Incomparable Mercy

Article Written by Pastor Phil Bray

Who is like the LORD? Who can compare with Him? I recently finished a book, The Blessed and Boundless God by George Swinnock. This short little book explores that question thoroughly, walking the reader through countless Scriptures to demonstrate the absolute incomparability of God. He is in a category all His own. There is none like Him.

What struck me profoundly was his citation of Micah 7:18: “Who is a God like You, who pardons iniquity and passes over the rebellious act of the remnant of His possession? He does not retain His anger forever, because He delights in unchanging love.” God’s uniqueness is displayed in His treatment of sinners. What sets God apart from angels and men is how He responds to sinners. Who is like You, God? No one else pardons iniquity like You do! No one else passes over slights, insults, and rebellious acts like You do! He forgives sinners! He pardons the guilty! He passes over rebellion, treating the rebel as a friend!

Does this mean that God is a pushover—a doting parent who simply cannot seem to bring Himself to discipline unruly children? We have all seen such parents: those who fear the child will not like them if they discipline them, or who are simply too lazy to instruct a child by correcting her. This is not love. It is self-indulgence rather than doing what is best for the child in that moment. Is this what God is like? By no means. In fact, in Micah we see that God is disciplining His children, Israel. They are receiving the consequences for their actions. Do not forget Hebrews 12:5–6: “My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the LORD, nor faint when you are reproved by Him; for those whom the LORD loves He disciplines, and He scourges every son whom He receives.” Consistent, instructive discipline is an act of love by a parent. Even in Micah we are told that the anger of the Lord over their sin has come.
Look at verse 18 again: “He does not retain His anger forever, BECAUSE He delights in unchanging love.” God does not long endure His anger over our sin—why? The reason is because God is a God who delights in, takes pleasure in, the unchanging and unfailing love displayed in forgiveness. God’s forgiveness of sinners, even if we experience the temporary disciplinary consequences for our sins, flows out of the delight God has in lovingkindness and mercy! God delights in loving His people! That is the reason His anger is short-lived!
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“He will again have compassion on us; He will tread our iniquities under foot. Yes, You will cast all their sins into the depths of the sea” (Micah 7:19). God’s faithful love quickly brings His legitimate anger over our sin to a halt. What does God’s faithful love look like in action? He has compassion on us, and He tramples our sin! He does not trample us! He does not cast us into the sea. He does not cast us out! No! He separates us from our sin, tramples our sin into the dust, and then casts it into the deepest depths of the sea! Jesus came to save us from our sins (Matt. 1:21). God is utterly and wonderfully unique because He delights in showing the faithful love of One characterized by compassion and mercy. He takes pleasure in showing mercy! This is who our God is! Do not run away from God when convicted of your sin. Run to Him, because He is the God who loves to show mercy and lovingkindness to sinners!