Tuesday, April 22, 2014

Reflections on Psalms 103

 Psalms 103(Contemporary English Version)
  1. (By David.) With all my heart I praise the LORD, and with all that I am I praise his holy name!
  2. With all my heart I praise the LORD! I will never forget how kind he has been.
  3. The LORD forgives our sins, heals us when we are sick,
  4. and protects us from death. His kindness and love are a crown on our heads.
  5. Each day that we live, he provides for our needs and gives us the strength of a young eagle.
  6. For all who are mistreated, the LORD brings justice.
  7. He taught his Law to Moses and showed all Israel what he could do.
  8. The LORD is merciful! He is kind and patient, and his love never fails.
  9. The LORD won't always be angry and point out our sins;
  10. he doesn't punish us as our sins deserve.
  11. How great is God's love for all who worship him? Greater than the distance between heaven and earth!
  12. How far has the LORD taken our sins from us? Farther than the distance from east to west!
  13. Just as parents are kind to their children, the LORD is kind to all who worship him,
  14. because he knows we are made of dust.
  15. We humans are like grass or wild flowers that quickly bloom.
  16. But a scorching wind blows, and they quickly wither to be forever forgotten.
  17. The LORD is always kind to those who worship him, and he keeps his promises to their descendants
  18. who faithfully obey him.
  19. God has set up his kingdom in heaven, and he rules the whole creation.
  20. All of you mighty angels, who obey God's commands, come and praise your LORD!
  21. All of you thousands who serve and obey God, come and praise your LORD!
  22. All of God's creation and all that he rules, come and praise your LORD! With all my heart I praise the LORD!

David was overwhelmed by God's benefits to all those who fear Him having experienced them firsthand. Psalms 103 is a great psalm of praise and worship expressing for us what we may have difficulty putting into words. Verses 3-5 enumerate some of God's benefits to us. He forgives our sin, heals our diseases, redeems our lives, crowns us with love and compassion, satisfies us with His goodness, and renews our youth.

I am especially drawn to the next section, however, as David speaks of the Lord's compassion toward us. Out of His compassion He is slow to anger and full of love toward us. He does not deal with our sins as they truly deserve. His love toward us is "as high as the heavens are above the earth." (103:11) And when He forgives our sins, He removes the transgression "as far as the east is from the west." How far is that? The distance is infinite. His compassion toward us is compared to that of a father toward his children. This comparison may not work for many, though, whose fathers have little or no compassion toward their children. But it is intended to depict great compassion. In the Lord's compassion and patience toward us He remembers "that we are dust" having limited capacity. But He, on the other hand, is eternal and has unlimited capacity. Therefore His love is never-ending from generation to generation.

In reading and reflecting on this psalm, we, too, are led to praise the Lord with all that is within us.

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