Open your Bibles, if you would,
to Micah, Chapter 7. The name of the message is Jehovah,
the incomparable one. Jehovah, the incomparable one.
Micah, Chapter 7. Verses 18 to 20. Who is a God like unto thee? who is a God like unto thee,
that pardoneth iniquity, and passes by the transgression of
the remnant of his heritage. He retaineth not his anger for
ever, because he delighteth in mercy. He will turn again, he
will have compassion upon us, He will subdue our iniquities
and that will cast all their sins into the depths of the sea.
That will perform the truth to Jacob and the mercy to Abraham. Which he has sworn unto our fathers. From the days of old. Now our text tonight will be
found in the words, who is a God like unto thee? Who is a God
like unto thee? Which is a question about Jehovah,
the one true living God, the God of Israel, the God of our
Bible, the God of all grace, the great God, Father, Son, and
Holy Spirit. Now remember the setting of our
text, and keep in mind that this is true even in our time, because
there's nothing new under the sun, right? We often think, well,
this wasn't, this situation or this setting isn't the same as
what we're going through, but there's nothing new under the
sun. At the time of this writing, people worshiped multiple gods,
multiple gods. There was a god for the harvest.
There was a god, the sun was worshipped as a god and pagan
religions had many various gods. Nothing's changed. Nothing's
changed. The people of India worshipped
hundreds of different gods. There was people all over. People
worshipped Buddha and Mohammed and all these other gods, these
false gods. People even worshipped Mary.
Set a statue up and it's an idol. Nothing new under the sun, beloved.
Nothing new under the sun. Various gods are worshipped by
different people. And that's gods with a little
g. But here, this question here brings forth that there is none
like the one true living God. There's none like him. All other gods are false gods.
Dead and not living. Figments of people's imagination.
But our God is living. He is an incomparable God to
anything or anyone. There's no one like Him. None. Turn, if you would, over to Isaiah
46. He's incomparable. Isaiah 46,
verses 5 to 11. Now, the definition for the word
incomparable is this. I'll give you the definition
as we turn over there. It's eminent beyond comprehension.
Eminent beyond comprehension. We can't comprehend His majesty. It's matchless is another word
definition for it. Without an equal. Without an
equal. Not suitable for comparison.
Unable to be comprehended. Totally different. Now let's
look in Isaiah 46 verses 5 to 11. And let's see what the scripture
says about our Lord. to whom will ye liken me, and
make me equal, and compare me, that we may be like. They lavish
gold out of the bag, and weigh silver into balance, and hire
a goldsmith, and he maketh a god, maketh a god, and they fall down,
yea, they worship. They bear him upon the shoulder,
they carry him, and set him in his place, and he standeth from
his place, shall he not remove? Yea, one shall cry unto him,
yet he cannot answer, nor save him out of his trouble." It's
a piece of gold or a piece of rock or stone. Can't save the
person who cries out to them out of their trouble. Remember
this and show yourselves, men. Bring it to mind. Bring it again
to mind. Oh you transgressors, remember
the former things of old, for I am God and there is none else. This is what the God of the Bible
declares. He's God and there's none else. These false gods are
incomparable. There's none like me. That ties
in with the definition without an equal. Without an equal. Not suitable for comparison. Unable to be compared, totally
different. Look what it says about our great
God, declaring the end from the beginning. He knows things from
the end to the beginning. We only know things from the
beginning to the end, don't we, in our lives. He knows it the
other way around. Look at this, and from ancient
times the things that are not yet done He chose the people
in Christ, didn't he? And they shall be saved and they
will be saved. He saves his people, but he chose
them in Christ in eternity. My counsel shall stand. That
means no one can thwart him. None. And I will do all my pleasure. He saves whom he wills. And God's
people are amazed that he saved us. Amazed. Call on a ravenous
bird from the east The man that executed my counsel from a far
country, yea, I have spoken it, I will also bring it to pass.
I have purposed it, I will also do it. What a statement there.
Yea, I have spoken it, so what God speaks, what will happen? I will also bring it to pass.
It shall come to pass. No one will thwart it. No one. I have purposed it, I will also
do it. No one will change his purpose.
