But [there is] forgiveness with thee, that thou mayest be feared.
Ver. 4. But there is forgiveness with thee] This holds head above water, that we have to do with a forgiving God, Nehemiah 9:31; none like him for that, Micah 7:18; for he doth it naturally, Exodus 34:6; abundantly, Isaiah 55:7; constantly, as here; there is (still is) forgiveness and propitiation with God: so John 1:27, the Lamb of God doth take away the sins of the world; it is a perpetual act, and should be as a perpetual picture in our hearts.
That thou mayest be feared] i.e. Sought unto and served. It is a speech like that, Psalms 65:2, "O thou that hearest prayer, unto thee shall all flesh come." If there were not forgiveness with God, no man would worship him from his heart, but fly from him as from a tyrant; but a promise of pardon from a faithful God maketh men to put themselves into the hands of justice, in hope of mercy. Mr Perkins expoundeth the words thus, In mercy thou pardonest the sins of some, that thou mightest have some on earth to worship thee.