of the needy. His lips are employed in uttering the thoughts and purposes of mercy. His hands are engaged in works of mercy. His feet are ever hastening to the relief of the objects of His mercy. His wisdom, power, justice, truth, sovereignty, immutability are all occupied in the designs of His mercy. VII. THE INNUMERABLE FORMS IN WHICH GOD'S MERCY APPEARS SHOW THAT HE DELIGHTETH IT MERCY. The whole of the water of the world is called the ocean, but this takes various names, according to the shores it washes. As the Atlantic, German, Pacific, Indian, etc. So it seems with the mercy of God. It bears different names, according to the state of those whom it visits. It is either calling, protecting, pardoning, or comforting mercy. How unbounded are the stores and resources of Divine mercy. Then should not we too be merciful; delighting in mercy even as doth our heavenly Father? (A. Waugh, D. D.) 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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