Reading: Psalm 103
As you read Psalm 103, pick out the metaphors and similes that are used there. They describe not just God and his activity (for example, vv. 11-12, 19), but also how we as humans beings react (for example, vv. 5, 15-16). How do these pictures of God and of human beings strengthen the point the writer is making?
- “youth is renewed like the eagle’s” (v.5) – I picture the eagle as strong, steadfast and courageous; much like youth view themselves. Invincible. With God as my satisfaction, there is nothing that can truly hurt me.
- “…as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his steadfast love…” (v.11) – The height of heaven from earth is, for us lowly people on earth, unfathomable. This just reminds me that the strength of my Father’s love for me is as equally unfathomable to me, too. (sheesh, and I thought I loved my own family a lot! That simply pales in comparison!)
- “as far as the east is from the west, so far does he remove our transgressions from us” (v.12) – I wrote about this last night, too. I have always loved this comparison. God removes our sins from us as far as they could possibly go, and then beyond even that!
- “As a father shows compassion to his children, so the Lord shows compassion to those who fear him” (v.13) – Coming from a mother’s viewpoint, I can only imagine that the bonds of a father are just as strong. There is nothing that I love more than to show my own children compassion, just as my heavenly Father wants nothing more than to show me an even greater love and compassion!
- “As for man, his days are like grass” (v.15) – green one day, brown and shriveled the next. We’re all going to die a physical death, after all.
- “he [man] flourishes like a flower of the field” (v.15) – Our lives bloom for a short time…
- “steadfast love of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting “ (v.17) – Everlasting. No beginning and no end. So is the Father’s love for me.
Now consider how these words help you to wonder at what God has done for you. Use two of these pictures to express your gratitude to God.
Father, I am reminded continually of two things over and over in this Psalm. You love me, and you forgive me!! If I had nothing else in my life, those two things right there would still get me through my days. Your love is strong, steadfast and true. I just pray that you will help me to show that same kind of love to others here on earth, just as your Son, Jesus, showed to mankind. I want so badly for others to see the light of your grace shining in everything that I do. But, Father, there are just so many times that I don’t do that. I will know darned well that what I’m about to do is 180 degrees away from what you would want, and you have so many times thrown sign after sign into my way to keep me from doing it. (yes, those signs are usually in the form of my own husband or children), but time and again, I keep testing the waters and finding out just how far I can go. That’s when I am so eternally grateful for the simple fact that you forgive me. Every time, whether I deserve it or not. Lord, I just can’t imagine being able to understand how You do that. Love and forgiveness; it knew no beginning and it knows no end.
