230730 Micah 7: The Forgiveness of God

Psalm 103.8 Yahweh is compassionate and gracious, Slow to anger and abounding in lovingkindness

INTRODUCTION

The title of today’s message is “The Forgiveness of God.” Open your Bibles to Psalm 103. Psalm 103 is a magnificient Psalm David as He praises God for His goodness. Let’s begin in verse 1 and I will read through verse 14.

Psalm 103:1–14 | 1 Bless Yahweh, O my soul, And all that is within me, bless His holy name. 2 Bless Yahweh, O my soul, And forget none of His benefits; 3 Who pardons all your iniquities, Who heals all your diseases; 4 Who redeems your life from the pit, Who crowns you with lovingkindness and compassion; 5 Who satisfies your years with good things, So that your youth is renewed like the eagle.

David starts the Psalm by commanding himself to praise God for His goodness - look at what God has done, He has pardoned all your iniquities, He has healed your diseases, He has saved you from destruction, He has elevated you, satisfied and renewed you - praise Him! David then goes on in verse 6 to expand the psalm beyond himself to the people of God. There is a change in direction.

6 Yahweh performs righteous deeds And judgments for all who are oppressed. 7 He made known His ways to Moses, His acts to the sons of Israel. 8 Yahweh is compassionate and gracious, Slow to anger and abounding in lovingkindness.

MAINPOINT

Actually, verse 8 is the main point of today’s sermon, allow me to re-read that verse… Psalm 103.8 “Yahweh is compassionate and gracious, Slow to anger and abounding in lovingkindness.”

What kind of God is like our God? The self existent God is abounding in tender mercy and feels compassion toward His people. Psalm 103.8 “Yahweh is compassionate and gracious, Slow to anger and abounding in lovingkindness.” God does not give us what we deserve, but instead has given to us what we don’t deserve - unmerited favor. He is patient toward us and is not desiring that any should perish and because He loves loyally - because of His חסד we can trust in Him fully.

Let’s continue at verse 9 through 14

9 He will not always contend with us, And He will not keep His anger forever. 10 He has not dealt with us according to our sins, And He has not rewarded us according to our iniquities. 11 For as high as the heavens are above the earth, So great is His lovingkindness toward those who fear Him. 12 As far as the east is from the west, So far has He removed our transgressions from us. 13 As a father has compassion on his children, So Yahweh has compassion on those who fear Him. 14 For He Himself knows our form; He remembers that we are but dust.

Who is a God like Yahweh? Compassionate, gracious, patient and loyally loving? There is no god like Our God! Our God is a God who forgives and that is what we are going to talk about today.

Forgiveness is the relinquishment of any expectation between two parties that a debt will be repaid or that punishment will take place. Forgiveness in no way approves or endorses the offense but releases the offender from obligation. This is what God has done. He has relinquished those found in Christ from our sin debt. He has removed punishment. Today we will be considering the Forgiveness of God.

ROADMAP

Here is our road map for today. We are going to be looking at the forgiveness of God as seen in Micah 7. We are going to look at Micah’s context and what was going on his day and then go to Micah 7.18-19 to see what it says about the forgiveness of God. Then we will look at the quality of God’s forgiveness more broadly - incorporating the rest of Scripture to give us a proper perspective. Then we will close by going to Mark’s Gospel account to see God actively demonstrate His forgiveness. Let’s open in prayer

PRAYER

Psalm 103.8 “Yahweh is compassionate and gracious, Slow to anger and abounding in lovingkindness.”

CONTEXT - From Essential Bible Background

Okay, open your Bibles to Micah. Micah whose name means, “Who is like Yahweh” ministered from 735 to 700 BC. He had a ministry to both the Northern Kingdom of Israel until they were captured and dragged off of the promised land by the Assyrian’s in 722BC, and Micah also ministered to Judah in the south. He was a prophet at the same approximate time as Hosea - which we studied in May and Isaiah which we wrapped up last week.

Micah confronted 4 main issues during his time, Idolatry, Corruption, Injustice, Greed. The situation is pretty dire and Micah 3.2-3 gives a graphic picture of the moral condition of the kingdoms at this time.

Micah 3.2-3 ““You who hate good and love evil, Who tear off their skin from them And their flesh from their bones, And who eat the flesh of my people, Strip off their skin from them, Break their bones, And spread them out as for the pot And as meat in a caldron.””

Micah condemns the wickedness of these two kingdoms and asserts a clear view of the the judgement that is coming but he also prophesied of the coming Messiah in chapter 5.

Today we are in Micah 7.18-19. And this passage is unique because it opens with Micah effectively using his own name. Again in Hebrew Micah means “Who is like Yahweh?” and that is the question we start with as we look at the forgiveness of God today.

