2 Chronicles 30:9: "For if ye turn again unto the LORD, your brethren and your children shall find compassion before them that lead them captive, so that they shall come again into this land: for the LORD your God is gracious and merciful, and will not turn away his face from you, if ye return unto him."
- Psalm 86:5: “For thou, Lord, art good, and ready to forgive; and plenteous in mercy unto all them that call upon thee.”
- Joel 2:13: “And rend your heart, and not your garments, and turn unto the LORD your God: for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repenteth him of the evil.”
- Nehemiah 9:17: “And refused to obey, neither were mindful of thy wonders that thou didst among them; but hardened their necks, and in their rebellion appointed a captain to return to their bondage: but thou art a God ready to pardon, gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and forsookest them not.”
- Psalm 103:8: “The LORD is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy.”
- Isaiah 55:7: “Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.
- Micah 7:18: “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 for ever, because he delighteth in mercy.”
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These verses highlight God's boundless mercy and His willingness to forgive and embrace those who genuinely repent and seek Him. They underscore the message that, despite human failings, God remains a constant source of love, grace, and forgiveness, always ready to welcome back those who turn to Him with sincere hearts.
Personalizing The Above As Christian Affirmations
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2 Chronicles 30:9:
- I am returning to the LORD with all my heart, trusting in His compassion.
- I will encourage my family to seek the LORD, for His grace and mercy are everlasting.
Psalm 86:5:
- I am grateful that the Lord is good and forgiving, always ready to extend mercy.
- I will call upon the LORD in every moment, knowing His mercy is abundant for all.
Joel 2:13:
- I am tearing my heart in repentance rather than just showing outward sorrow.
- I will turn to the LORD, recognizing His graciousness, mercy, and kindness.
Nehemiah 9:17:
- I am aware of the LORD’s wonders and will not harden my heart.
- I will remember the LORD’s readiness to pardon and His infinite kindness, refusing to return to my old ways.
Psalm 103:8:
- I am embraced by the LORD’s mercy and grace, which He gives freely and abundantly.
- I will be patient and merciful, reflecting the LORD’s own character in my life.
Isaiah 55:7:
- I am forsaking my old ways and thoughts to embrace the LORD’s mercy.
- I will return to the LORD, knowing He is ready to forgive me generously.
Micah 7:18:
- I am in awe of a God like mine, who delights in mercy and forgives iniquity.
- I will hold onto the truth that the LORD does not stay angry but delights in showing mercy.
For Thou, Lord, Art Good, and Ready to Forgive; and Plenteous in Mercy
Psalm 86:5: "For thou, Lord, art good, and ready to forgive; and plenteous in mercy unto all them that call upon thee."
- “For thou, Lord, art good”: This part of the verse recognizes the inherent goodness of the Lord. It’s a declaration of God’s pure and benevolent nature.
- “and ready to forgive”: Here, it’s stated that God is always prepared to forgive. This indicates not just a willingness but an eagerness to offer forgiveness to those who seek it.
- “and plenteous in mercy”: The word ‘plenteous’ suggests abundance. This means God’s mercy is not limited or scarce; it is vast and overflowing.
- “unto all them that call upon thee”: This phrase assures that anyone who reaches out to God, who calls upon Him, will find this mercy and forgiveness.
Turn Unto the LORD Your God: for He Is Gracious and Merciful, Slow to Anger, and of Great Kindness
Joel 2:13: "And rend your heart, and not your garments, and turn unto the LORD your God: for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repenteth him of the evil."
“rend your heart, and not your garments”: This phrase is a call for genuine repentance. In ancient times, tearing one’s clothes was a common expression of grief or repentance. However, this passage urges a deeper, internal change rather than just external signs.
“turn unto the LORD your God”: This is an invitation to return to God, suggesting that the people had strayed. It’s a call to change direction in life and seek a relationship with God.
“for he is gracious and merciful”: These qualities describe God’s character. ‘Gracious’ means that God shows kindness and favor, and ‘merciful’ means He is compassionate and forgiving.
“slow to anger, and of great kindness”: This part highlights that God is patient and does not quickly lose His temper. His ‘great kindness’ implies abundant, steadfast love.
