God’s Forgiveness

Seek the LORD while He may be found; call to Him while He is near. Let the wicked one abandon his way, and the sinful one his thoughts; let him return to the LORD, so He may have compassion on him, and to our God, for He will freely forgive. - Isaiah 55:6-7 HCSB

God calls sinners to seek Him and promises them forgiveness when they repent. However, though He is patient, there is a limit to His patience. We must not presume upon His grace.[1]

The prayer for forgiveness be timely and accompanied by clearly demonstrated repentance. Solomon, at the dedication of the temple, prayed that God would forgive His people if and when they repented of their sins and sincerely served Him.[2] The Ransomed, those Believers who have confessed their sins and truly repented of them, place their faith in this wonderful aspect of God and believe that their sin-darkened hearts are made as white as snow.[3]

Like Solomon, we should seek forgiveness not only for ourselves individually but for our people. Nehemiah and Solomon both confessed and sought forgiveness for the sins of God’s people.[4] If we stubbornly insist that our nation is always in the right, that it never makes mistakes, is never greedy and never sins, we will lose God’s favor. We will lose the blessings that He has so graciously given us.

Authority, whether civic or religious, means nothing before God. Even Yahweh’s ministers need to confess their sins, repent of them and seek His forgiveness. For example, Zechariah had a vision of the high priest in filthy clothes, which were removed and replaced with pure white garments.[5]

Forgiveness brings joy to the repentant heart. David sang joyfully after he repented of adultery and God forgave him.[6] Up until that time David had been depressed.[7] That is the way of sin. The thing we thought would bring pleasure and freedom actually brings depression, fear and imprisonment.

However, God readily forgave David when he repented and confessed his sin.[8] David rested his hope of forgiveness, not on his good works or on his ability to “turn over a new leaf” but on Hashem’s faithful love and abundant compassion.[9]

We need to believe God when He says that He will not despise a broken spirit and contrite heart.[10] God wants to help us. He does not want us to live a life characterized by or dominated by fear.[11] Hashem is ready and waiting to forgive anyone who asks.[12]

God's mercy cannot even be measured. It is as high as the heavens. When He forgives our sins, they are infinitely far from us.[13] God not only puts our sins out of sight; He also put them out of reach;[14] He puts them out of mind;[15] in fact, He puts them completely out of existence.[16]

[1] Isaiah 55:6-7
[2] 1 Kings 8:33-36, 46-53
[3] Isaiah 1:18-20
[4] Nehemiah 1:6-7; 1 Kings 8:50
[5] Zechariah 3:1-5
[6] Psalm 32:1-2
[7] Psalm 32:3-4
[8] Psalm 32:5
[9] Psalm 51:1
[10] Psalm 51:17
[11] Isaiah 44:2
[12] Psalm 86:4-7
[13] Psalm 103:11-12
[14] Isaiah 38:17; Micah 7:19; Psalm 103:12
[15] Jeremiah 31:34
[16] Psalm 51:1, 9; 43:25; 44:22; Acts 3:19