SERMON

I. Who is a God like You? (v18) Answers the Who and What and Why

18 Who is a God like You, who forgives iniquity And passes over the transgression of the remnant of His inheritance? He does not hold fast to His anger forever Because He delights in lovingkindness.

Pay close attention here because we get insight into what God does and why He does it. See first how He forgives, in the Hebrew the word that is used for forgiveness is the Hebrew word נֹשֵׂ֤א . It communicates a lifting of a burden. A lifting up and away. What a great picture! It is not simply the forgiveness of a sin debt - no! it is a lifting up and away. What does God lift up and away? עָוֺן֙ or iniquity. This word means perversion, crookedness or twistedness. What else does God do? He steps over or passes over or through transgressions. The word for transgression involves the idea of a rebellious violation of rights that disrupts the relationship between two parties.

What does God do? He lifts up His people’s burden and steps over or through the rebellion. Why does He do that - because He delights, He is greatly pleased to continue in חֶ֫סֶד or lovingkindness. חֶ֫סֶד is a reliable consistent allegiance and willingness to do good on behalf of another with a firm determination. Who is a God like Yahweh? Who lifts off burdens and passes over or through rebellion because of His great delight in חֶ֫סֶד - loyal love.

Why does He do this? He does this for His own sake. Isaiah 43.25 ““I, even I, am the one who wipes out your transgressions for My own sake, And I will not remember your sins.” Why does God do this? Because of His own goodness, not people’s deservedness. Let’s continue with verse 19.

II. (v19) - Furthers the What and answers the Why and How

19 He will again have compassion on us; He will subdue our iniquities. And You will cast all their sins Into the depths of the sea.

Verse 19 is interesting because Micah, he does reveals something fascinating here, and you catch it in the pronouns. Micah 7.19 “He will again have compassion on us; He will subdue our iniquities. And You will cast all their sins Into the depths of the sea.” He uses 1st person plurals and then a 3rd person plural. He switches from “us” to “they.” We know who the “us” is (Israel) but who is the “they?” The answer is found earlier in the chapter and it has special significance for us, here today, because the context of chapter seven speaks not just of Israelites but also Gentiles. Even here in the Old Testament there is great hope that Gentile sin can be dealt with.

Can I enhance a couple of verbs here? The words for “compassion” and “subdue” give a picturesque and graphic illustration of what God is doing. Let’s look at subdue first.

What the text says God subdues is iniquity or perversion. The word for “subdue” communicates the picture of bringing a violent offender to heel. It is a subjugation, a trampling upon. It has a violent component to it. You have seen it when someone runs away from police and perhaps a violent offender and when they catch up to them they forcibly bring them down… Sin must be dealt in this way. It is a violent evil and must be dealt with accordingly. Colossians 3.5-6 “Therefore, consider the members of your earthly body as dead to sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and greed, which is idolatry. On account of these things, the wrath of God is coming upon the sons of disobedience,”

Let’s look at the compassion mentioned here. It’s in the Piel Stem which elevates the word for Compassion to an intensive action. Maybe a way you could understand it would be an God has an “extreme tenderheartedness.” His compassion is a next level compassion, a higher plane of compassion than we can even comprehend. Oh that is good. Who is a God like our God? Violently bring evil to heel and graciously giving extreme tenderheartedness to both Jew and Gentile.

Let’s wrap up Micah with verse 20

III. (v20) - Answers the What and When and Why

20 You will give truth (faithfulness) to Jacob And lovingkindness to Abraham, Which You swore to our fathers From the days of old.

Verse 20 says God gives “truth” your translation may say “faithfulness” to Jacob, lovingkindness to Abraham. What does that mean? Approximately 1300 years previously God had made a covenant, a promise to Abraham, His friend in the first half of the book of Genesis and then He repeated the covenant obligation to Jacob later in Genesis. He is really sure that He will keep the promises made. The word for truth/faithfulness is the word אֱמֶת and it communicates a firmness or trustworthiness. God is trustworthy and that is the reason why Israel can hope. God will do all of this because He will not go back on His Word.

Who is a God like Yahweh? There is none. Psalm 103.8 “Yahweh is compassionate and gracious, Slow to anger and abounding in lovingkindness.”

TRANSITION

But a question that definitely needs to be answered is how does Yahweh do this? If a criminal is caught they must pay, right. I don’t want violent offenders loosed. I want accountability. Don’t we want that? We hear of wicked judges that let off offenders… and it turns our stomach. What about the victim? What about justice? How can God be good or just to let sinners loose? Isn’t this the opposite of what a Holy God does? Think about it? How can God forgive people? Does He just sweep our sin under the rug and call it good? If He did He would not be a good God.