“and repenteth him of the evil”: It means that God relents from sending punishment when people turn from their sins. The use of ‘repenteth’ here signifies a change in action due to the change in the people’s hearts.
Thou Art a God Ready to Pardon, Gracious and Merciful, Slow to Anger, and of Great Kindness, and Forsookest Them Not
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Nehemiah 9:17: "And refused to obey, neither were mindful of thy wonders that thou didst among them; but hardened their necks, and in their rebellion appointed a captain to return to their bondage: but thou art a God ready to pardon, gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and forsookest them not."
Breaking down Nehemiah 9:17 from the KJV, it speaks to several key points:
- Refusal to Obey: The Israelites turned away from God’s commandments, choosing not to follow His guidance.
- Mindfulness of Wonders: They forgot the remarkable deeds and miracles that God had performed for them.
- Hardened their Necks: This phrase symbolizes stubbornness, indicating the Israelites were stiff-necked and unyielding in their disobedience.
- Appointed a Captain: In their rebellion, they chose a leader to take them back to slavery in Egypt, which represents a rejection of the freedom God provided.
- God’s Nature: Despite their rebellion, the verse highlights God’s character as forgiving (ready to pardon), compassionate, slow to anger, abounding in steadfast love (great kindness), and He did not abandon them (forsookest them not).
These points underline a contrast between the rebellious nature of the Israelites and the forgiving nature of God. They serve as a reminder of the enduring mercy and patience of God, even when His people are unfaithful.
The LORD Is Merciful and Gracious, Slow to Anger, and Plenteous in Mercy
Psalm 103:8: "The LORD is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy."
- “The LORD is merciful and gracious”: This part of the verse tells us about the character of God. It says that He is full of compassion and grace. To be merciful means to show forgiveness and kindness to those who may not deserve it. Being gracious means that God gives love and help to people not because they have earned it, but because of His generous nature.
- “slow to anger”: Unlike humans, God does not quickly become angry. This phrase shows that God is patient and willing to give people time to change.
- “plenteous in mercy”: God has an abundance of mercy. There’s never a shortage or an end to the mercy He extends. This means He is always ready to forgive and to help, no matter how many times we need it.
God's mercy and patience are key aspects of His character, showing us that no matter what we do, He is always ready to forgive us and welcome us back with open arms.
Let the Wicked Forsake His Way, The Unrighteous Man His Thoughts: Let Him Return Unto the LORD, and He Will Have Mercy Upon Him; and to Our God, for He Will Abundantly Pardon
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"Isaiah 55:7: "Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.""
“Let the wicked forsake his way”: This call is for those living in sin to stop. It’s saying, “Quit your bad habits.”
“and the unrighteous man his thoughts”: Not just actions, but also change your thinking. It means, “Think better thoughts.”
“and let him return unto the LORD”: Turn back to God. It’s like saying, “Come back home to God.”
“and he will have mercy upon him”: God will be kind. It promises, “God will forgive you.”
“and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon”: God doesn’t just forgive a little; He forgives a lot. This is like saying, “God’s forgiveness is huge.”
The verse is a promise that no matter what someone has done or thought, if they stop and turn to God, He will forgive them a lot.
Who Is a God Like Unto Thee, That Pardoneth Iniquity, and Passeth by the Transgression
Micah 7:18: "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 for ever, because he delighteth in mercy."
“Who is a God like unto thee”: This question sets up a comparison that implies no other being possesses the same divine qualities as God. It underscores the incomparable nature of God.
“that pardoneth iniquity”: Here, God is recognized for His willingness to forgive wrongdoing. ‘Iniquity’ refers to moral sin or evil acts.
“and passeth by the transgression of the remnant of his heritage”: God chooses to overlook the sins of those who remain faithful to Him—His ‘heritage’ or chosen people.
“he retaineth not his anger forever”: Unlike humans, God does not hold onto His anger indefinitely, which speaks to His graciousness.
“because he delighteth in mercy”: The verse concludes by revealing God’s fundamental character trait of taking pleasure in being merciful. The message is that mercy is not just an action God takes; it’s a quality He inherently enjoys.
This verse from Micah reinforces the idea that God's nature is fundamentally different from humans. While people often hold grudges or struggle to forgive, God is portrayed as forgiving by nature and quick to show mercy.