Who forgiveth all thine iniquities
The psalmist explains here what he means by benefits, and gives a
particular enumeration of them; and begins with the blessing of
pardon, which is a special and peculiar benefit; it is according
to the riches of divine grace, and the multitude of tender
mercies; without which all outward blessings signify nothing;
and, without a sense of this, a man is not in a suitable and
proper frame to bless the Lord; and this being the first benefit
a soul sensible of sin, its guilt and is concerned for, and seeks
after; so enjoying it, it is the first he is thankful for: this
is rightly ascribed to God; for none can forgive sins but he; and
what he forgives are not mere infirmities, peccadillos, the
lesser sins of life; but "iniquities", grosser sins,
unrighteousnesses, impieties, the most enormous crimes, sins of a
crimson and scarlet die; yea, "all" of them, though they are
many, more than the hairs of a man's head; he abundantly pardons,
multiplies pardons, as sins are multiplied, and leaves none
unforgiven; original sin, actual sins, sins of heart, lip, and
life, of omission and commission, all are forgiven for Christ's
sake: and the special mercy is when a man has an application of
this to himself, and can say to his soul, as David to his, God
has forgiven "thine" iniquities; for though it may be observed
with pleasure, and it is an encouragement to hope in the Lord,
that he is a forgiving God, and has forgiven others, yet what
would this avail a man, if his sins should not be forgiven? the
sweetness of the blessing lies in its being brought home to a
man's own soul: and it may be further observed, that this is a
continued act; it is not said who has forgiven, and will forgive,
though both are true; but "forgiveth", continues to forgive; for
as there is a continual virtue in the sacrifice of the Lamb of
God to take away the sin of the world, and in his blood to
cleanse from all sin, so there is a continual flow of pardoning
grace in the heart of God, which is afresh applied to the
consciences of his people by his Spirit; and this is a blessing
to be thankful for:
who healeth all thy diseases;
not bodily ones, though the Lord is the physician of the bodies
as well as of the souls of men, and sometimes heals the diseases
of soul and body at once, as in the case of the paralytic man in
the Gospel; but spiritual diseases, or soul maladies, are here
meant; the same with "iniquities" in the preceding clause: sin is
a natural, hereditary, epidemical, nauseous, and mortal disease;
and there are many of them, a complication of them, in men, which
God only can cure; and he heals them by his word, by means of his
Gospel, preaching peace, pardon, and righteousness by Christ; by
the blood, wounds, and stripes of his Son; by the application of
pardoning grace and mercy; for healing diseases, and forgiving
iniquities, are one and the same thing; see ( Isaiah 33:24
) , and this the Lord does freely, fully, and infallibly, and for
which thanks are due unto him; and it would be very ungrateful,
and justly resented, should they not be returned to him; see (
Luke
17:15-18 ) .