February 1 – The Power of Pardoning

        Psalm 130:3-4 – “If you, O Yahweh, kept a record of sins, O Adonai, who could stand? But with you there is forgiveness; therefore you are feared."

        The first part of this passage brings to mind several other verses in which our perceptions of God's mercy might be a little skewed. In 1 Samuel 6:19-20, God puts to death 70 of the men from Beth Shemesh because they looked into the ark as it was traveling on the cart pulled by oxen. In verse 20, the question is asked ".....who can stand in the presence of Yahweh, this holy God?" In conjunction with Acts 5 regarding the deaths of Ananias and Sapphira, there are some blatant acts that God will (has) not put up with, resulting in the death of people. On the contrary, God is perfect and completely righteous, while we humans are sinful by nature. Yet we manage to live 70 or 80 years (in God's presence). God is also by nature, patient and full of love and mercy, putting up with our general sinfulness and selfishness all of our lives.

        Revelation 20 mentions the great judgment of God at the end of time. Books are opened; the dead are judged according to what was recorded in the books. So God does keep a record of sins, as well as good deeds; yet we stand in his presence while we live. These passages appear to be in disagreement. The competing concepts can appear to be oxymoronic on the surface. But, as Romans 3:4 states, "Let God be true and every man a liar. As it is written: 'So that you may be proved right when you speak and prevail when you judge.' " Our perceptions and understanding is not always clear or complete.

        The second part of Psalm130:4 reminds me of a scene in the movie Schindler's List, Steven Speilberg's World War 2 classic. Oscar Schindler is meeting with a German officer half way through the movie. They are discussing the concept of power, as the Germans successfully wielded it against the Jewish people and other nations surrounding them. Oscar offers the officer an even greater level of power - the power of pardon, when one already holds the power to punish. The officer is intrigued by this concept and eventually utilizes it as a means of showing ultimate control over the oppressed person.(Cross-reference Proverbs 19:11.)  A little later, however, the officer kills the "pardoned" person arbitrarily. This analogy of God's power obviously does not fit perfectly, because God is not arbitrary in his judgments. However, he is to be revered, because he does hold the power of both forgiveness and punishment. The difference with God is that his nature is loving and merciful, not evil and hateful. We can humbly come to him, seeking his mercy and forgiveness, knowing that he will give this good gift to us.