Mercy

Introduction

Forgiven. No word could possibly be sweeter. All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. To be forgiven is to have the slate wiped clean. It isn’t that consequences are gone or that memories are forgotten but forgiveness means that the past no longer has control over the present or future. There are those who live with the guilt of the past. Forgiveness has never been received. There are those who live in hatred toward another. Hurt so deeply, forgiveness cannot be given. The hatred lies deep within and the result is bitterness and a loathing of another and failure to take responsibility. The blame game gets spread around. It is always some else’s fault.

Forgiven. A sweet word only if it is received. Some hold on to their sin refusing to allow God to forgive. James Garfield was elected president in 1880 and sworn in on March 4, 1881. In July of 1881, Garfield was shot in the back as he waited for a train. The assassin’s bullet lodged near the president’s spine. A doctor tried to find the bullet. Inserting his finger into the wound, he prodded only to fail. He then inserted a metal probe looking for the bullet but failed. Other doctors came. Even Alexander Graham Bell came with his newly invented “metal detector” but no one could locate the bullet. One doctor probed so vigorously that Garfield’s liver was punctured. What is so amazing about this story is that Garfield didn’t die immediately from the assassin’s bullet. From all the probing and prodding, Garfield developed a blood infection and although shot in July of 1881 did not die until September of 1881. Such is the case when one focuses on their sin. Instead of forgiveness, an infection of the heart rises. Bitterness, hatred, doubt, insecurity—all because forgiveness is not received.

Today we are going to finish our study of Micah. As we focus on the final chapter of Micah, we notice that this prophesy ends with words of triumph and victory. The prophesy of judgment gives way to a section of praise that God will restore and forgive his people. As God describes himself in Exodus 34—He delights in forgiving sin and showing mercy. Micah uses the same words to describe God here. Let’s be encouraged.

Confession

In this last section of Micah, we have the assurance that Israel though judged will rise again. To rise again means that one has fallen. There is a confession of reality, “Because I sinned against him, I will bear the Lord’s wrath.” (Vs. 9) The reality of sin is that one falls. It is also interesting that when a person falls there are those who want to gloat over such. There is a part of us that wants to see evil fall. It is interesting that we rarely see ourselves in that role. We want others to fall not ourselves. But God’s wrath comes against the one who sins.

But notice that at the end of verse 9, it is God who restores. It is God who brings the sinner out of darkness and into the light. Why? Because the sinner admits sin. There must be admission of sin on our part. With that admission comes the realization that God is the only one who can deal with our sin problem. But the sinner doesn’t want to admit sin. The sinner doesn’t want to accept responsibility. The sinner blames another’s actions. Like little children we hear the voice cry out “he made me do it.”

Events may make sinning easier, but no one forces us to go against the will of God. We choose our sin and with that choice, God’s wrath must come. The sinner who wishes to rise again must admit sin; must take responsibility for the evil done in life; must wait for God to bring into the light. But why is confession so difficult? Embarrassment; pride; comparison with others thinking ourselves not as bad as another; minimizing how much we hurt another; the desire to be in control and to exert power. Let’s make sure we are clear—without admission of sin and confession, forgiveness cannot be given or received.

Exaltation

With confession comes another truth. Verse 10 tells us that when God brings into the light, the question about God’s presence disappears. When Jerusalem was invaded both by Assyria and eventually captured by Babylon, the people cried out to God but because of their sin they were defeated. Surrounding nations scoffed at Israel’s God; they saw Israel’s defeat as the lack of power of their God. What the surrounding nations failed to see was the punishment of God because of Israel’s sin.

In a similar way, the anticipation is that God is supposed to rescue us from every event and discomfort. We may not recognize our need to deal with sin and to change our lives. This is not to suggest that disease or calamity are directly connected with sin, but that every event gives us an opportunity to evaluate and change to more closely align with God’s will. When we confess our sin and God brings us into the light, we find that what we want to do is exalt God. Those who question God’s presence and power foolishly believe that God is a cosmic Santa Claus meant to bring about our every desire. Instead in our confession, we repent in humility and God is exalted as the One who is worthy of all praise.

As verse 16 says, “nations will see and be ashamed, deprived of all their power.” When we are living for ourselves, then we have to be right; we have to be in control; we have to win, but when we are living for God then all that matters is that he is seen. Confession leads to the realization that only God is worthy of praise. Only God is to be seen. Only God is to be exalted. We quit speaking but we speak as God speaks. We turn a deaf ear to the world’s voice and listen for the clear call of God. At some point the realization comes that we are in this world for one purpose only—to reveal God to others.

God’s Mercy

The final three verses of Micah 7 end with the question “Who is a God like you?” There is something unique about God. Our God doesn’t stay angry. In fact, he delights in showing mercy. He is faithful toward us. He longs to forgive. But unlike us, when God forgives he does not remember our sin. Micah says that he tramples our sin underfoot or he grinds our sin into the ground. And he hurls our iniquities into the depths of the sea. Our sins drown in the sea. Who indeed is like God?

Our sin alters relationship. Our sin breaks trust and dampens feelings of closeness. But our God renews and restores. Confessed and repented sin are forgiven. Sweet words indeed. Perhaps the name Jeffrey Dahmer means little to you. The seriousness of his crimes do not need to be rehearsed. From his youth, Dahmer was bent on destruction, immorality, and death. Eventually convicted of 15 murders, Dahmer was sentenced to 15 life terms in prison. Even at his sentencing, Dahmer begged for death rather than imprisonment. His victim’s families sought justice. But how does one make the pain and suffering equal?

Dahmer went to prison in 1992. In 1994, Dahmer met Roy Ratcliff and studied the Bible. Dahmer was baptized into Christ in February 1994. On November 28, 1994, Dahmer and another inmate were beaten to death by Christopher Scarver, a fellow prisoner. Roy Ratcliff conducted Dahmer’s funeral on December 2, 1994 and he spoke these words: Jeff confessed to me his great remorse for his crimes. He wished he could do something for the families of his victims to make it right, but there was nothing he could do. He turned to God because there was no one else to turn to, but he showed great courage in his daring to ask the question, ‘Is heaven for me too?’ I think many people are resentful of him for asking that question. But he dared to ask, and he dared to believe the answer.

Your first thought may be “but I’m not Jeffrey Dahmer” or it may be “I don’t see how God could forgive someone like that.” My question is this—why isn’t your first thought thanksgiving and praise that God forgives? For the God who forgives a Jeffrey Dahmer is the same God who forgives you. If God forgives a Jeffrey Dahmer then nothing is too hard for God. Your sin can be forgiven too. What keeps you from confessing, repenting and changing your life? What keeps you from living for God rather than for self?

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