In the first 5 verses of Psalm 103, David spoke about entering into a relationship with the Lord and blessing the Lord for the benefits of forgiveness of sins, redemption from the grave, knowledge of the love and mercy of God, and the satisfaction and strength the Lord infuses into a believer.
Now, in verses 6-18, David goes deeper into the character and attributes of God- how God reveals himself to his people, that they may know and fear the Lord. In verses 6 and 7, David recalls how the Lord made his justice and righteousness known to Moses and the people of Israel. They were witnesses of his vengeance upon Pharoah and the Egyptians.
The Lord is the avenger of injustice and unrighteousness. There is a day of retribution, a day of judgment. This is something you should consider, first off for your own day of reckoning before the Lord, but also when you are oppressed by the devil, the world, or sin, the Lord is your refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.
In verse 8, David quotes the Lord’s words to Moses in Exodus 34: “The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.” These words are in the context of Israel sinning against the Lord in the golden calf incident. The golden calf represented all the idolatry and immorality of Egyptian depravity.
The Lord was angry with Israel because he had delivered them to be his own people, a holy people, and they had turned in their hearts back to Egypt. But Moses interceded for the people, and the Lord relented in his anger. His forbearance and mercy are exalted because their sin might justly have provoked the Lord to utterly withdraw his compassions.
David says, “The Lord does not keep his anger forever and does not deal with us according to our sins, nor repay us according to our iniquities” (verse 8). Moses had prayed for these very things for Israel; he was Israel’s advocate with God. Likewise, the apostle John says that if anyone sins, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.
No one should presume upon the mercy of the Lord and sin as they please. But if you justly feel yourself unworthy over your sin, this is an encouragement to approach the throne of grace and be restored to God. You can’t cover up your sin from God. Rather, the sinner must confess and purpose to forsake his sin. The Lord is gracious to sinners who return to him. Grace can comfort, relieve, and help those who have hurt themselves. God can bring the unworthy to glory by his grace.
David is so affected in his soul by the wonders of the Lord’s grace that he meditates on the immensity of it: “For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his steadfast love for those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west, so far does he remove our transgressions from us” (verses 11-12).
How do you describe the love of God? You have to resort to infinity. Is this the kind of love you would throw away or treat as something common? The devil says serve me and I will give you the world; the Lord says that my love is greater than the world. Is there anything better than having God with you to love you more than a mother loves her infant child?
David continues to speak of the Lord’s love and grace, comparing the Lord to the most compassionate Father (verse 13) He knows the days of men on earth are short yet assures his people that his steadfast love is from everlasting to everlasting for those who fear him (verses 14).
We see two indications of those who receive divine grace. Three times David says it is for those who fear the Lord, and in verse 18, it is for those who keep his covenant. The fear of the Lord leads to virtuous habits and an abiding trust in God’s word. Keeping the Lord’s covenant means a sincere heart in serving the Lord, with a desire to see him honored.
There is a great difference between sincere faith and spurious faith. An absence of reverent fear of the Lord is a sign of an absence of grace. And one who is not endeavoring to follow Christ can hardly be called a follower of Christ. The psalm speaks of the wonders of the Lord’s steadfast love and grace. Let us be among those who bless the Lord for all his wondrous works and benefits.
