The Character Of God

Have you ever thought about what God is – His character. You may not realize it, but that is what He desires us to become. These verses have a lot to show us about becoming more like our Lord. In context Micah is beginning a hymn of praise that concludes his song of victory as He looks to the faithfulness of the Lord God in overcoming of the Syrians for the remnant that will survive.

I. Who is a God like you?

A. Amazing statement, Micah uses a grammatical tool for this rhetorical question which can only be answered as “No One.” It is expressed as a forcible denial. Why does he say this? Consider God’s character.

Pardoning iniquity Has compassion

Passing over transgressions Subdues our iniquities (removes guilt)

Not angry forever (longsuffering) Casts away our sin

Delights in mercy (covenant love) Truth

B. Obviously not all but shows the character of God in His love and grace. Parallels Ex. 34:6, the great confession at the time of Israel’s first outrageous sin (the golden calf).

C. No other god can ever do this, only the Lord God almighty, the triune God, Father Son and Holy Spirit, the only one who can provide us with hope.

D. How do we apply this to our lives? What is our character like? Who are we in the inside? How do I measure up to God’s standard? What can I do?

E. If we want to be more like Jesus – we must give unconditional love and abundant grace. Although we are no longer under the law our walk (life) is constrained by the law.

1. Can’t do whatever we want

2. Must put love into action – must submit to God’s will and do as He commands, as shown to us by Jesus Christ and by the Greatest commandment and liken to it loving our neighbor.

3. Must extend grace to others as the Lord has done for us – includes forgiveness, truthfulness, mercy (a form of love especially directed to the needy or unworthy) and sharing the Hope we have through Jesus Christ.

II. God wants us to trust Him.

A. Trust is often said to be earned and not given. On a man-to-man scale that is true.

B. But God has shown we can trust Him by what He has done for us. Think about the incomparable God we see in these verses. His will to pardon, to forgive, to have compassion on, to show mercy to, to be faithful to those who put their faith in Him. To those who are obedient to Him.

C. The Israelites could only look forward to the Messiah’s coming. But we can gaze upon the empty cross and see what Jesus did for us.

1. He gave up the glory of heaven

2. He lived the perfect life

3. He died as an atonement for our sin.

4. He was buried and on the third day rose again to validate God’s promises to us.

D. What an incredible God we serve! Will you put your faith in Him today? Romans 10:9. He will forgive your:

1. Sin – to fall short of God’s standard – we can’t reach God’s standard on our own

2. Transgressions – Rebellion against God – Our desire to do it “My Way.”

3. Iniquity – our deviation from the expressed will and desire of God. Our denial of God and His truth.

4. He will make you new. 2 Cor. 5:17

III. God wants you to enjoy freedom

A. Look at v. 19b. “God will cast our sin into the depths of the sea.”

B. What does that mean?

1. A symbol or throwing something where you cannot find it again.

2. Let go of our past, move forward, past is gone.

3. Don’t hold onto the past, follow Jesus.

4. God has removed the guilt, don’t pick it up again.

C. Reminds me of a quote I heard long ago by Corrie Ten Boom. “God buries our sins in the depths of the sea and then puts up a sign that reads, “No fishing!”

Few passages in Scripture contain so much “distilled theology”. The better we know the character of God, the more we can trust Him for the future. The better we know the promises of God, the more peace we will have in our hearts when things fall apart. When Micah wrote this confession of his faith, the future seemed hopeless; yet he had hope because he knew God and fully trusted Him.

The Lord gave an amazing promise to Micah and to those who believed and followed Him: He would cast their sin into the depths of the sea. He would forgive their iniquity and remember their sin no more. God makes the same incredible promise today; to all who believe and trust Christ as their Savior. 1