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.
