If thou, LORD, shouldest mark iniquities, O Lord, who shall stand?
To mark iniquities is to keep a strict account and record of human sins and to count them against people. The Lord does mark iniquity exactly and holds people accountable for it. God sees every deed and knows even the thoughts and intentions of the heart, so no sin can be hidden from Him.
His accounting includes impure thoughts, intentions, and purposes of the heart. Sins committed through thoughtlessness, negligence, forgetfulness, or ignorance do not escape His notice and judgment, especially when people disregard light they have received. Talent, influence, and a high calling do not excuse sin, and those with greater light and influence may be more guilty and deserving of wrath.
If the Lord kept account of sins without mercy, no one could stand before Him or be saved, and no one could stand justified on the basis of a faultless record. Even those who profess the truth have sins recorded, so the question of who can stand before a pure and holy God brings anguish. Forgiveness is with God, calling people to reverence Him and to wait for Him and hope in His word.
With Him is abundant mercy and redemption, and He will redeem Israel from all its sins, which is the ground for hope in the Lord. All depend entirely on His mercy and forgiveness rather than their own righteousness or personal goodness, because continual transgressions leave them with a great debt, and hope rests on Jesus' abundant mercy. There is a Mediator who pleads for people, so they should humble themselves, repent, and trust that their sins are laid upon the Sin-bearer.
People who treat their brethren harshly would themselves be without hope if God dealt with them in the same way. Because they need God's mercy, people should show mercy to others and not treat those who have done wrong with indifference or cast them aside.
To mark iniquities is to keep a strict account and record of human sins and to count them against people. The Lord does mark iniquity exactly and holds people accountable for it. God sees every deed and knows even the thoughts and intentions of the heart, so no sin can be hidden from Him.
His accounting includes impure thoughts, intentions, and purposes of the heart. Sins committed through thoughtlessness, negligence, forgetfulness, or ignorance do not escape His notice and judgment, especially when people disregard light they have received. Talent, influence, and a high calling do not excuse sin, and those with greater light and influence may be more guilty and deserving of wrath.
If the Lord kept account of sins without mercy, no one could stand before Him or be saved, and no one could stand justified on the basis of a faultless record. Even those who profess the truth have sins recorded, so the question of who can stand before a pure and holy God brings anguish. Forgiveness is with God, calling people to reverence Him and to wait for Him and hope in His word.
With Him is abundant mercy and redemption, and He will redeem Israel from all its sins, which is the ground for hope in the Lord. All depend entirely on His mercy and forgiveness rather than their own righteousness or personal goodness, because continual transgressions leave them with a great debt, and hope rests on Jesus' abundant mercy. There is a Mediator who pleads for people, so they should humble themselves, repent, and trust that their sins are laid upon the Sin-bearer.
People who treat their brethren harshly would themselves be without hope if God dealt with them in the same way. Because they need God's mercy, people should show mercy to others and not treat those who have done wrong with indifference or cast them aside.