Psalm 103:1-13 (NRSV)
Read Psalm 103:1-13 on biblegateway.com
Verse 1Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless his holy name.
Verse 2Bless the Lord, O my soul, and do not forget all his benefits-
Verse 3who forgives all your iniquity, who heals all your diseases,
Verse 4who redeems your life from the Pit, who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy,
Verse 5who satisfies you with good as long as you live so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's.
Verse 6The Lord works vindication and justice for all who are oppressed.
Verse 7He made known his ways to Moses, his acts to the people of Israel.
Verse 8The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.
Verse 9He will not always accuse, nor will he keep his anger forever.
Verse 10He does not deal with us according to our sins, nor repay us according to our iniquities.
Verse 11For as the heavens are high above the earth, so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him;
Verse 12as far as the east is from the west, so far he removes our transgressions from us.
Verse 13As a father has compassion for his children, so the Lord has compassion for those who fear him.
Devotion
Thank goodness! It is good to know that God doesn’t hold a grudge. On a daily basis, Moses’ faith reminds me that this is the case. How many times does he confront God and change God’s mind about smiting the Israelites? Moses trusts that God is merciful, full of compassion and will not keep his anger forever.
There is a certain audacity to Moses’ faith. There is a certain audacity to this psalm. Perhaps it doesn’t merely describe God, but asserts our expectations of God as well. Do we have the audacity to hold God accountable?
Thank God. Yes, thank God that in Christ, God lives up to the expectations expressed in this psalm. Thank God that even though our faith too often seems to fall short, God has the audacity to come the rest of the way.
Prayer
Lord, you have compassion for the sinner as a mother has compassion for her children. Heal our weakness and save us from everlasting death. Amen.