Psalm 103...
I think I might have run out of creative juices! So, let me encourage you to read verses 15-22... and give thanks to the LORD for his permanence and steadfastness and grace!
Psalm 103
There are so many different pictures in the Bible of what God's grace does for/to his people. And here, in verses 11-14, are more!
Look at verses 11-14...
The images are pictures of what God's 'faithful love' does for his people (see there in verse 11 that this is 'toward those who fear him' - this is not his general providential grace that brings rain and sunshine to all).
His love is massive - as high as the heavens are above the earth.
His love is cleansing - it removes our sins as far as east is from west.
His love is compassionate - like a father with his children.
His love is understanding - he knows our 'dusty' make-up.
Such love is the essence of the nature, and name, of the LORD. How good is that! How astounding that a bloke like me, a person like you, should have such love showered upon them! How humbling and uplifting that the LORD would do this! How praiseworthy that he should turn his nature to our goodness!
Prayer:
Read another Psalm - 34 - and pray it!
Psalm 103
There are so many different ways to approach Psalm 103 - its structure, its content, its emotion. You can see it as a progressive movement from the individual to the communal to the global praise of the LORD. You can see it as three stanzas reflecting on the nature of the LORD... and there are innumerable others that have been proposed.
All of these approaches, however, have this in common: they all recognise that verse 8 is a quotation of Exodus 34:6. In essence, this poem is a reflection on the praise due to the LORD because he has acted in line with his nature, and we humans have benefitted.
Just look at his historical acts, and the life of his people! Just look at what he did for Moses, and his people, in slavery, in Egypt! Just look at how he has treated humans, his people, as they do not deserve!
And, at the heart of this action of the LORD are the two aspects of his name - there in verse 8: his 'hesed' (his faithful love) and his compassion. As one commentator said, the LORD makes the relationships with his people the best they should be, and he provides all that they need.
As you wander through today, take time to ponder that reality as one of God's people...
Prayer:
Read verses 6-10, and praise the LORD!
Some stuff worth reading...
www.thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/scotty-smith/worship-trumping-whining-praying-psalm-1031-4/
www.thegospelcoalition.org/article/christians-need-intergenerational-friendships/
www.thegospelcoalition.org/article/church-bubble/
au.thegospelcoalition.org/article/the-lordship-of-jesus-and-earthly-authorities/
The Lordship of Jesus and Earthly Authorities - The Gospel Coalition | Australia
au.thegospelcoalition.org
If Jesus is Lord, then what does that mean for our relationship to the temporal “lords” under whom we live? Here are nine principles to help us work it out.
Just a heads up... Due to an extended break, these Facebook devotions will have a hiatus from Monday July 19 until Sunday October 10.
Everything else will be happening at church... as COVID allows!