Psalms 103:1-16: a reflection

1Praise the LORD, my soul! All that is within me, praise his holy name! 2Praise the LORD, my soul, and don’t forget all his benefits, 3who forgives all your sins, who heals all your diseases, 4who redeems your life from destruction, who crowns you with loving kindness and tender mercies, 5who satisfies your desire with good things, so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s. 6The LORD executes righteous acts, and justice for all who are oppressed. 7He made known his ways to Moses, his deeds to the children of Israel. 8The LORD is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abundant in loving kindness. 9He will not always accuse; neither will he stay angry forever. 10He has not dealt with us according to our sins, nor repaid us for our iniquities. 11For as the heavens are high above the earth, so great is his loving kindness toward those who fear him. 12As far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us. 13Like a father has compassion on his children, so the LORD has compassion on those who fear him. 14For he knows how we are made. He remembers that we are dust. 15As for man, his days are like grass. As a flower of the field, so he flourishes. 16For the wind passes over it, and it is gone. Its place remembers it no more.

This beloved psalm calls the soul to bless God and remember his benefits, and it dwells above all on his forgiving mercy. Praise the LORD, my soul, and do not forget all his benefits, who forgives all your sins, who heals all your diseases. And then some of the most comforting words in Scripture: As far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us. Like a father has compassion on his children, so the LORD has compassion on those who fear him; for he knows how we are made, and remembers that we are dust.

Notice two things the psalm dwells on: God's complete forgiveness, and his tender, fatherly compassion. His forgiveness is total; he removes our transgressions as far as the east is from the west, an infinite distance, so that they are not merely covered but carried entirely away. And his compassion is fatherly; he does not deal with us harshly, but with the tenderness of a father who knows his children's frailty, remembering that we are dust, weak and frail.

That is a portrait of God to rest in. When we are burdened by our sins, we can imagine God as reluctant to forgive, holding our failures against us; but the psalm says he removes our transgressions as far as the east from the west, forgiving completely. And when we are weak and failing, we can imagine God as harsh and impatient; but the psalm says he is like a compassionate father, who knows our frailty and remembers we are dust. Rest in the God this psalm describes: who forgives your sins completely, removing them an infinite distance, and who deals with your weakness not harshly but with fatherly compassion, knowing you are dust. Bless the LORD, and do not forget these benefits: his complete forgiveness, and his tender, fatherly compassion toward your frailty.

Lord, this psalm calls my soul to bless you and not forget your benefits, and dwells above all on your forgiving mercy: that you remove my transgressions as far as the east is from the west, and that, like a father, you have compassion on your children, knowing our frailty and remembering that we are dust. Let me rest in the God this psalm describes. When I am burdened by my sins, I can imagine you as reluctant to forgive, holding my failures against me; but you remove my transgressions as far as the east from the west, forgiving completely, carrying them entirely away. And when I am weak and failing, I can imagine you as harsh and impatient; but you are like a compassionate father, who knows my frailty and remembers I am dust. Help me rest in your complete forgiveness, and in your tender, fatherly compassion toward my weakness. Bless the LORD, my soul, and help me not forget these benefits: your complete forgiveness, and your fatherly compassion toward my frailty. Thank you for so merciful a God.