Psalm
103:1–12—What a beautiful psalm of
comfort! David praises the LORD for all His benefits to us: He forgives all our
iniquity, heals all our diseases, redeems our life from the pit, and more. Why?
Because the LORD is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in
steadfast love.
David, overwhelmed by a sense of God’s blessings, mercy and forgiveness, writes what
is perhaps one of the most meaningful poems in the entire book of Psalms.
The psalm’s primary concern is not the current human
condition, but the wonder and majesty of an Almighty God, to whom we belong
forever.
The psalmist reminds us that our ultimate concern,
even in the midst of uncertain and fearful times, does not have to be the
vulnerability of our human condition.
Our ultimate concern can become the spirit in which we
turn to God in hope and turn to neighbor in love. Let us look to God, our
Creator, for comfort and let us turn to others to help and be helped.
Psalm 103 describes an active and powerful God who
cares about humanity, a God whose mighty hand extends down into the Pit of
human frailty to lift us up and set our feet once again on solid ground.
We serve a God who is full of deep compassion, a God
whose steadfast love never ceases, a God whose mercies never come to an end. Yes,
we are vulnerable, susceptible creatures, and one day, our human bodies will
fail. But God’s steadfast love will never fail. We come from dust and to dust
we shall return, and God’s righteousness and steadfast love will always be at
work among us, and in our children, and, after we are gone, in their children
after them.
Prayer for
Psalm 103: Lord, you have compassion for the sinner, as a father has compassion
for his children. Heal the weakness of your people and save us from everlasting
death that with the saints and angels we may praise and glorify you, Father,
Son, and Holy Spirit, now and forever.[1]
[1]
Collect for Psalm 103, For All the Saints a Prayer Book For and By the Church
Vol. II © 1995 American Lutheran Publicity Bureau, Delhi, NY
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