November 20, 2018 -- Psalm 99:8-9 -- The God-Who-Forgives

You answered them, O LORD our God;

You were to them God-Who-Forgives,

Though You took vengeance on their deeds.

Exalt the LORD our God,

And worship at His holy hill;

For the LORD our God is holy.

Psalm 99:8-9 NKJV

What a description of Himself God reveals to us. He is the God-Who-Forgives. Look at the context found in Psalm 99 for the important explanation of this Name.

The God-Who-Forgives is not a vending machine, offering forgiveness without feeling or consequence. Notice that God takes vengeance on the deeds of sinners. Sin, our sin, has been punished on the Person of Jesus at the cross.

Furthermore, note that God is holy. Those who call out to Him are not those trying to get away with as much sin as possible. Those who call out to the LORD their God recognize He has lifted us from the coffin of our sinfulness and rescued us from the open pit grave of our wickedness.

According to verse 1, those who bow before the God-Who-Forgives, tremble before Him. We know the holy angels who surround the LORD our God are commanded not to allow sinners to flirt with sins that would cause us to fall back into the grave. So we tremble before the God-Who-Forgives so that we with thanksgiving will praise Him and honour Him for His tremendous kindness shown us in His forgiveness of our sin.

Who is like You, O LORD God?! Blessed be Your Name, God-Who-Forgives. Forgive us our sins: murderous thoughts, meddlesome ways, greed, anger, callousness against the suffering of others, and our tendency to enthrone our desires as ultimate. Spirit of the Living God direct our will and working so that we walk in extravagant mercy shown us in Jesus Christ, in Whose Name we pray. Amen.