READ: Ps. 103:1-22: … as a father pities …
David wrote many Psalms in which he brought his distress caused by people before the LORD and then looked to Him for help. But this Psalm is focused entirely on the LORD Himself, on His glory.
He praises His great virtues and deeds and urges himself (“my soul”), as well as all who read and sing the psalm, to magnify the LORD with him, praising God for who He is and what He does: His name and all His benefits. This should be done not merely out of duty, but wholeheartedly, indeed from his soul and from all that is within him—his thoughts, feelings, and desires.
Let us also make every effort to do this: forget not one of His benefits. But then we must also earnestly desire to know the LORD thoroughly from His Word.
David describes God’s glorious virtues and deeds especially within the covenant relationship between God and His people, His children. He immediately points to God’s unfathomable love and grace, by which He Himself restores the relationship with sinful humanity.
First of all, the LORD provides forgiveness of sins, so that we may again have fellowship with Him. The consequences of sin, such as sickness and death, will ultimately also disappear through God’s work of redemption in His Son (Rom. 8:23; Ps. 16:9-11).
It is possible that the occasion for writing Psalm 103 was a serious illness David experienced as God’s punishment for committed sin. If so, upon his recovery he experienced renewed strength from God, which he compares to that of an eagle (v.5; cf. Isa. 40:31).
At the same time, every healing from sickness that we experience is also due to God’s mercy. What David, on behalf of the Holy Spirit, sets before us should fill us with great gratitude and joy. All the misery that we bring about through our sins will be removed by the Lord through the reconciling work of His Son. There will be acquittal from the judgment that we have deserved. His compassion in this is for all who fear Him, love Him, and keep His covenant (vv.11,13,17,18).
But this fear itself is not the ground of our salvation. That is exclusively God’s eternal lovingkindness: His faithfulness, grace, and love (vv.8,11 16).
How do you experience that God is your Father?
Sing: Ps. 103:1,4,7