Psalms 103:9
8-10. God's benevolence implies no merit. He shows it to sinners, who also are chastened for a time (Ex 34:6). keep (anger)--in Le 19:18, bear a grudge (Jr 3:5, 12). Jeremiah 3:5
5. he--"thou," the second person, had preceded. The change to the third person implies a putting away of God to a greater distance from them; instead of repenting and forsaking their idols, they merely deprecate the continuance of their punishment. Jr 3:12 and Psa 103:9, answer their question in the event of their penitence. spoken and--rather (God's reply to them), "Thou hast spoken (thus), and yet (all the while) thou hast done evil," &c. as thou couldest--with all thy might; with incorrigible persistency [Calvin]. Jeremiah 3:12
12. Go--not actually; but turn and proclaim towards the north (Media and Assyria, where the ten tribes were located by Tiglath-pileser and Shalmaneser, 2Ki 15:29; 17:6; 18:9, 11). Return ... backsliding--Hebrew, Shubah, Meshubah, a play on sounds. In order to excite Judah to godly jealousy (Ro 11:14), Jehovah addresses the exiled ten tribes of Israel with a loving invitation. cause ... anger to fall--literally, "I will not let fall My countenance" (compare Ge 4:5, 6; Job 29:3), that is, I will not continue to frown on you. keep--"anger" is to be supplied (see on Jr 3:5). Micah 7:18
18. Grateful at such unlooked-for grace being promised to Israel, Micah breaks forth into praises of Jehovah. passeth by the transgression--not conniving at it, but forgiving it; leaving it unpunished, as a traveller passes by what he chooses not to look into (Pr 19:11). Contrast Am 7:8, and "mark iniquities," Psa 130:3. the remnant--who shall be permitted to survive the previous judgment: the elect remnant of grace (Mi 4:7; 5:3, 7, 8). retaineth not ... anger--(Psa 103:9). delighteth in mercy--God's forgiving is founded on His nature, which delights in loving-kindness, and is averse from wrath.
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