He says no counselors, Presidents and leaders have counselors and
they seek wisdom from their counselors. God doesn't seek wisdom or counsel
from anyone. He doesn't need to. He's not
like any of us. He's incomparable. Now in Scripture we see God's
incomparable difference from the false gods which the pagans
worshiped. Turn if you would to 1 Samuel chapter 5. We see
His superiority proved and the worthlessness of heathen gods
on various occasions. We know during Egypt with the
ten plagues, that was an attack on every one of their gods. When
the prophets of Baal were destroyed on Mount Carmel, and many other
times in Scripture, he's proved his superiority. And he's proved
the worthlessness of the heathen gods. Look at this portion in
1st Samuel. This is a portion I love to look
at. And we see God's power on display.
The Philistines took the ark and put it in the house of their
false god Dagon. Look at this in 1st Samuel chapter
5 verses 1 to 12. And the Philistines took the
ark of God and bought it from Ebenezer unto Ashdod. When the
Philistines took the ark of God, they bought it into the house
of Dagon and sat it by Dagon. They sat it by their false god,
the statue of their false god. And when they of Ashdod rose
early on the morrow, beheld Dagon was fallen upon his face to the
earth before the ark of the Lord. And they took Dagon and set him
in his place again. See, their false god couldn't
pick himself up, could he? Because it's a piece of stone.
It's a false god. It's a false god. And when they
arose early on the morning, behold, Dagon was fallen upon his face
to the ground before the Ark of the Lord. And the head of
Dagon and both the palms of his hands were cut off upon the threshold.
Only the stump of Dagon was left to him. Therefore, neither the
priests of Dagon nor any that came into Dagon's house tread
on the threshold of Dagon in Ashdod until this day. But the hand of the Lord was
heavy upon them of Ashdod, and he destroyed them and smote them
with emeralds, even Ashdod and the coast thereof. And when the
men of Ashdod saw that it was so, they said, the ark of the
God of Israel shall not abide with us, for his hand is sore
upon us and upon Dagon our God. They sent, therefore, and gathered
all the lords of the Philistines unto them and said, what shall
we do with the ark of the God of Israel? let the ark of the
God of Israel be carried about unto Gath. And they carried the
ark of Gath, or ark of God of Israel, about Thiler. And it
was so that, after they had carried it about, the hand of the Lord
was against the city with a very great destruction, and he smote
the men of the city, both small and great, and they had emeralds
in their secret parts. Therefore they sent the ark of
God to Ekron, And it came to pass, as the ark of God came
to Ekron, that the Ekronites cried out, saying, They have
brought about the ark of God, the God of Israel, to us, to
slay us and our people. They knew about it. So they sent
and gathered together all the lords of the Philistines and
said, send away the ark of the God of Israel and let it go again
to his own place, that it slay us not and our people. For there
was a deadly destruction throughout all the city. The hand of God
was very heavy there. And the men that died not were
smitten with emeralds and the cry of the city went up to heaven. So right there on display in
this passage is the power of the one true and living God,
as opposed to the false god, Dagon. So let us consider some points
in which our great God is incomparable to anything else or anyone else. The first point I'd like us to
consider is this. Jehovah is incomparable in existence. Turn, if you would, to Psalm
115. All other gods are false gods. They cannot hear and they
cannot see. They have eyes, but they can't
see. They have ears, but they can't hear. They have hands,
but they can't help. And we saw that with Dagon, right?
We saw that in 1 Samuel 5. He was incapable of hearing or
speaking. They're just dumb idols with
no power. And Psalm 115 plainly declares
this. And think of this in contrast
to our great God who hears the prayers of His people. And He sees all things, and He
has all power to do whatever He wants. Look at Psalm 115,
verses 4 to 7. Their idols are silver and gold,
the work of man's hands. They have mouths, but they speak
not. Eyes have they, but they see not. They have ears, but
they hear not. Noses have they, but they smell
not. They have hands, but they handle
not. Feet have they, but they walk
not. Neither speak they through their
throat. Now turn, if you would, to 1 Corinthians, chapter 8.
1 Corinthians, chapter 8. And we see here over in the New
Testament the Scriptures declare in 1 Corinthians, chapter 8,
verses 4 to 6. As concerning, therefore, the
eating of those things that are offered in sacrifice unto idols,
we know that an idol is nothing in the world, and there is none
other God but One. For though there be that are called gods, whether
in heaven or in earth, as there be gods many and lords many,
But to us, to God's people, there is but one God. There's only
one God, the true and living God, the Father, of whom are
all things, and we in Him, in one Lord Jesus, by whom there
are all things, and we by Him. Number two, Jehovah is incomparable
in being and actions. And this is clear in His glorious
holiness. The angels in His presence have
to cover themselves. And what do the angels cry in
His presence? What do they do? They cry, Holy,
Holy, Holy is the Lord of hosts. The whole earth is full of His
glory. He's incomparable in being and
actions. in the wonders He has performed.
