SYNOPSIS: “Praise the Lord, O My soul, and forgot not his benefits.” Forgiveness, healing, redemption, love, compassion … just to name a few. Now what soul wouldn’t pour forth unfettered praise at the realization of all the undeserved and life sustaining blessings that God graciously gives! So what don’t you offer up some unfettered praise today!
Project 52 – Weekly Scripture Memory // Psalm 103:11-12
For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his love for those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us.
I love this psalm—it’s my favorite. It is probably right up there with the Twenty-Third Psalm for most people, and I suspect it has made your Top Ten, too!
David is on his game in this psalm; he’s in the sweet-spot of Divine favor, the blessing zone, if you will, as he calls up from his memory banks his Top Ten list of why it is so good to belong to God:
- Forgiveness—Psalm 103:3
- Healing—Psalm 103:3
- Redemption—Psalm 103:4
- Compassion—Psalm 103:4
- Satisfaction—Psalm 103:5
- Justice—Psalm 103:6
- Revelation—Psalm 103:7
- Patience—Psalm 103:8
- Mercy—Psalm 103:9-14
- Love—Psalm 103:17
No wonder David “bookends” this psalm with “praise the Lord, O my soul.” (Psalm 103:1, 22) What soul wouldn’t pour forth unfettered praise at the realization of all the undeserved and life sustaining blessings that God graciously gives!
Of course, these benefits aren’t given to just anybody—although they are available to everybody. There is a critical caveat found in Psalm 103:18:
To live under these Divine blessings requires covenant keeping.
God keeps his covenantal promises to bless only those who keep their covenantal promise to obey his laws. Still, though this is a conditional covenant, we get the far better deal, by miles. Even when we don’t always live up to our end of the bargain, God looks upon us through his eyes of compassion, sustains us by his mercy, forgives our repentance and patiently, lovingly, enduringly keeps us in his family.
All I can say to that is “praise the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits!” (Psalm 103:2)
So take some time to remember the benefits of belonging to God. My guess is, like David, you, too, will be singing a little soul music!
“He rides pleasantly enough whom the grace of God carries.” ~Thomas A` Kempis
Reflect & Apply: One of the greatest benefits of belonging to God is the removal of our sins when we confess them and repent of our sinful ways. Psalm 103:11-12 says God pardons our sins and removes them as far as the east is from the west. Last time I looked, that was a long way. How great is the love of a God who would do that. How about taking some time to express your thanks to God that he is in the sin removal business.
Praise the Lord indeed! But I think your message is confusing on the issue of obtain forgiveness of sin by confessing. 1Jn. 1:9 is about God's plan of salvation to unbelievers. Our sins were completely propitiated and forgiven on the cross (Rom. 3:25; Col. 2:13; 1Jn. 2:2). Confession isn't neccessary to obtain forgiveness. It's neccessary in order for us to approach the throne with confidence (Heb. 4:16). The forgiveness is a done deal. Praise the Lord!
Thanks for your comments. That's something to think about. God, through Christ's death, has forgiven our sins–past, present and future. So what role does confession play? I agree, forgiveness is a "done deal." But might we say that what God has provided is accessed through our act of confession–much like healing, provision, blessing, restoration, etc. is often waiting to be applied to our lives by our acts of faith ("If he has sinned, he will be forgiven. Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed")?