SOAP Journal 04-10-2008 (Psalm 103:11-13)
Scripture:
Psalm 103:11-13 For as the skies are high above the earth, so his loyal love towers over his faithful followers. As far as the eastern horizon is from the west, so he removes the guilt of our rebellious actions from us. As a father has compassion on his children, so the Lord has compassion on his faithful followers.
Observation:
There are three analogies here (not two like the song we sing). Towering love, radical distance of removal of our rebellious acts and fatherly compassion all paint a picture of God who abounds in mercy over His followers. THEIR faithfulness is not a statement of sinlessness - they NEED his compassion in this passage. The first two analogies are superlative in sense that God's love and forgiveness surpasses anything in the human realm. The last establishes the basis of intimacy through the metaphor of the loving father, seen throughout scripture and, principally, in the teachings of Jesus.
Application:
The whole psalm is crafted as an expression of joy and celebration. How many of us drink in God's mercy to the extent the psalmist expresses it? Instead, we are quickly worn down by the judgments, criticisms and accusations of man, and the basis for the computation of self-worth is reduced to earning smiling approval from an otherwise sneering earthly judge. God's mercy should be foundational to our being, not something relegated to platitudinous theory.
Prayer:
Father, let me walk in full realization of Your love. Let it so overwhelm me that I export it richly. Let MY mercy abound this day. In Jesus' name, amen.
Psalm 103:11-13 For as the skies are high above the earth, so his loyal love towers over his faithful followers. As far as the eastern horizon is from the west, so he removes the guilt of our rebellious actions from us. As a father has compassion on his children, so the Lord has compassion on his faithful followers.
Observation:
There are three analogies here (not two like the song we sing). Towering love, radical distance of removal of our rebellious acts and fatherly compassion all paint a picture of God who abounds in mercy over His followers. THEIR faithfulness is not a statement of sinlessness - they NEED his compassion in this passage. The first two analogies are superlative in sense that God's love and forgiveness surpasses anything in the human realm. The last establishes the basis of intimacy through the metaphor of the loving father, seen throughout scripture and, principally, in the teachings of Jesus.
Application:
The whole psalm is crafted as an expression of joy and celebration. How many of us drink in God's mercy to the extent the psalmist expresses it? Instead, we are quickly worn down by the judgments, criticisms and accusations of man, and the basis for the computation of self-worth is reduced to earning smiling approval from an otherwise sneering earthly judge. God's mercy should be foundational to our being, not something relegated to platitudinous theory.
Prayer:
Father, let me walk in full realization of Your love. Let it so overwhelm me that I export it richly. Let MY mercy abound this day. In Jesus' name, amen.
posted by Sage @ 1:12 PM
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