Who is like unto Thee, O Lord, among the gods? Who is like Thee,
glorious in holiness?" Who is like the Lord, glorious in holiness?
Exodus 15 says, verse 11. Fearful in praises, doing wonders. Who is like Him? No one. Thou stretchest out Thy right
hand, the earth swallows This is speaking of Korah and his
rebellion. Thou and thy mercy has led forth
the people which thou has redeemed. Thou has guided them in thy strength
unto thy holy habitation. So the Lord is incomparable in
being and actions. The Lord is incomparable in reliability. Turn, if you would, to 1 Samuel
2, verse 2. 1 Samuel 2, verse 2. He's incomparable in reliability. Now, we as humans tend to rely
upon one another, but our Lord is one who will
never let you down. You may let me down and I may
let you down, but the Lord will never let us down. Never. Never. Never ever. Look at 1 Samuel 2, verse 2. There is none holy as the Lord.
That ties in with the last point. None as holy as the Lord. And
there's none beside thee, neither is there any rock like our Lord.
Now he is the one alone who we rely upon. There's no other rock
like our Lord. We humans tend to sometimes rest
upon each other. But the believer is done resting
on anyone or anything, including themselves. Our rock, our rest
is Christ and Christ alone. He's the only one who we can
rely on. He's incomparable in reliability. He's the rock of our salvation.
He's the only one we seek refuge for, for our eternal soul. And may
we marvel at this, that we who believe are in Christ. Who is
God. And God's people are eternally
secure in Him. Eternally secure in Him. He shall
cry unto me, Thou art my Father, my God, and the rock of my salvation. God's people cry unto Him. Psalm
89, 26. We cry unto Him, beloved. And
He's our Father, isn't He? He's our Father. He's our God. He's our rock. The next point
is, Jehovah is incomparable in keeping promises. Turn, if you
would, to 1 Kings. 1 Kings. Now, we sometimes promise
to do something and we don't do it. That's how we are. That's how
we are. Now, we try to keep our promises,
don't we? But sometimes we don't. But when God promises something,
He'll never let us down. What He promises comes to pass.
Remember earlier in Isaiah when He said, What I speak shall come
to pass? It does. It does. Look at 1 Kings
8, verses 23 and 24. The Lord Jehovah is incomparable
in keeping promises. 1 Kings 8, verses 23 and 24.
And He said, Lord God of Israel, there is no God like Thee in
heaven above or on earth beneath. who keepeth covenant and mercy
with thy servants. God has given a people in Christ
in the covenant in eternity, hasn't he? He's given us to Christ. He's
promised us to Christ. We're his. And he's shown mercy to us. Who
has kept with thy servant David, my father, that thou promised
him Thou speakest also with thy mouth, and hast fulfilled it
with thine hand. Note he keeps covenant, he keeps
his covenants, and he is merciful. And that which he has promised,
he fulfills. He fulfills. By his hand. By his almighty,
unmatched, incomparable power. Fifth, our Lord is incomparable in deliverances. Turn, if you would, to Psalm
35, verse 10. This precious truth has been
tried and tried and tried again and tested by God's people all
through the ages. He has delivered us and He will
continue to deliver His people from trials, troubles, from the
enemy of our souls and from the wicked around us. Look at Psalm
35, verse 10. All my bones shall say, Lord,
who is like unto thee, which delivers the poor from him that
is too strong for him? Yea, the poor and the needy from
him that spoils him. Notice, which delivereth the
poor from him. Are you poor? Are you a poor
and needy sinner? I am. Are you a mercy beggar? I am. Lord delivers. The poor in spirit. And how do
we know that we're poor, beloved? How do we know that we're bankrupt?
We didn't think that before, did we? Because God's taught
us it's so. And he's taught us too, that
he delivers his people time and time and time again. As I said,
this is a truth that's been tried and tested by God's people all
through the ages. Psalm 71, 19, the Scriptures
declare, Thy righteousness also, O God, is very high. Who has
done great things, O God, and who is like unto Thee? What a
great deliverance God has done in delivering us from our sins,
beloved. In delivering us from our sins.
