January 9
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PSALM 103
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.
– Psalm 103:1-12
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PSALM 103 IF THE LORD DEALT WITH OUR SINS AS WE DESERVE
A poem inspired by this psalm by ILMA
The Lord is a God of love but also a God of wrath
Because he is love, he surely hates the bad
For Love is the opposite of fear and wickedness
When we do not love, we cannot live in righteousness
Can you imagine if God is not a fair judge?
We cannot take his wrath which punishes the bad
The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger
He abounds in forgiveness and second chances
If the Lord dealt with our sins as we deserve
We will not be standing where we are
But, instead, he gave Jesus so we can get a clean slate
He forgets our sins as far as the east is from the west.
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REFLECTION

• Why do humans repeatedly sin despite God’s provision as a Savior?