Reading: Psalm 103
Read the psalm as though you are reading it for the first time and don’t know anything about God and what He has done in the past. What on earth is going on here? Which bits don’t you understand?
God is all-powerful, majestic and righteous. I am as insignificant as a blade of grass. This psalm is telling me how wonderful and great the Lord God is and that I need to fear Him in order to receiving His blessings. God is like a father to man — He is compassionate but he disciplines. God’s word and commands are to be obeyed if one is to be righteous.
Assuming I haven’t read any other parts of the Bible, I would be very confused about Moses and God revealing His acts to Israel. I would be confused about the Lord’s covenant and His commandments.
Read the psalm again, pausing to think about what God has done in the past with His people. What can you say to God in praise of Him?
God, you keep your promises. You made a covenant with my fathers and you are going to keep that promise. I can be guaranteed that! You have dealt with man extremely graciously. You have turned away when we were not walking with you but you did not remove us from your presence. You disciplined us when we were not obedient to your commands. You loved us and protected us when we were faithful to your words. You were a father to us when we needed encouragement and when we needed discipline. You were a light to us when we were filled with darkness and emptiness. You brought us out of the darkness and into the light through your son, Jesus Christ. Father, you are to be feared and revered. You are the great Almighty, Creator of the universe. Nothing in the world is not under your control.
