As I was reading and studying the Word of God this morning, Psalm 103 ministered to my heart. I will share a few thoughts that have stood out to me. But first, please join me in reading Psalm 103 (English Standard Version):
Bless the Lord, O my soul,
and all that is within me,
bless his holy name!
2 Bless the Lord, O my soul,
and forget not all his benefits,
3 who forgives all your iniquity,
who heals all your diseases,
4 who redeems your life from the pit,
who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy,
5 who satisfies you with good
so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.
6 The Lord works righteousness
and justice for all who are oppressed.
7 He made known his ways to Moses,
his acts to the people of Israel.
8 The Lord is merciful and gracious,
slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.
9 He will not always chide,
nor will he keep his anger forever.
10 He does not deal with us according to our sins,
nor repay us according to our iniquities.
11 For as high as the heavens are above the earth,
so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him;
12 as far as the east is from the west,
so far does he remove our transgressions from us.
13 As a father shows compassion to his children,
so the Lord shows compassion to those who fear him.
14 For he knows our frame;[a]
he remembers that we are dust.
15 As for man, his days are like grass;
he flourishes like a flower of the field;
16 for the wind passes over it, and it is gone,
and its place knows it no more.
17 But the steadfast love of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear him,
and his righteousness to children’s children,
18 to those who keep his covenant
and remember to do his commandments.
The entire chapter is full of wonderful kernels of knowledge about how God loves us and will forgive us as we fear and respect Him. Charles Spurgeon takes note of a couple of truths from this Scripture. Take for instance Psalm 103:5, Charles Spurgeon wrote, “As well might the sea be thought to be full or its billows to be still, as the heart of man to be thought to be satisfied! It is a spiritual blessing, a divine grace that comes from the great satisfying God—the God who is himself all sufficient, the only One who can be sufficient to fill the human heart.”[1] Another translation from the Christian Standard Bible reads, “He satisfies you with good things, your youth is renewed like the eagle.”[2] God provides everything that is wholesome and good for his people.
In verses 11, God’s love is measured by the height of the heavens. His steadfast love is so great towards those who love, fear, and respect him and his ways.
Verse 12 speaks as far as from the east to the west. God forgives sins and he completely removes them. The height and breadth of his love and mercy are endless.
In verse 13, “Just as a father shows compassion to his children, so the Lord shows compassion to those who fear him.” Charles Spurgeon wrote, “Our sins are so effectively removed that we will not ultimately suffer any loss or damage through having sinned. That detriment was laid on Christ.”[3]
All Christians need to have their spiritual life restored and refreshed so that we can have a full relationship and communion with Christ Jesus. Even if we were to neglect our communion with Christ, he can give it back to us again. God can renew our courage to take the gospel into the world, just as like the eagle. He can give us strength to tell others about the love of Jesus and His saving grace.
Today, please pray that God will renew you, restore you, refresh you, and reinvigorate you to do His work and have a true and faithful relationship with Jesus Christ.
End Notes:
[1] The Spurgeon Study Bible: Christian Standard Bible (Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers, 2017), 776.
[2] Spurgeon Study Bible, 776.
[3] Spurgeon Study Bible, 777.
© February 12, 2019. The Lantern & Shield Times, A Division of Marketplace Evangelism Evangelism Ministries, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
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