PLENTEOUS REDEMPTION

After requesting that his prayer might be heard, vv. 1, 2, the psalmist recalls the one barrier to all communion with God, “If thou, Lord, shouldest mark iniquities, O Lord, who shall stand?”, v. 3. The word here rendered “mark” is used twice in verse 6, where it is translated “watch”. The American Berkeley Version renders it by the phrase “keep-in-mind”, and a footnote amplifies this to mean, “strictly watch, and keep in memory in order to punish”. “Who shall stand?” means “stand before God in judgment and maintain innocence” (A. G. Clarke).

The question is rhetorical, i.e., the answer is self-evident; “No man could sustain that righteous judgment. He must go down before it like a flimsy hut before a whirlwind, or a weak enemy before a fiery charge” (Maclaren).

Having recalled man’s guilt, however, the psalmist recalls God’s grace, “But there is forgiveness with thee, that thou mayest be feared”. Amazingly, God is not disposed to keep our iniquities in mind with a view to judgment. There is forgiveness with Him; He would rather pardon than punish! This truth gripped the prophet Micah, “Who is a God like unto thee, that pardoneth iniquity, and passeth by the transgression of the remnant of his heritage? he retaineth not his anger for ever, because he delighteth in mercy”, Mic. 7. 18.

We who live in the gospel era know the secret of the divine pardon. We have been to Calvary and have learnt that forgiveness is based on sacrifice. It is the Lord Jesus “in whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins”.

We conclude by noting that forgiveness leads to fear! “There is forgiveness with thee, that thou mayest be feared”, v. 4. The psalmist does not envisage a craven fear, a dread that God may change His mind, a lurking terror that judgment may yet overtake us after all. For the believer, the thunders of Sinai are silenced for ever. No, the psalmist means a pious fear, a reverent fear of grieving our pardoning God, a sensitive concern to live holy lives, a fear of dishonouring in any way the Lord who bought us.

“Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God”, 2 Cor. 7. 1.