Verse of the Day 5/22

 

Micah 7:18-19 )Who is a God like you, pardoning iniquity
    and passing over transgression
    for the remnant of his inheritance?
He does not retain his anger forever,
    because he delights in steadfast love.
¹⁹ He will again have compassion on us;
    he will tread our iniquities underfoot.
You will cast all our sins
    into the depths of the sea.   English Standard Version

Many people avoid the Old Testament feeling that it portrays God as a God of anger and wrath.  Today's verses go against that argument.  The prophet Micah starts off with a question "who is a God like you"?  The question is actually a play on the prophets own name which is a shortened version of Micaiah, which means "who is like the Lord".  He answers the question by listing some of God's attributes and character qualities.

 

He pardons, passes over willful disobedience on our part, doesn't remain angry but shows compassion, mercy and steadfast love and tosses the record of our transgressions to the depths of the sea.  As we've considered many times before, He accomplished this, showed His love for us in sending His Son, Jesus to deliver us, to redeem us, that we might live with Him  in fellowship for eternity by grace through faith. (John 3:16-17).

 

Charles Spurgeon writes, "cast the burdens of the present, along with the sins of the past and the fear of the future, upon the Lord, who forsakes not his saints."  The burdens start with our sins and transgressions but also include our hopes and fears for the present and future.  Remember today that He "delights" in showing His steadfast love.

 

Blessings,
Mike
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Micah 7:18-20

Amplified Bible (AMP)

¹⁸ Who is a God like You, Who forgives iniquity and passes over the transgression of the remnant of His heritage? He retains not His anger forever, because He delights in mercy and loving-kindness.

¹⁹ He will again have compassion on us; He will subdue and tread underfoot our iniquities. You will cast all our sins into the depths of the sea.

²⁰ You will show Your faithfulness and perform the sure promise to Jacob and loving-kindness and mercy to Abraham, as You have sworn to our fathers from the days of old.