Psalm 130:4

Psalm 130:4

There is forgiveness with God

After Moses had smashed the stone tablets containing the first set of Ten Commandments, he returned to Mount Sinai, to make atonement for the people who had been worshipping a golden calf at the foot of the mountain. An extraordinary conversation develops between Moses and the Lord, which is recorded in Exodus 32 to 34. During this dialogue between a man and the Lord God, the Lord tells Moses, “The Lord, the Lord, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness, maintaining love to thousands, and forgiving wickedness, rebellion and sin.” Exodus 34:6-7. 

It has always been in the heart of God to forgive man’s sin, to forgive your sin and my sin. His character has never changed; it is still His heart’s desire to forgive us. The greatest act of forgiveness that the world has ever seen, was the sacrifice of His Son, Jesus Christ, for the sins of the world. That is why the rejection of His forgiveness, and all that Jesus did is so unpardonable. There is not a man or woman alive who does not gain from accepting God’s forgiveness, and yet most turn away and reject His love and His faithfulness and His pardon. How stupid is that!

If God did not forgive, we would all be in a sorry state. We would have to flee from Him in terror. We would have to live our lives in fear of His judgement and lay awake at night anticipating the full horror of His retribution and rejection. Instead, those who believe are welcomed by Him, elevated to be children in His family and honoured as His sons. We are given rights that we do not deserve and protected and provided for in ways beyond imagination. The threat of punishment has been taken away and we live in the glow of His acceptance and the knowledge that He plans for our future way beyond this life. What a God! What forgiveness! No wonder the psalmist plans to serve the Lord with reverence. So should we. 

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