Summer Psalms: Book Four, Psalm 103

This week’s devotional was written by Brian D. Russell and can be found in his Daily-Weekly book on the Psalms entitled, The Psalms - Part III. Brian Russell is a contributing author to Seedbed.com. We hope you are encouraged this week.

Understanding the Word. Psalm 103 reflects deeply on God’s character. The psalmist praises the Lord because he is a God of steadfast love (hesed) and mercy/compassion. He celebrates the Lord’s willingness to heal and forgive. This willingness finds its roots in the wideness and depth of God’s love. Israel’s story is one of grace and mercy despite their failings. This is our story too. Given the richness of this psalm, we will spend two days on it.

Psalm 103 opens with the psalmist calling on himself (“my soul”) to offer praise for the lavish benefits found in the Lord (vv. 1–5). The Hebrew word translated as “soul” (nephesh) here refers to the totality of our being. The psalmist desires to offer his whole self (emotionally, physically, mentally, and spiritually) in witness to God’s greatness. To bless the Lord’s “holy name” is to recognize the implications of God’s otherness from creation. We will return to this theme tomorrow in our discussion of verses 15–22). Verse 2 warns against forgetting the benefits of God. When we suffer and struggle, it is sometimes easier to focus on our problems rather than to remember the abundance of resources in the Lord.

Verses 3–5 list a series of affirmations about the Lord’s actions on behalf of his people. The Lord forgives, heals, redeems, crowns, and satisfies. These are profound and personal actions. Verse 3 gives no qualification or limits to God’s capacity to forgive and heal as indicated by the use of “all.” This personal witness is the story of God’s people whom he has sustained and loved despite the national trials of the loss of kingship and exile (Psalm 89). In fact, the Lord is capable of turning threats and chaos into restoration because of his “steadfast love and mercy” (v. 4). With the Lord, God’s people will not merely survive, but live to thrive (v. 5).

Verses 6–14 describe the character of the Lord’s love and mercy. Verse 6 declares God’s works of vindication/righteousness and justice for “all who are oppressed.” The biblical story announces a different kind of God who does not privilege the powerful and well connected. Instead the Lord is for all— especially those who suffer at the hands of others. This is the narrative of the history of God’s people as seen in the exodus from Egypt. Verses 7–10 call to mind how God revealed himself to the Israelites at Sinai after they had built a golden calf (Exodus 32–34). Verses 8–10 allude to Exodus 34:6–7 where God shares the full meaning of his name with Moses. The Lord declared his eternal love and mercy over against the finiteness of his judgment. This was good news to God’s people who had sinned greatly. It remains good news for us.

Verses 11–14 are worth memorizing. They remind God’s people of what it really means that God is love. His loving mercy, compassion, and grace are without limit. This is the gospel. It is not an excuse for our sins, but it tells us that there is a way back.