SEV Biblia, Chapter 7:18
¿Qué Dios como tú, que perdonas la maldad, y que pasas por la rebelión con el remanente de su heredad? No retuvo para siempre su enojo, porque es amador de misericordia.
Clarke's Bible Commentary - Micah 7:18
Verse 18. Who is a God like unto thee, &c.] Here is a challenge to all idol worshippers, and to all those who take false views of the true God, to show his like. See his characters; they are immediately subjoined. 1. He pardoneth iniquity. This is the prerogative of God alone; of that Being who alone has power to save or to destroy.
2. He passeth by transgression. He can heal backsliding, and restore them that are fallen.
3. He retaineth not his anger forever. Though, justly displeased because of sin, he pours out his judgments upon the wicked; yet when they return to him, he shows "that he retaineth not his anger forever," but is indescribably ready to save them.
4. He delighteth in mercy. Judgment is his strange work: he is ever more ready to save than to destroy. Nothing can please him better than having the opportunity, from the return and repentance of the sinner, to show him that mercy without which he must perish everlastingly.
5. Because he is such a God-1. "He will turn again." His face has been long turned from us, because of our sins. 2. "He will have compassion upon us" pity our state, and feel for our sorrows. 3. "He will subdue our iniquities." Though they have been mighty, he will bring them down, and bruise them under our feet. 4. "He will cast all their sins into the depths of the sea." Will fully pardon them, and never more remember them against us. Instead of µtafj chattotham, THEIR sins, five MSS. of Kennicott's and De Rossi's, with the Septuagint, Syriac, Vulgate, and Arabic read wnytafj chattotheynu, OUR sins. He wiil plunge them into eternal oblivion, never more to come into sight or remembrance; like a stone dropped into the "depths of the sea.
John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 18. Who [is] a God like unto thee , etc.] There is no God besides him, none so great, so mighty, as he; none like him for the perfections of his nature; for the works of his hands; for the blessings of his goodness, both of providence and grace; and particularly for his pardoning grace and mercy, as follows: that pardoneth iniquity : that “lifts” it up, and “takes” it away, as the word signifies; thus the Lord has taken the sins of his people off of them, and laid them on Christ, and he has bore them, and carried them away, as the antitype of the scapegoat, never to be seen and remembered any more; and whereas the guilt of sin lies sometimes as a heavy burden upon their consciences, he lifts it up, and takes it away, by sprinkling the blood of Christ upon them, and by applying his pardoning grace and mercy to them: pardon of sin is peculiar to God; none can forgive it but he against whom it is committed; forgiveness of sin is with him, promised by him in covenant, proclaimed in Christ, by him obtained and published in the Gospel: and passeth by the transgression of the remnant of his heritage ? the people of God are his portion, his lot, and his inheritance; they are a remnant according to the election of grace, chosen of God, taken into his covenant, redeemed by Christ, and called by grace, and brought to repent and believe; these God forgives, even all their transgressions, sins, and iniquities of every kind; which is here expressed by another word, “passing [them] by”, or “passing over [them]”: sin is a transgression or passing over the law, and pardon is a passing over sin; God taking no notice of it, as if he saw it not; not imputing it to his people, or calling them to an account for it; or condemning and punishing them according to the desert of it; but hiding his face from it, and covering it: he retaineth not his anger for ever ; that which he seemed to have against his people, and appeared in some of the dispensations of his providence, is not continued and lengthened out, and especially for ever, but it disappears; he changes the course of his providence, and his conduct and behaviour to his people, and, hews them his face and favour, and manifests his forgiving love; which is a turning himself from his anger; (see Psalm 85:2,3 Isaiah 12:1); because he delighteth [in] mercy ; which is natural to him, abundant with him, and exercised according to his sovereign will and pleasure, very delightful to him; he takes pleasure in showing mercy to miserable creatures, and in those that hope in it, ( <19E711> Psalm 147:11); this is the spring of pardon, which streams through the blood of Christ.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 14-20 - When God is about to deliver his people, he stirs up their friends to pray for them. Apply spiritually the prophet's prayer to Christ, to take care of his church, as the great Shepherd of the sheep, and to go before them, while they are here in this world as in a wood, in thi world but not of it. God promises in answer to this prayer, he will do that for them which shall be repeating the miracles of former ages. A their sin brought them into bondage, so God's pardoning their sin brought them out. All who find pardoning mercy, cannot but wonder a that mercy; we have reason to stand amazed, if we know what it is. When the Lord takes away the guilt of sin, that it may not condemn us, he will break the power of sin, that it may not have dominion over us. I left to ourselves, our sins will be too hard for us; but God's grac shall be sufficient to subdue them, so that they shall not rule us, an then they shall not ruin us. When God forgives sin, he takes care tha it never shall be remembered any more against the sinner. He cast their sins into the sea; not near the shore-side, where they may appea again, but into the depth of the sea, never to rise again. All their sins shall be cast there, for when God forgives sin, he forgives all He will perfect that which concerns us, and with this good work will do all for us which our case requires, and which he has promised. Thes engagements relate to Christ, and the success of the gospel to the en of time, the future restoration of Israel, and the final prevailing of true religion in all lands. The Lord will perform his truth and mercy not one jot or tittle of it shall fall to the ground: faithful is He that has promised, who also will do it. Let us remember that the Lor has given the security of his covenant, for strong consolation to all who flee for refuge to lay hold on the hope set before them in Chris Jesus __________________________________________________________________
Original Hebrew
מי 4310 אל 410 כמוך 3644 נשׂא 5375 עון 5771 ועבר 5674 על 5921 פשׁע 6588 לשׁארית 7611 נחלתו 5159 לא 3808 החזיק 2388 לעד 5703 אפו 639 כי 3588 חפץ 2654 חסד 2617 הוא׃ 1931
