I hope you Read Psalm 103 yesterday. I hope you found many benefits from God that have followed the course of your life. Two stood out in my heart. I found the first in verses 8-10: “The LORD is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love…. He does not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our iniquities.” [NIV]
As David writes his song, he remembers Moses’ pursuit of God in Exodus 34. When God hid Moses in the cleft of the rock and passed in front of him, he declared His name and His character to Moses: “The LORD, the LORD, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness ….”
Moses would remind the Israelites of God’s declaration in Number 14:18. David also reminds us in his song. Our God abounds with compassion, grace, patience, and love. Because of that, he does not settle judgment on us immediately—as our sins deserve. Instead He invites us, even pursues us, to partake of the salvation obtained for us by His Son Jesus. He isn’t searching for ways to repay us according to our sins, but instead made a way to shower us with forgiveness and grace.
We must never forget what we truly deserve as sinners—judgment. At the same time, we must always remember God’s benefits that lifted us out of that judgment and made us sons and daughters of the King.
Father, may I never take your compassion, grace, patience, love and faithfulness for granted. May I always remember that I am but a sinner saved by Your grace and now declared to be a daughter of the King. I can never repay You for all Your benefits to me. Amen