No, He had to ensure that justice was served. That happened in Christ. God poured out His righteous and good anger against the sins which His Son bore on the cross. The Christ drank to the dregs all the wrath of God against our rebellion and perversion. Who is a God like our God? There is no God like our God, forgiving iniquity, transgression and guilt.

Now those who believe in Christ’s righteousness and payment on their behalf have His holy character applied to their account. Furthermore, because of God’s great love the relationship is restored. These are the two elements of Justification. Romans 5.1 says that “Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,” The two elements of Justification involve God as Judge and Father. Pardon and Peace. As a Judge, God can pardon our sins because of what Christ did on the cross. As a Father God can grant peaceful restoration of relationship and favored status.

Let’s look at seven things that God does with our sin and the passages we are going to go through communicate a comprehensive, holistic dealing with every aspect of our sin.

APPLICATION - The Forgiveness of God

Yahweh has removed our פשׁע (Evil-doings) as far as the east is from the west Psalm 103.12 “As far as the east is from the west, So far has He removed our transgressions from us.”

Yahweh cast our sins behind His back Isaiah 38.17 ““Behold, for my own well-being I had great bitterness; But it is You who has held back my soul from the pit of nothingness, For You have cast all my sins behind Your back.”

Sin will be sought for and not found Jeremiah 50.20 “‘In those days and at that time,’ declares Yahweh, ‘search will be made for the iniquity of Israel, but there will be none; and for the sins of Judah, but they will not be found; for I will pardon those whom I leave as a remnant.’”

Our sins are cast into the depths of the sea by God Micah 7.19 “He will again have compassion on us; He will subdue our iniquities. And You will cast all their sins Into the depths of the sea.”

We are forgiven of all past present and future sins by the Father because of the Son Colossians 2.13 “And you being dead in your transgressions and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He made you alive with Him, having graciously forgiven us all our transgressions.”

Our sins are remembered by God’s Holy Spirit no more Hebrews 10.17 ““AND THEIR SINS AND THEIR LAWLESS DEEDS I WILL REMEMBER NO MORE.””

Removed by Christ’s cleansing blood 1 John 1.7 “but if we walk in the Light as He Himself is in the Light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin.”

SO WHAT? Our Sin is Removed in Christ - this hinges on the resurrection of Christ 1 Cor 15.17 “And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is worthless; you are still in your sins.”

GOSPEL PRESENTATION

CONCLUSION

Please turn with me to Mark chapter 2 as I conclude this message. Today we have considered the forgiveness of God. We have seen His abundant faithfulness to His covenant promises on full display. We has seen how He has dealt with our sins. Surely our God is a great God. Psalm 103.8 “Yahweh is compassionate and gracious, Slow to anger and abounding in lovingkindness.” He has not dealt with us as our sins deserved. He has not paid us our wages - oh Isaiah 53.5 tells us how we were made clean. God bore our iniquity in Himself, “But He was pierced through for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; The chastening for our peace fell upon Him, And by His wounds we are healed.” In faith which God supplies we accept the forgiveness offered.

I had us turn to Mark because I want us to internalize or better understand God’s willingness to forgive… and the faith required to benefit from it.

Mark 2:1–12 | 1 And when He (Jesus) had come back to Capernaum several days afterward, it was heard that He was at home. (This is Jesus’ home)

2 And many were gathered together, so that there was no longer room, not even near the door; and He was speaking the word to them. 3 And they came, bringing to Him a paralytic, carried by four men. 4 And being unable to bring him to Jesus because of the crowd, they removed the roof over where He was; and when they had dug an opening, they let down the mat where the paralytic was lying. 5 And Jesus seeing their faith said to the paralytic, “Child, your sins are forgiven.” Look at the warmth, the reception given by Jesus to those who had destroyed His roof. Child, your sins are forgiven. What wonderful words to hear from the Life Giver. Cleared, made whole, separated from sin - beautiful. And then Christ backs up the veracity of His pardon with a proof. He shows a sign to the people in His home that He is able to forgive. Go to verse 6

6 But some of the scribes were sitting there and reasoning in their hearts, 7 “Why does this man speak that way? He is blaspheming; who can forgive sins but God alone?” 8 Immediately Jesus, aware in His spirit that they were reasoning that way within themselves, said to them, “Why are you reasoning about these things in your hearts? 9 “Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, ‘Your sins are forgiven’; or to say, ‘Get up, and pick up your mat and walk’? 10 “But so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins”—He said to the paralytic, 11 “I say to you, get up, pick up your mat, and go to your home.” 12 And he got up and immediately picked up the mat and went out before everyone, so that they were all amazed and were glorifying God, saying, “We have never seen anything like this.”

But we have, what will our response be? Since God is who He claims to be let us approach the throne of Grace with confidence Hebrews 10.22 “let us draw near with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.”