“Great is His Mercy Towards Those Who Fear Him” (Ps 103)

“For as the heavens are high above the earth, so great is His mercy toward those who fear Him” (vs11).

Fearing the Lord is believing that His mercies are needful. He says, “great is His mercy toward those who fear Him”. I need to be forgiven, and I need Him to enable me to sin no more, honoring Him in my walk. To these and these alone, God is merciful, gracious, and kind: He does not condemn, punished Christ for us, and He gives us the Spirit of obedience. He says, “The Lord executes righteousness and justice for all who are oppressed. He make known His ways to Moses, His acts to the children of Israel” (vs6-7).

We are not those who hear Him speak without trembling! He says, “But the mercy of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear Him, and His righteousness to children's children, to such as keep His covenant, and to those who remember His commandments to do them (vs17-18).” We are not bold enough to say, “Who is the Lord, that I should obey His voice” (Ex 5:2). We shake in our boots, confess our sins, and get grace to serve Him. He says, “As a father pities his children, so the Lord pities those who fear Him. For He knows our frame; He remembers that we are dust” (vs13-14). Like a parent looking at a child who tries his hardest, we are pleasing unto the Lord Jesus Christ.

I remember when my sister was in high school. She wasn't the best athlete, but she won most inspirational for more than one sport. I watched her struggle and give her best, and I'll never forget the joy and admiration I had for her when she bested her time by a minute in the championship race. She didn't win, and many may have wondered why I cheered so loud and joyfully, but she gave it all that she had, did her best, and she was heroic in the deed. It is this way with God in Christ. We don't do our “best”, but if we WANT to obey, want grace, and hate our wrongs, then He patiently and lovingly helps us.

A woman is to be subject to her husband, but she's human, and the husband rejoices that she wants to, even though she fails. He says, “Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits; Who forgives all your iniquities, Who heals all your diseases, Who redeems your life from destruction, Who crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies, Who satisfies your mouth with good things, so that your youth is renewed like the eagles (vs2-5)”, and again, “Husbands, likewise, dwell with them with understanding, giving honor to the wife, as to the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life, that your prayers may not be hindered” (1 Pet 3:7). I can't love perfectly, but I want to be a loving man to my wife, humble to people around me, and true to the gospel. He says, “Bless the Lord, you His angels, who excel in strength, who do His word, heeding the voice of His word. Bless the Lord, all you His hosts, you ministers of His, who do His pleasure. Bless the Lord, all His works, in all places of His Dominion. Bless the Lord, O my soul!” God sees this, failures and all, and He says, “That's my child. I willingly help him who willingly follows Me”. Bless His name! There's no condemnation, and HELP is ours in the hour of need. “Bless the Lord, O my soul!”