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For the Chief Musician. A Psalm by the sons of Korah.

1Yahweh, you have been favorable to your land.

You have restored the fortunes of Jacob.

2You have forgiven the iniquity of your people.

You have covered all their sin. Selah.

3You have taken away all your wrath.

You have turned from the fierceness of your anger.

4Turn us, God of our salvation,

and cause your indignation toward us to cease.

5Will you be angry with us forever?

Will you draw out your anger to all generations?

6Won’t you revive us again,

that your people may rejoice in you?

7Show us your loving kindness, Yahweh.

Grant us your salvation.

8I will hear what God, Yahweh, will speak,

for he will speak peace to his people, his saints;

but let them not turn again to folly.

9Surely his salvation is near those who fear him,

that glory may dwell in our land.

10Mercy and truth meet together.

Righteousness and peace have kissed each other.

11Truth springs out of the earth.

Righteousness has looked down from heaven.

12Yes, Yahweh will give that which is good.

Our land will yield its increase.

13Righteousness goes before him,

and prepares the way for his steps.

Authority to Forgive Sins

Authority to Forgive Sins

Passage Study | Mark 2:7 | John Lee

The authority to forgive sins is ascribed only to Israel’s God in the Old Testament (Ps 130:4, 51:1-3; 85:2; 2 Sam 12:13; Ps 32:1-5; 51:3-4, 9-11; 103:3; Isa 44:22; Dan 9:9; Zech 3:4; cf. 1QS 2:8f.; 11.14; CD 2:4-5; 3:18; 4:6-10). In Isa 43:25, YHWH declares himself as the forgiver of Israel’s sins: “I, even I, am the one who wipes out your transgressions for My own sake; And I will not remember your sins” (NASB). Micah 7:18 links the act of forgiving sins with the rhetoric concerning God’s uniqueness: “Who is a God like Thee, who pardons iniquity [a]nd passes over the rebellious act of the remnant of His possession?” (NASB) Mark’s Gospel itself includes Jesus’ teaching that corresponds to these Old Testament passages: “And whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone; so that your Father also who is in heaven may forgive you your transgressions” (11:25 NASB [emphasis added]). If Jesus’ authority to forgive sins as portrayed in Mark 2:1-12 is read alongside 11:25 and the noted Old Testament passages, Mark the author is seen to view Jesus as participating in God’s unique prerogative of forgiving sins, and such a view undoubtedly reflects Mark’s high Christology. -John Lee