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The features of the Divine character, and the blessings of salvation, which are to be manifested in God's dealings with Israel in the latter days, are the very same as are now manifested in God's dealings with all believers. We may consider the text, then, as an exhibition of God's mercy, in which we are ourselves interested.

I. With reference to HIS MERCY.

1. The first words of the text denote an act of God's gracious forgiveness. "I have blotted out thy transgressions and thy sins." In the New Testament scriptures, this expression "blotting out" is connected with the atonement (Colossians 2:14).

2. The language of pardoning mercy goes still farther. "As a thick cloud." How is a thick cloud blotted out? When a debt is blotted out from a debt book, the blot remains. It is true there is no evidence against the sinner; the charge against him is at an end; but the remains of what was a debt are to be seen, and the very act of cancelling it shows that there was a debt. But when a cloud is blotted out, it is different. How is that cloud blotted out? Either by the wind dispersing it, or by the sun breaking through it and dispersing it; and when this is done, we say either that the storm is "blown over," or that there is now a clear sky, and all that we can see, if we see anything, with regard to the threatening cloud, is now composed of those beautiful hues which are lighted up by the shining of a bright sun in a clear sky. Well, then, when God says that He will "blot out as a thick cloud our transgressions, and as a cloud our sin," we are to understand that He undertakes to remove all traces of our transgressions and all remains of guilt from the conscience, so that the sinner thus pardoned may look up to God as a Father full of grace and love, and may approach Him with holy boldness, and without any particle of fear. Observe, then, what full forgiveness God assures us of in this language. "Thick clouds," as well as ordinary clouds, — two expressions which must be taken in a figurative meaning, as including all kinds of sin — what we call "greater and lesser sins" alike — are what the Lord declares His purpose to do away with, and completely to remove from being a ground of fear to those who approach Him in the name of His dear Son.

3. Now, inasmuch as no one can disperse a thick cloud but the God who can send His bright sun to shine through it, so none hut that God who proclaims Himself a pardoning God and Saviour can say, so that the conscience of the sinner shall respond, "I have blotted out as a thick cloud thy transgressions, and as a cloud thy sins." And this is the forgiveness in which God delights — full, complete, and such as only He Himself can bestow.

II. But in order that this mercy may be ours, and that we may rejoice in it, IT IS NEEDFUL THAT WE SHOULD RIGHTLY RESPOND to that intimation of God's grace. "I have blotted out thy transgressions. Return unto Me."

1. It is the Redeemer. who calls, because it says, "Return, for I have redeemed thee."

2. How different to our natural expectation is this! The Redeemer crying after the sinner, instead of the sinner crying after the Redeemer.

3. Then observe how the language before us manifests the deep concern of God our Saviour. "Return to Me." He would not speak in language like this, if it were not a matter of immense moment to the sinner to return.

4. There is another suggestion: for what purpose is this call of entreaty made? Not that the sinner may receive punishment. God calls thee, O careless one, not to be frowned upon, but smiled upon.

5. Then, after all this intimation of grace on the part of God, there can be no hope of lasting peace or a future glory, except as we return.

III. NOTICE THE LOVE IN THE ASSURANCE THAT HE GIVES ABOUT REDEMPTION. "Return, for I have redeemed thee." What return do you make to the call of Him who assures of mercy and redemption, and who graciously says, Return?

(W. Cadman, M. A.)

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KJV: I have blotted out, as a thick cloud, thy transgressions, and, as a cloud, thy sins: return unto me; for I have redeemed thee.

WEB: I have blotted out, as a thick cloud, your transgressions, and, as a cloud, your sins. Return to me, for I have redeemed you.