He delivers us in our constant weakness. Are you weak? Are you weak? He is strong. He
is strong. And He delivers us in our constant
weakness. He constantly shows us how weak
we are. How much we need Christ. And
Christ alone. And what a great God and Savior
is our Lord Jesus Christ. The sixth point is Jehovah is
incomparable in righteousness. In righteousness. Turn if you
would to Psalm 71.19. He's incomparable in righteousness. Psalm 71, verse 19. Look at this statement in verse
19. Thy righteousness also, O God,
is very high. Who has done great things, O
God? Who is like unto Thee? Now notice
there. Thy righteousness also, O God,
is very high. Now the righteousness of Christ
is accepted by God the Father in heaven. And this is what is
spoken of in this text. And this righteousness is higher,
infinitely higher above any righteousness of creatures or angels or men. Now think of this. God demands
perfection. He demands perfect righteousness
for us to be in His presence, doesn't He? He demands that. God's holy. We're sinners. Left
to ourselves, we can't stand in His presence, beloved. He
demands absolute perfection in righteousness. He demands a perfect, holy righteousness. The Lord Jesus Christ, the God-man,
God incarnate in the flesh, Weaves that perfect quote of righteousness
for us in his life and in his death. Thus God provides
that which he requires. Isn't that amazing? God provides for his covenant
people, his elect, that which he requires. His righteousness. His perfect, spotless, holy righteousness. And the believer is clothed in
the righteousness of Christ. And Christ did all this for His
covenant people. Whom He loved with an everlasting
love. And let us never forget He who
is our righteousness is seated at the right hand of the Father
in glory right now. Seventh, Jehovah is incomparable
in works. Turn, if you would, to Psalm
86, verses 8 to 10. Psalm 86, verses 8 to 10. We'll be in Psalms here for a
little bit, so... Psalms 86, verses 8 to 10. Jehovah is incomparable in works. Among the gods there is none
like unto thee, verse 8. Oh Lord, neither are there any
works like unto Thy works. Now notice we see this is a thread
all through Scripture. Comparing the one true God to
the false gods. Among the gods there's none like
unto Thee. They're just a bunch of stones. Dumb idols. Oh Lord, neither are there any
works like unto Thy works. These dead idols can't do any
works, can they? They can't perform anything for
the people who make them. All nations whom thou hast made
shall come and worship before thee, O Lord, and shall glorify
thy name. Think of this. There is God's
elect in every tribe, tongue, kindred, and nation, beloved. That's amazing. For thou art
great and dost wondrous things. And the believer can say, oh
my, the wondrous things he's done for me. God himself became
a man and died for me. Shed his blood for me. God chose
me in eternity. A sinner. This is wondrous. For thou art great and dost wondrous
things. Thou art God alone. There it is again. He being king of kings and lord
of lords is the only potentate and he judges over all things
both in heaven and in earth, visible and invisible. He rules
over all and sets up and puts down leaders and rulers at his
pleasure. It's not chance that one president
leaves the office and another one gets raised up. That's all
by God's providential hand, beloved. All by His hand. He does wondrous
things, both in His works in nature and providence, forming
all things out of nothing. He forms all things out of nothing.
He upholds, think of this, He upholds all things by the word
of His power. All things by the word of His power. Ponder the
creation of man, who is soul and body, the union of both.
Ponder the constant government of this world. Ponder the work of grace in a
man's soul. The work of grace in a man's
soul. In the provision, in the covenant, in eternity. Ponder
the mission of Christ in time. When He came to redeem His people
from their sins. Ponder the conversion of a sinner. Regenerated by the Holy Spirit
of God. granted faith and repentance
to believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and then eventually bringing
him to glory. Does not our God do wondrous
things? Wondrous things. Wondrous things,
beloved. For thou art great and thus wondrous
things. Thou art God alone. Eighth, Jehovah
is incomparable in strength. Turn, if you would, to Psalm
89. verses 8 to 13. Psalm 89 verses 8 to 13. Jehovah is incomparable in strength.
Incomparable in strength. O Lord God of hosts, who is a
strong Lord like unto Thee? Or to Thy faithfulness round
about Thee? Thou rulest the raging of the
seas. Remember He just spoke a word
and the raging waters just went like glass. When the waves thereof
arise, thou stillest them. He calms the storm below. Think
of that and the storms in our lives. Thou hast broken Rahab
in pieces as one that is slain. Thou hast scattered thine enemies
with thy strong arm. The heavens are thine, the earth
also is thine. As for the world and the fullness
thereof, thou hast founded them. The world is his, the heavens
are his, and everything in them is his. This is the God of the Bible.
