MICAH 7:18

The book of Micah brilliantly ends with a rhetorical question that speaks volumes about the magnificence of our truly amazing God. Certainly, as a result, we can all testify about his amazing grace and mercy perpetually demonstrated, not just to Israel but to all the people of God in every age and clime. His goodness was and is demonstrated not just to the prophets and apostles but to all of humankind. Micah distinctly queries, “Who is like unto thee that pardoneth iniquity, and passeth by the transgression of the remnant of his heritage?…”(Micah 7:18). He pardons and does even more. He wipes the slate clean and magnanimously drops all the charges against us to the complete disappointment and aggravation of the enemy.

May the people of God never forget that this is probably the best and greatest thing about us – the fact that He has pardoned our iniquities, not just some of them but all. The Psalmist clearly corroborates this for us in Psalm 103:3. He states “Who forgiveth all thine iniquities . . . ” (Psalm 103:3). We can undoubtedly pride ourselves today in the fact that we are the forgiven people. Forgiven people have no right to be proud, conceited, or ungrateful. It remains our unchanging testimony that mercy is His speciality. He, who could have stoned us to death and condemned us graciously said “. . . Neither do I condemn thee, go and sin no more” (John 8:11). I think it is worth repeating and rehearsing – mercy is His speciality. We shall always be known even in eternity as the redeemed people of the Most High God.

It is enlightening how the Message Bible paraphrases these final words of the prophet Micah, who is known as a messenger of justice and mercy. It states, “Where is the god who can compare with you – wiping the slate clean of guilt, turning a blind eye, a deaf ear, to the past sins of your purged and precious people . . .” (v.18). Here He is aptly described as the incomparable God, There is absolutely none with whom He can be compared. What precious thoughts are conveyed to us about our God. How refreshing to know that He has no equal. He turns a blind eye and a deaf ear to the sins of our past. To be referred to as His purged and precious people is nothing simple or ordinary.

The prophet is careful to point out that the Lord will turn again and He will have compassion on us. The plain truth is we mess up so many times, yet His compassion finds us. His compassion is on its way to us. We are told “Like as a father pitieth His children, so the Lord pitieth them that fear Him” (Psalm 103:13). Thank God He does not give us what we deserve. He paid the price of our redemption. Instead of allowing us to suffer and eventually die, He rescued and granted us reprieve and pardon. He does not retain his anger forever. He remembers to show mercy. He delights in mercy (v.18).

The prophet finally reveals not only did God pardon our iniquities, but he also claims that this merciful God will stamp out all our wrong doings and will cast all our sins into the depths of the sea (v7:19). If this doesn’t exhilarate us and cause us to rejoice, nothing else can and will. Today, let us simply rejoice in this most liberating thought that “Mercy is His speciality.” We are gracious recipients of His mercy!