Matthew Poole and continuators on Psalms 78:38

38 But he being full of compassion forgave their iniquity, and destroyed them not; yea, many a time turned he his anger away, and did not stir up all his wrath .

Not simply and absolutely, for so it is undeniably certain from the Holy Scriptures that God pardons none but true penitents, such as these were not, but respectively, and so far as not to destroy them at that time which he threatened, and was about to do, as the next words limit and explain it. He remitted their punishment, for iniquity is oft put for the punishment of it. Heb. He expiated their iniquity. He accepted of their attonement, or of their professed repentance so far as to com[illegible: 1+ letters]ensate it [illegible: 1 word] a removal of this outward and present affliction; as he did [illegible: 1 word] to wicked [illegible: 1+ letters]hab upon his hypocritical humiliation, 1 King▪ 2[illegible: 1+ letters]. 29. And this God doth for the encouragement of all true peniten[illegible: 1+ letters]s, who may hence learn how much greater and better recompences they may expect and shall receive from God.

But set bounds to i[illegible: 1+ letters], and though he chastened them, yet he would not utterly destroy them, as they deserved.

Marginal references: Heb. Attoned, o[illegible: 1+ letters], expiated. Psal. 65▪ 3.