"The Lord works righteousness and justice for all who are oppressed. He made known his ways to Moses, his acts to the people of Israel.The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. He will not always chide, nor will he keep his anger forever. He does not deal with us according to our sins, nor repay us according to our iniquities.so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west, so far does he remove our transgressions from us. As a father shows compassion to his children, so the Lord shows compassion to those who fear him. For he knows our frame; he remembers that we are dust. As for man, his days are like grass; he flourishes like a flower of the field; for the wind passes over it, and it is gone, and its place knows it no more. But the steadfast love of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear him, and his righteousness to children's children, to those who keep his covenant and remember to do his commandments." Psalm 103:6-18
Great Love for Great Sinners (6-14)
"God is merciful in the most tender and affectionate manner; he has bowels of mercy…his mercy is free, without any motive or merit in men to engage it; he delights in showing it; he constantly bestows it; it is the source of all good things; it is communicated through Christ." John Gill, Commentary on Psalm 103
Forever Love for the Fleeting (15-18)
"Time, you left me standing there
Like a tree growing all alone
The wind just stripped me bare
Stripped me bare"
Hootie & the Blowfish
So Bless the Lord for His love and more! (1-5, 19-22)
“Bless”: to remember, relish, and respond to all of God’s goodness to you in Christ
(1-5) Bless the Lord for a mountain of benefits (19-22) Bless the Lord with all of creation
Discussion Questions:
- What blessings and benefits of being a Christian do you tend to be most forgetful of?
- What are some ways you need to learn to be a beloved sinner in your life with the Lord?
- How are we all “cut flowers”? How does the Bible direct us to respond to the fleeting nature of life?
- What are some ways you can cultivate remembering, relishing, and responding to God’s goodness to you in Christ?