Do you remember the last time you were asked to introduce yourself to a new group of people? It always feels so awkward to me. I think, What were those things the group leader asked us to say? What do these people really want to know? It’s hard to sum up who you are in just a few sentences.   

This month we’re walking through Psalm 103 together as David remembers all of God’s benefits. In verses 6-14, David remembers what the Lord told His people about Himself: His righteousness, His character, and His forgiveness. 

“He made known his ways to Moses, his acts to the people of Israel. The LORD is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.” (Psalm 103:7-8) 

In Psalm 103:8, David echoes the words God spoke about Himself when He  proclaimed His name to Moses in Exodus 34:6. We know this is God’s character, because God chose to reveal Himself. The Lord is merciful. He is gracious. He is patient with us, and His constant, faithful love overflows. 

David continues in Psalm 103 to try to capture with words the steadfast love and forgiveness of God: 

“For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west, so far does he remove our transgressions from us.” (Psalm 103:11-12) 

David uses some big-time analogies to portray these benefits for God’s children. God’s steadfast love is as high as the heavens are above the earth. How far do the heavens reach? Further than our human minds can imagine! 

Our sins have been separated from us as far as the east is from the west. I wonder if David saw the sun rise in the east and set in the west and imagined places in both directions that he’d never see in his lifetime. David wants us to know that when God removes our sin, it becomes untouchable. God’s forgiveness is complete, sufficient, and permanent. 

When you feel discouraged, take a few minutes to read through Psalm 103 and consider the width and length and height and depth of God’s love for you in Christ (Ephesians 3:18). 

No matter what you face this week, remember God’s steadfast love and forgiveness. 

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When my son was younger, he asked me what Labor Day was. I tried to explain its significance, but my son was not impressed. “It’s not anything exciting, then?” he asked disappointedly. Now that Labor Day means a day off school and the chance to sleep in, my teenager thinks it’s a lot more exciting! 

This month we’ll be walking through Psalm 103 and celebrating the benefits we receive from the Lord. Spoiler alert: These benefits are even better than a 3-day weekend! In this psalm, David calls himself—and all the people of God—to bless the Lord and remember all His benefits. Today we’ll start with verses 1-5: 

“Bless the LORD, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless his holy name! Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits, who forgives all your iniquity, who heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit, who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy, who satisfies you with good so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.” (Psalm 103:1-5)

God forgives. This forgiveness is complete—He forgives all your iniquity. We’ll dig into the details of this gracious forgiveness next week!

God heals. While God often heals our physical diseases, the healing the psalmist probably had in mind here is our spiritual healing from the disease of sin. As 1 Peter 2:24 says, “[Christ] himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed.” 

God redeems. When you were in the pit of guilt, shame, and death, the Lord was the one who rescued you. 

God surrounds you with steadfast love and mercy. “Crown” means to encircle or surround. When you look around, do you only see your problems? Or can you see the steadfast love and mercy of God surrounding you today? 

God satisfies you and sustains you. God’s goodness fills us up and fuels us for the Christian life. 

This is not an exhaustive list of God’s benefits – and even this short list is mind-blowing! When we understand the magnitude of what we’ve received from the Lord, we respond with praise.  David wants us to not forget God’s benefits, but to remember and bless His holy name. 

No matter what you face this week, remember the benefits you’ve received from the Lord. 

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