"If thou, LORD, shouldest mark iniquities, O Lord, who shall stand? But there is forgiveness with thee, that thou mayest be feared."
Psalm 130:3-4
Part 2
Yesterday we saw the impossibility of ever being “not guilty,” if God is only watching us to keep that itemized list of every sin we do. It is freeing to learn that this is not how God deals with His children. He does so much more for us.
“But there is forgiveness with thee,”
What wonderful words! “There is forgiveness with the LORD!” Jehovah is the God of mercy.
“O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good; for his mercy endureth for ever,” (1 Chronicles 16:34).
“Because his nature is mercy, and because he has provided a sacrifice for sin, therefore forgiveness is with him for all that come to him confessing their sins.”1 (Spurgeon)
“Many sorrows shall be to the wicked: but he that trusteth in the LORD, mercy shall compass him about,” (Psalm 32:10).
Our God deals with His child’s sin based on the sacrifice of His Son Jesus. Jesus has provided a way that our sins are forgiven.
“And he [Jesus] is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world,” (1 John 2:2).
“The Septuagint2 renders this…, propitiation, reconciliation; … The Hebrew word means ‘pardon.’ The idea is, that sin may be forgiven; or, that God is a Being who does pardon sin, and that this is the only ground of hope,”3 (Barnes).
Jesus is the one…
“In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace,” (Ephesians 1:7).
We always need to remember, “There is forgiveness with” Him…
“That thou mayest be feared.”
This may seem like a strange way to end this verse until we remember that this kind of “fear” is speaking of “reverence,” it is “standing in awe of” the Lord. It is not the kind of “fear” that a bully instigates by his size, strength, or ugly disposition. In fact, the bully’s kind of fear does just the opposite, there is no respect or reverence there, but there may be a pity and feeling sorry for the bully. Because God forgives us, we are inspired to love Him, respect and serve Him. We are drawn to our God by His love, care, and forgiveness for us.
“None fear the Lord like those who have experienced his forgiving love. Gratitude for pardon produces far more fear and reverence of God than all the dread which is inspired by punishment.”4 (Spurgeon)
Have you taken your sin to the Lord that He may cleanse you? (1 John 1:9)
1. C.H. Spurgeon, Treasury of David, the electronic version in eSword.
2. The Septuagint is the Old Testament translated from Hebrew into Greek, for the Greek speakers of that day.
3. Albert Barnes, Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible, the electronic version in eSword.
4. C.H. Spurgeon, ibid.