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
I ran into a friend I hadn't seen in more than 20 years. "How are you?" I asked. He answered, "Well, to tell you the truth, I am fine now but I have had some rough years. I ran my life into the ditch with addiction and I lost my job and my marriage failed. I was a mess. Then God happened in my life." He quoted this Psalm: "The Lord is merciful and gracious...as far as the East is from the West he removes our transgressions from us." My friend had joined the psalmist with a sense of awe in God's goodness. God doesn't deal with us as we expected, but with so much more grace than we are able to perceive. The difference between God's ways and our ways are powerful enough to transform all of life.
Prayer
Thank you, God, for being a Lord who redeems our lives from the pit and crowns us with steadfast love. We pray that we will live in the reality and power of your Spirit as we bless your holy name. Amen.