By Scott Guffin
Associate Professor and Executive Director of Christian Ministry, Samford University
THE SOURCE OF FORGIVENESS
Psalm 103:1–13
It is easy for us as we pass through this life to fail to recognize the immense blessings that God pours out on us continually.
A great antidote for this forgetfulness is simply taking the time to recognize the work of God in our lives and expressing our gratitude to Him for all He does for us.
In Psalm 103, David counts the blessings of God and reminds the reader of their effects. David begins the psalm with a beautiful doxology and tells us not to forget God’s benefits.
Among the “benefits” that David addresses is the amazing forgiveness that God offers through His gracious gift of salvation, which we know is given to all who place their faith in Christ.
God blesses us in many ways, including forgiveness. (1–5)
While David’s list of the blessings of God is not exhaustive, it does cover some key items for which we should all be thankful. In verses 3–5, David mentions some ways God addresses the depth of brokenness in our lives, referencing how He forgives our sins, heals our diseases and redeems our lives.
Beyond merely rescuing us, David notes that God elevates us as He “crowns” us “with faithful love and compassion.”
Going even farther above and beyond what we deserve, God also “satisfies” us “with good things,” uplifting, encouraging and energizing us to live our lives for Him.
David’s language in verse 5 is reminiscent of Isaiah 40:31, where the prophet proclaims that “those who trust in the Lord … will soar on wings like eagles.”
God’s forgiveness is evident in how He treats His children. (6–8)
Over the next three verses, David reminds the reader of the character of God, highlighting the fact that God’s actions toward His people stem not from who they are or what they have accomplished but that they emanate from His heart as a function of who He is.
In verse 8, David describes the character of God in a way that is repeated almost identically in eight other places in the Old Testament: “The Lord is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in faithful love.”
For those who come to know God, this recognition and recollection of who God is serves to buoy us in our most difficult times, especially when our vision of God is obscured by our struggles.
We do not deserve forgiveness but God forgives completely. (9–13)
It is especially in the hard times — sometimes brought on by our own sinful actions — that it is vital to recall a truth that David himself had come to embrace. God “has not dealt with us as our sins deserve or repaid us according to our iniquities.” Quite the opposite is true.
Although we do not deserve His favor, God forgives and His forgiveness is complete. Out of His great heart of “faithful love,” God removes our sins from us “as far as the east is from the west.” God reflects the heart of a compassionate Father who recognizes our frail nature and acts toward us accordingly.
In verse 14, David declares that God remembers that He has created us from dust, a reminder both of God’s creative genius and of His reason for looking on us with patience.
As we count the blessings of God in our lives, let us remember with joy that God’s forgiveness means everything to us. As the very source of forgiveness, God deserves for our souls to bless Him in return.
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