He has not dealt with us according to our sins, nor punished us according to our iniquities.
--Psalm 103:10 (NKJV)
From the daily Bible reading on May 30, 2013 of Psalm 103:1-10; 1 Corinthians 10:14-11:1; 2 Samuel 15:13-16.
While we may not be sure exactly what date or under what circumstances David wrote the 103rd Psalm, we can guess that it likely was written as the Ark of the Covenant was moved to Jerusalem. This was a time of great shouting and music and joy as King David himself led the procession, a very appropriate setting for a hymn of praise to God. King Saul was dead. David had been anointed and established as king over all Israel and all Judah. The Philistines had been defeated. And the beloved and revered Ark was being moved to a more permanent home in the royal city. (Please reference 1 Chronicles 12-15.) Such a time would call for a great celebration, and such a celebration would demand a beautiful song of praise, just like the 103rd.
David opens this magnificent hymn by first praising God using striking imagery. "Bless the Lord, O my soul; all that is within me, bless His holy name!" (Please see verse 1.) With all his heart and being, David wants to bless and praise the Lord. Then he gives the reasons why, starting with His personal blessings on David himself, such as forgiving his sins, for healing his illnesses (verse 3), for saving him from destruction and showering him with love and mercy (verse 4), even restoring his strength and vigor as if he were young again (verse 5). David had lived a pretty tough life to this point - on the run for his life, hiding from Saul and his men, forced to live with the enemy, losing his best and most beloved friend Jonathan. Yet God had seen him through all this and then anointed him as king over His people. Bless His holy name indeed! David even notes how God had blessed the nation of Israel in times past, delivering righteousness and justice across the land and saving them when oppressed (verse 6). He gave the law through Moses and made Himself known to all the children of Israel through His mighty acts (verse 7).
And then David speaks of God's eternal and forgiving love. God blesses us with His mercy and His grace (verse 8). Our Lord is slow to anger and even then doesn't stay angry with us very long (verses 8 and 9). And as today's focus verse so eloquently points out, God has never punished us as severely as we have so rightly deserved.
Our Father, in His infinite mercy and grace and love, has never given us what we deserve; He gives us what we need. He forgives us, He loves us unconditionally. We have never completely obeyed Him, yet He has always been faithful to us. We have done enough against God for all mankind to deserve to be wiped from the face of the earth. Instead, God our heavenly Father sacrificed His only Son to the world so that the world through Him might be saved. That is love. Bless the Lord, O my soul! With all that is in me, bless His holy name! Amen.
Loving Father, thank You for not dealing with us according to our sins, for not punishing us as we so rightly deserve to be punished. Thank You for instead giving us a way to salvation through Your Son and the sacrifice He made on the cross on our behalf. Forgive us, please Father, our many sins against You. In the glorious name of Jesus we pray. Amen.
David opens this magnificent hymn by first praising God using striking imagery. "Bless the Lord, O my soul; all that is within me, bless His holy name!" (Please see verse 1.) With all his heart and being, David wants to bless and praise the Lord. Then he gives the reasons why, starting with His personal blessings on David himself, such as forgiving his sins, for healing his illnesses (verse 3), for saving him from destruction and showering him with love and mercy (verse 4), even restoring his strength and vigor as if he were young again (verse 5). David had lived a pretty tough life to this point - on the run for his life, hiding from Saul and his men, forced to live with the enemy, losing his best and most beloved friend Jonathan. Yet God had seen him through all this and then anointed him as king over His people. Bless His holy name indeed! David even notes how God had blessed the nation of Israel in times past, delivering righteousness and justice across the land and saving them when oppressed (verse 6). He gave the law through Moses and made Himself known to all the children of Israel through His mighty acts (verse 7).
And then David speaks of God's eternal and forgiving love. God blesses us with His mercy and His grace (verse 8). Our Lord is slow to anger and even then doesn't stay angry with us very long (verses 8 and 9). And as today's focus verse so eloquently points out, God has never punished us as severely as we have so rightly deserved.
Our Father, in His infinite mercy and grace and love, has never given us what we deserve; He gives us what we need. He forgives us, He loves us unconditionally. We have never completely obeyed Him, yet He has always been faithful to us. We have done enough against God for all mankind to deserve to be wiped from the face of the earth. Instead, God our heavenly Father sacrificed His only Son to the world so that the world through Him might be saved. That is love. Bless the Lord, O my soul! With all that is in me, bless His holy name! Amen.
Loving Father, thank You for not dealing with us according to our sins, for not punishing us as we so rightly deserve to be punished. Thank You for instead giving us a way to salvation through Your Son and the sacrifice He made on the cross on our behalf. Forgive us, please Father, our many sins against You. In the glorious name of Jesus we pray. Amen.
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