This is the God that's not spoken of very much anymore. The North and the South, thou
hast created them. Tabor and Hermon shall rejoice
in thy name. Thou hast a mighty arm, strong
is thy hand, and high is thy right hand. He is Jah, or Jehovah,
and he alone is so. He alone is the most high in
all the earth. There's none like Him. None like
Him. None like Him in power. None
like Him in strength. And it is by His power and strength
that He's made the heavens. And He's made the earth. And
it is by His power and strength that He upholds them. All by
His power and strength. It is by His power and strength
that He has redeemed His people from their sins. It is by His
power and strength that He has plucked them out of the hands
of sin and Satan, and it is by His power and strength that He
preserves them. He preserves them, safe to the
end, bringing them into His kingdom, all for His glory. Hast thou
an arm like God? Canst thou thunder with a voice
like him? Job 49. Turn if you would now to Psalm
113. The next point is Jehovah is incomparable in condescension
to the needy. Now we may see someone in need
and we may help them, but think of this. The Lord of glory himself
left heaven. Why did he leave heaven? To save
this poor needy sinner and a whole bunch of other ones. that were
all given to Him by the Father. All given to Him by the Father
in eternity. Look at Psalm 113 verses 5 to
9. Again, who is like unto the Lord
our God? Well, we know now there's no
one like Him, eh? He's incomparable. who dwelleth
on high, who humbled himself to behold the things that are
in heaven and in the earth, he raises up the poor out of the
dust and lifted the needy out of the dunghill, that he may
set him with princes, even the princes of his people. He maketh
the barren woman to keep house and to be a joyful mother of
children, praise ye the Lord. Look at that, he raises up the
poor out of the dust. Where were we? We were in the
pit of sin with no hope of getting out. And He has reached down
and brought us up. He's plucked us from the dunghill
that we were in. My, what a great God. Has He
not condescended to the needy when He left the glories of heaven
to die upon Calvary's tree for sinners like you and me? Imagine that. The very one who
the angels have to cover themselves and cry, holy, holy, holy. Left this throne upon heavens,
in heaven, to come to this sin-cursed world to redeem his people from
their sins. Our Lord is incomparable in condescension. He raises poor needy sinners
out of the dust. And He set us among princes,
hasn't He? God's people. God's people, beloved. Tenth, Jehovah is incomparable
in wisdom. Turn, if you would, to Jeremiah
chapter 10. And then we'll go back to our
text in Micah. Jeremiah chapter 10, and then
put your finger back in Micah. Jeremiah chapter 10 and in Micah
chapter 7. Jehovah is incomparable in wisdom.
Jeremiah 10 verses 6 and 7. For as much as there is none
like unto thee, O Lord, thou art great, and thy name is great
in might. Who would not fear thee, O King
of nations? For to thee doth it appertaineth
for as much As among all the wise men of the nations, and
in all their kingdoms, there is none like unto thee. Find
the smartest man in the world, the man with the most wisdom,
and he doesn't even compare to our God. Not even a scratch. Our great God is incomparable
in wisdom. Let's go back to our text and we're going to look
at how Jehovah is incomparable in salvation. And we'll see this
in our text tonight. Micah chapter 7 verses 18 to
20. 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 forever,
because he delighteth in mercy. He will turn again, He will have
compassion upon us, He will subdue our iniquities, and Thou wilt
cast all their sins into the depths of the sea. Thou wilt
perform the truth to Jacob, and the mercy to Abraham, which Thou
hast sworn unto our fathers from days of old." This point here
is Jehovah is incomparable in salvation. We see that in our
text right there before us. False idols have no power to
save. None. None. People bow before
statues and they have absolutely no power to save them. None.
They call upon them. They call upon a piece of stone
to help them. And that piece of stone can't
do nothing. Nothing at all. It has no ability to save. It
may have eyes, but it can't see. It may have ears, but it can't
hear them. And it may have hands, but it can't help them. But man, dead in trespasses and
sins, will bow before these dumb idols. And I was once in a religion
where I did that. But praise be to God, the Lord
saved me from that. Now the question here before
us is found in verse 18, who is
a god like unto thee? It's asked in association with
those spoken of in the text known as the remnant of his heritage.
Who is a god like unto thee that pardoned iniquity and passes
by the transgression of the remnant of his heritage? So it's asked
in association with those people. The people he chose in eternity.
