Who is a God like You, pardoning iniquity and passing over the transgression of the remnant of His heritage? He does not retain His anger forever,because He delights in mercy. He will again have compassion on us, and will subdue our iniquities. You will cast all our sins into the depths of the sea. You will give truth to Jacob and mercy to Abraham, which You have sworn to our fathers from days of old. (vs18-20)
Confidently trust in Jesus the Lord. We deserve wrath, it is true, but He is MERCIFUL, delighting Himself in His love to sinners who deserve to be punished. “He delights in mercy. He will again have compassion on us, and will subdue our iniquities” (vs19). He chastens us in love and brings about a change, using painful terrors to awaken us. But, He has a people promised life eternal, and though we DESERVE wrath, He'll save!
What is your hope? It cannot be that you haven't sinned and all is well. “The best of them is like a brier; the most upright is sharper than a thorn hedge; the day of your watchman and your punishment comes; now shall be their perplexity” (vs1-4). It must be that God is gracious.
First, don't let go of this hope for any reason (vs5-7). “Do not trust in a friend; do not put your confidence in a companion; guard the doors of your mouth from her who lies in your bosom. For son dishonors father, druthers rises against her mother, daughters-in-law against her mother-in-law; a man's enemies are the men of his own household. Therefore I will look to the Lord; I will wait for the God of my salvation; My God will hear me”. People are wicked, but you hold to Christ, trusting Him with everything. It doesn't matter what others say. They can't give the joy of Christ, and anything they give, God WILL remove. He says, “And hoe who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me” (Matt 10:38). Trust Him though people turn from you, because God will reward you.
Trust Him, secondly, when times are tough, when sin has got you, and when you're bearing the shame of your behavior (vs8-13). “ Do not rejoice over me, my enemy; when I fall, I will arise; when I sit in darkness, the LORD will be a light to me. I will bear the indignation of the LORD, because I have sinned against Him, until He pleads my case and executes justice for me. He will bring me forth to the light; I will see His righteousness. 10 Then she who is my enemy will see, and shame will cover her who said to me, "Where is the LORD your God?" My eyes will see her; now she will be trampled down like mud in the streets.” Don't think this is a “good time” only gospel, but pull yourself up. Trust His love, when you deserve to be banished. Trust the blood to cleanse, trust the Spirit by the blood, and trust the promises and patience of God. “For we through the Spirit eagerly wait for the hope of righteousness by faith” (Gal 5:5). The change will be done by Him, faithfully.
Thirdly, trust the fact He delights in mercy (vs14-20). “He does not retain His anger forever, because He delights in mercy”. When things look the worst with us, when we've been chastened and lowered because of sin, we are not cast off, but we are in the position to be used, because He saves sinners, and He uses people who have ruined things, by chastening us, destroying our idolatry, and coming back to us, revealing the GRACIOUSNESS of Himself. “In the day when your walls are to be built, in that day the decree shall go far and wide. In that day they shall come to you from Assyria and the fortified cities, from the fortress to the River, from sea to sea, and mountain to mountain. Yet the land shall be desolate because of those who dwell in it, and for the fruit of their deeds” (vs11-13). He isn't so far away, unwilling, or in any way dealing with us by what we deserve. He is gracious and mighty. Not only is He willing, but just like you love refreshment when weary, love your wife or your own soul, infinitely more, God delights to show mercy to all who believe on Him, and He will show it to all that He's chosen and predetermined. “You will give truth to Jacob (God's elect) and mercy to Abraham (the children of faith), which You have sworn to our fathers from days of old” (vs20). Don't be a downcast person trusting your merits, but have REAL hope before God based on who He is.
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