Psalm 103:1-14
1 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; he remembers that we are dust.
One of the most amazing things about God is His forgiveness. When I think of some of the things I've done, it's a wonder that God hasn't struck me with multiple lightning bolts. Instead, God has been "merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love" (verse 8). The good news is that "He does not deal with us according to our sins" (verse 10) but instead He forgives in His great love. The psalmist goes on with the great promise that "as far as the east is from the west, so far does he remove our transgressions from us" (verse 12). Let that thought sink into your soul. What He is saying is that we don't have to be trapped by our shameful past. We don't have to live in fear of God's condemnation. When we confess our past sins and repent, God "forgives all your iniquity" (verse 3), and then it's done with. We can rejoice in the newness of life and "bless the Lord" (verses 1,2).
Lord, thank you for your amazing forgiveness.
1 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; he remembers that we are dust.
One of the most amazing things about God is His forgiveness. When I think of some of the things I've done, it's a wonder that God hasn't struck me with multiple lightning bolts. Instead, God has been "merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love" (verse 8). The good news is that "He does not deal with us according to our sins" (verse 10) but instead He forgives in His great love. The psalmist goes on with the great promise that "as far as the east is from the west, so far does he remove our transgressions from us" (verse 12). Let that thought sink into your soul. What He is saying is that we don't have to be trapped by our shameful past. We don't have to live in fear of God's condemnation. When we confess our past sins and repent, God "forgives all your iniquity" (verse 3), and then it's done with. We can rejoice in the newness of life and "bless the Lord" (verses 1,2).
Lord, thank you for your amazing forgiveness.