Turn if you would to Romans chapter 11, but keep your finger in Micah
7, because we'll be going right back there. Romans chapter 11. Those who are spoken of as the
remnant of his heritage are spoken of in Romans chapter 11, verse
5. And Paul writes of these. These people. And he calls them a remnant. According to the election of
grace, even so, then at this present time, there is also a
time. Also, there is a remnant according
to the election of grace. Let's go back to our text. In
Micah, with that in mind. Who is a God like unto thee that
pardons iniquity and passes by the transgression of the remnant
of his heritage? This is the true Israel of God.
The remnant of his heritage is the elect of God. And notice in verse 18 it says,
he pardons their iniquity. Who is a God like unto thee that
pardons iniquity and passes by the transgression of the remnant
of his heritage? John Gill brings forth that to
pardon this iniquity is to lift it up and place it upon Christ
by imputation. Our sins were imputed to Christ
and it's then carried away by the anti-type of the scapegoat.
Christ is pictured as the scapegoat, carrying our sins away, carrying
them away. The believer's sins are never
to be seen and remembered anymore. marvel at this you who are the
beloved of God our sins were imputed to Christ the sinless
one and he paid for them he paid everything God what pardoning
grace this is what mercy we have here before us our sins have
been washed away by the precious blood of the Lamb. We've been
purchased by the Lamb of God, the Lord Jesus Christ. And consider
this pardon of sin is particular to God. None can, think of this,
none can forgive but He against whom it is committed. Who have
we sinned against? God. We've sinned against God. Only God can forgive us. Only
God can forgive us. We've sinned against our great
God in our minds. We've sinned against our great
God in our actions, in our deeds. And we see here that forgiveness
of sin is with Him, who is our great God. It's with Him. It's promised by God in covenant,
beloved. It's proclaimed in Christ. It's
obtained by Him. And it's published in the Gospel. It's published in the Gospel.
Praise God for His pardoning grace and mercy to us in Christ.
Now false gods cannot see, hear, or speak. They have no ability
to pardon iniquity. None. None. And contrast that
with Jehovah pronouncing pardon for his people, I'll read for
you in Isaiah, it says this, my righteous servant shall justify
many, for he shall bear their iniquities. He shall bear their
iniquities. So let us rejoice, we who are
redeemed. The text proclaims that he has passed by the transgression
of his people. Look at verse 18. Who is a God
like unto thee that pardoned iniquity and passes by the transgression
of the remnant of his heritage? Now this is a reference to the
sovereign act of God in passing through the land of Egypt to
slay the transgressors. Now think upon these transgressors. The Egyptians and the Israelites
were both sinners, weren't they? They were both sinners. They
both sinned against God, right? But were born and dead in trespasses
and sins. they were both guilty of sin
and transgression however jehovah turn if you would the exodus
chapter 12 however jehovah in sovereign mercy passed over the
houses of the israelites who had applied the required blood
see see a substitute had died in their place beloved and that
pictured christ that's pointing right to christ exodus chapter
12 the israelites were sinners just like the egyptians all the
blood the blood The houses of the Israelites
had blood on the lintel to the doors. And God did not permit
the destroyer to enter into their houses to strike the inhabitants.
Look at verses 12 and 13 in Exodus chapter 12 and then we'll look
at verse 23. For I will pass through the land
of Egypt this night and will smite all the firstborn in the
land of Egypt, both man and beast, and against all the gods of Egypt,
I will execute judgment. I am the Lord. And the blood
shall be to you for a token upon the houses where ye are. And
when I see the blood, what? I'll pass over you. When God
sees the blood of Christ upon his people, he passes over them.
