by Ronnie Hewitt
Wednesday night, Roger led us in a study of Psalm 103. As I spent some time the rest of the week reflecting on this chapter, I wanted to share some thoughts from it. This psalm expresses thanksgiving and praise (or blessing) to the Lord for the benefits and blessings that He bestows on His covenant people. We must never forget God’s goodness to us or fail to be thankful for His blessings showered on us through the Holy Spirit.
The fall of Adam into sin led the entire human race into the universal experience of sin, sickness, and death. In contrast, the psalmist lists God’s blessings for His people: forgiveness of sin, healing for our diseases, and the gifts of redemption and eternal life. As I think about this, forgiveness is the first and most important gift we can receive from God. Through it we are restored to God and redeemed from destruction (vs. 4).
In vs. 13, it talks about the compassion He has on those who fear Him. God shows mercy to those who truly fear Him. The fear of God is a redeeming fear that motivates us to turn away from evil, to keep God’s precepts, and to seek the Lord’s nearness and grace. God has compassion on His children because He knows their weaknesses and infirmities. Even the best of His followers stands in need of His compassion. Amid trouble, failure and struggle, we must not think that God is aloof or uncaring; rather, we must remember that His eyes look on us with compassion, and He will help us according to our need. So, let’s join with the psalmist and praise God for His holy name and not forget all His benefits.