“Because He Delighteth In Mercy”
Micah 7:18
In Christ and
for his sake, the God of glory delights in mercy. It is his glory and pleasure
to be merciful. Mercy is never a mere wish or dormant desire in God to do
something for miserable sinners. Oh, no! God’s mercy in Christ is ever active,
operative, and effectual. God’s mercy in Christ is gloriously effectual. Look
at what Micah says God will do for sinners, because “he delighteth in mercy.”
Iniquity Pardoned
He will pardon
iniquity, because “he delighteth in
mercy.” He who is our God is the
holy Lord God “that pardoneth iniquity.” The
word “pardoneth” means that he lifts up sin and takes it away. He lifts sin up
off of us and lays it upon Christ, the true scapegoat who takes it away. That
is exactly what happened at
Transgression Passed By
The Lord God
passes by the transgression of his remnant, because “he delighteth in mercy.” There
is an elect remnant among the fallen sons and daughters of Adam, chosen of God
unto eternal life, whose sins were put away by the sacrifice of Christ, “a remnant according to the election of
grace.” Having put away their transgression by the sacrifice of his Son,
God passes by it, taking no notice of it, as if he did not see it, because he
does not see it (Num. 23:21). Therefore, he will never impute sin to his people
nor call them into account for it (
As C. H. Spurgeon put it, “Our sins are so effectually removed that we shall not ultimately suffer any loss or damage through having sinned.”
He who is our
God forgives sin. His very name is forgiveness (Ex. 34:5-7) God forgives sin
completely, absolutely, irreversibly, and forever, because he forgives it
justly! God forgives sin upon the basis of justice satisfied. He forgives the
sins of those for whom Christ died, because justice satisfied demands it (Rom.
Anger Not Retained
God will not retain his just anger against his people, because “he delighteth in mercy” (Isa. 12:1-2). God’s anger, wrath, and justice, being fully satisfied in the sufferings and death of Christ, are turned away from his people. Where there is no offense, there is no cause for anger. Since God has put away our sins by the sacrifice of his dear Son, he has no reason to be angry with his people; and he never is!
Don Fortner