They're forgiven. And the plague shall not be upon
you to destroy you when I smite the land of Egypt. So what was
the difference? The blood. The blood. And it pictured the blood of
Christ. Look at verse 23. For the Lord will pass through
to smite the Egyptians. And when he seeth the blood upon
the lentil and on the two side posts, the Lord will pass over
the door. It will not suffer the destroyer
to come in unto your houses to smite you. They were protected
under the blood. God's people are protected under
the blood of Christ turn if you would to Psalm 32 Psalm 32 and
then put your finger in Romans chapter 4 We're looking at an
Old Testament scripture, and then we'll see the same and in
the New Testament Beloved in like manner he passes over the
transgression of his remnant And not imputing sin to them
why because we're under the blood under the blood of Christ. It's
being applied to his people and Look at Psalm 32 verses 1 and
2. Blessed is he whose transgression
is forgiven, whose sin is what? Is covered. What's it covered
with? The blood of the Lord Jesus Christ. Covered. I'm under the
blood. Blessed is the man unto whom
the Lord imputeth not iniquity, and in whose spirit there is
no guile. And then turn, if you would, to Romans chapter 4. Romans
chapter 4. God, because of Christ and His
blood, never charges His people with the guilt of our sins, and
never punishes us for our sins. Because why? Because Christ has
suffered in our place. Christ has suffered in our place,
and He's paid all that God's demanded for our souls. Look
at this in Romans chapter 4, verses 7 and 8. Saying, blessed
are they whose iniquities are what? Forgiven. How are we forgiven? By the precious blood of Christ,
beloved. And whose sins are what? Covered.
We're under the blood. We're under the blood. Blessed
is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin. It's been bought
and paid for. The Lord Jesus Christ paid it
all. Now false gods are incapable
of ever being angry, right, with their enemies. They're incapable
of ever showing kindness to their worshippers. Now note what's,
let's go back to our text in Micah chapter 7, and note what's
said again in verse 18. Look at this. 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 forever,
because he delighteth in mercy. Now the scriptures proclaim,
and this is not taught much anymore in these days, the scripture
declares this in Psalm 711, God is angry with the wicked every
day. That's what the scriptures proclaim.
God is angry with the wicked every day. Now Miket says here,
who is a God like unto thee, verse 18, chapter seven, verse
18, 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 forever, because he delighteth in mercy."
God is a just God. And the scriptures declare that
he's angry with the wicked every day. His justice demands satisfaction. And this is not taught much anymore.
All you hear about is, oh, the love of God. And God's love is
incomparable. But God is also a God of justice
and wrath. He's a just God and angry with
the wicked every day. But note what the Scriptures
here proclaim in Micah 7.18. God's anger and wrath towards
His people for their sins was satisfied. was satisfied in the
death of Christ in their room and place. And look what it says,
who is a God like unto thee that pardons iniquity and passes by
the transgression of the remnant of his heritage, he retaineth
not his anger forever. His anger, his wrath has been
appeased in Christ for his people. And notice what it says, God
delights in showing mercy towards his people. Look it, because
he delighteth in mercy. God delights to show mercy towards
his people. And he has shown mercy to his
people, hasn't he? In and through Christ. God is a just judge. What would
you think of a judge if someone had committed a murder and the
judge just went, oh, well, you know, I'm just going to let you
go. He wouldn't be upholding the law, would he? So God's law
must be upheld. God's law must be satisfied.
We're sinners. The soul that sinneth, it must
die. So what does Christ do? He dies in our place before God's
law and justice. So that God can be what? Just,
a just judge, and justifier of his people. And God's people
marvel. We marvel that we're included
in this number. Note in verse 19, He has compassion
upon his people, Micah 7, 19. He will turn again, he will have
compassion upon us. He will subdue our iniquities
and that will cast all their sins into the depths of the sea.
May we never forget that God's mercies are new every morning
to us, every morning. We receive strength to make it
through each day. Lamentation says this, it is
of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed. Because his
compassions fail not, they are new every morning. Great is Thy
faithfulness. The Lord is my portion, saith
my soul. Therefore will I hope in Him.
We have new mercies every morning. This morning we had fresh mercies. This evening we have fresh mercies.
God has not forgotten us. Remember that the very breath
we breathe is proof of His goodness to us. Think of that. We're not
even conscious of the breath that we breathe. That's God showing
mercy to us. That's God showing mercy to us. And the redeemed cry out, I will
hope in Him. I'll hope in Him. False gods
are incapable of showing mercy. They're lifeless, but our God
is alive and shows compassion to his people. Note in verse
19 here it says he subdued our iniquities. He will turn again,
he will have compassion upon us, he will subdue our iniquities.
Gil brings forth that sin is an enemy to God and to his people.
It is too strong and mighty for us. It reigns over us in our natural
state because we're born dead in trespasses and sins. We're
under the power of it. and we cannot get rid of it.
It's influence, it's guilt, and it's punishment. But beloved
Christ has conquered it for his people. He's made an end of it
for his people. He took it away from his people.
Christ has trampled our sins as a conqueror does upon the
necks of his enemies. Back in the old days they used
to put their foot on their enemies. Christ has done that to our sins.
