Forgiveness With God

"If You, LORD, should mark iniquities, O Lord, who could stand? ⁴ But there is forgiveness with You, that You may be feared."

Psalm 130:3-4

Last night I tossed and turned after going to bed.  Summer heat coupled with sinus congestion made initial attempts to sleep fruitless.  So I decided to meditate on noble and praiseworthy aspects of God's character in gratitude.  Paul's exhortation in Philippians 4:8 is fitting for night and day:  "Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy--meditate on these things."  Who is more true, noble, just, pure, lovely, good, virtuous, or praiseworthy than God?  He is the ultimate personification of all these qualities and infinitely more.

Isn't it amazing a holy and just God of absolute purity should be forgiving?  If God gave us sinners what we deserve we would be consumed in eternal fire.  God is forgiving because He is loving but not at the expense of justice.  If God marked our iniquities forever eternity in hell would be our just lot.  It is phenomenal that not only does God forgive us of sins but fully pardons us through the atoning blood of Jesus Christ.  We who place our faith in Jesus as LORD and Saviour and are born again He expunges our permanent record of sins.  Having nailed the Law which condemned us to the cross, we are forever free of condemnation.  In His grace the righteousness of Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God, is imputed or credited to each soul purchased by the Gospel.

The Psalmist makes a remarkable conclusion concerning the impact being forgiven ought to have on us:  "But there is forgiveness with You, that You may be feared."  The fear of God is not always accompanied with forgiveness and salvation, for even the demons tremble in fear before the Almighty.  The point is all who have been forgiven ought to fear and reverence God.  It would be a grave error to not fear God after He has revealed Himself to us, offered Himself as a sacrifice for sins as our substitute, redeemed us from the curse, and has adopted us as His own beloved children.  If the fear of God worked in us as aliens from the commonwealth of God, condemned by our sins for eternity, how much more ought we fear Him as LORD and Father!  On the basis of His forgiveness alone He deserves our fear, obedience, and undying love.

The Psalmist concluded the song with the result of forgiveness and fearing the LORD in Psalm 130:5-7:  "I wait for the LORD, my soul waits, and in His word I do hope. ⁶ My soul waits for the Lord more than those who watch for the morning--yes, more than those who watch for the morning. ⁷ O Israel, hope in the LORD; for with the LORD there is mercy, and with Him is abundant redemption."  In the fear of the LORD the psalmist waited for the LORD and hoped in His Word.  There was an expectancy in hearing from the LORD which was more sure than sun rising over the horizon.  In the darkness we can hope in the LORD because there is mercy and abundant redemption in Him.  How good is God and great is His kindness and grace to us!  Praise the LORD there is forgiveness with Him, and blessed are those who fear and hope in Him.