Christ, who is God, has subdued all our sins and iniquities,
and they're under His feet. And they shall never rise again
to condemn His people. They shall never rise again to
condemn His people. He has removed the guilt of our
sins by pardon, and He's paid the punishment due our sins.
And false gods, on the other hand, are incapable of subduing
anything, because they're figments of people's imaginations. Our
God is the one true and living God who has subdued our iniquities
and he's done it in Christ. And here remember them no more.
Look at our text again. He will turn again. He will have
compassion upon us. He will subdue our iniquities
and doubt will cast all their sins in the depths of the sea.
Never to be seen anymore. Never to be bought up against
God's people anymore. Never. Never. And who is God's people? The
remnant, spoken of in verse 18. Just as the scapegoat carried
away the sins of Israel, the sins of God's people have been
carried away into the land of oblivion, one commentator said.
So they are not to be seen anymore. They were imputed to Christ,
and through the blood of Christ and the righteousness of Christ,
they are looked upon, the believer is looked upon as being without
fault, spot, or wrinkle. God doesn't see us as sinners. He sees us clothed in the righteousness
of Christ. It says here, cast all their
sins into the depths of the sea. One commentator brings forth
that this may be a reference to the Egyptians who were drowned
in the Red Sea. Think upon this. Brother John,
you've been on the sea. You've been out there, way out
there. You cast something out into the
depths of that sea, and it's irrecoverable. No one will recover it. It'll never be fetched again.
And it doesn't rise up anymore. So it is with the sins of all
of God's people. They're gone. irrecoverable. And God has forgiven us for Christ's
sake. And our sins have been bore away
by Christ, covered by his precious blood, blotted out so that not
one of God's people remains unforgiven. I ask you this. Is not this grace
beyond measure? Is not this compassion like no
one else has ever shown us? Is not this mercy that is broader
than any mercy we could show or any other human could show
another person? Doesn't even compare, does it? It's incomparable. And praise
God, He has forgiven the sins of His people in Christ. And
He'll remember our sins and iniquities no more. No more. Let's close
with verse 20. It says, Thou wilt perform the
truth to Jacob and the mercy to Abraham, which Thou hast sworn
unto our fathers from the days of old. Turn, if you would, to
Genesis chapter 12 first, and then we'll look at Genesis 28.
He has revealed His truth to His people. He's revealed Christ. God has revealed Christ to His
people. And He did that which He promised Abraham when Jehovah in ancient times
and days of old swore the promises of salvation to them. Look at
Genesis chapter 12 verses 1 to 7. Now the Lord had said unto
Abraham, And get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred,
and from thy father's house, unto a land that I will show
thee. And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless
thee, and make thy name great. And thou shalt be a blessing.
And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curses
thee. And in thee shall all the families
of the earth be blessed. And I will establish my covenant
between me and thy seed after thee. in their generation forever,
in their generations for an everlasting covenant to be a God unto thee
and to thy seed after thee. Now turn to Genesis 28. Genesis
28. verses 10 to 14 and Jacob went
out from Bathsheba and went into Haran and he lighted upon a certain
place and tarried there all night because the sun was set and took
up the stones of that place and put them for his pillows and
lay down in that place to sleep and he dreamed and behold a ladder
set up on the earth and the top of it reached to heaven and behold
the angels of God ascending and descending on it and behold The
Lord stood above it and said, I am the Lord God of Abraham,
thy father, the God of Isaac, the land whereon thou liest,
to thee will I give it, and to thy seed. And thy seed shall
be as the dust of the earth, and thou shalt spread abroad
to the west, to the east, and to the north, and to the south.
And in thee and thy seed shall all the families of the earth
be blessed. Now back in Micah 720, it says, thou wilt perform
the truth to Jacob, and the mercy to Abraham, which thou hast sworn
unto our fathers from days of old." I'm going to close with
Galatians. Galatians chapter 3. If you want
to turn there, you can. Starting in verse 26, it says,
For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as have been
baptized and decreased into Christ, I'm sorry, have put on Christ,
there is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free,
there is neither male nor female. For ye are all one in Christ
Jesus. Look at this. Remember it talked
in Genesis about Abraham's seed. And if ye be in Christ, then
ye are Abraham's. and heirs according to the promise. Well that ties right in with
Micah chapter 7 verse 20. Thou will perform the truth to
Jacob in the mercy to Abraham which thou has sworn unto our
fathers from days of old.