Psalm 103: Unfailing Love

If only I could take the space to insert the WHOLE of Psalm 103 into this post. Be sure to read the whole thing. But to keep this short, I’ll highlight just three little verses.

Vs. 11

For his unfailing love toward those who fear him is as great as the height of the heavens above the earth.

Vs. 13

The Lord is like a father to his children, tender and compassionate to those who fear him.

Vs. 20

But the love of the Lord remains forever with those who fear him. His salvation extends to the children’s children

The whole Psalm gives voice to the thankfulness of sinners that the Lord is a God of mercy and grace. We have a God who does not deal with us according to our sins. Yet it is interesting that three times this Psalm says that the steadfast love and compassion of God are for those who fear him. In the Psalms, this phrase “refers to the righteous, the faithful, and the servants of the LORD for those who seek to make the LORD the decisive orienting center of their lives.” (Interpretation: A Bible Commentary for Teaching & Preaching, James May)

What a wonderful way to understand this word: FEAR. I know that I sometimes FEAR God in a different way. I shared with someone recently that there was a time in my life were I actually thought that God would allow something bad to happen to myself or my family because of a decision that we made – a really benign decision that wasn’t necessarily right or wrong – it was just a thing. Like where to live, or where to work. Those are important decisions, and I believe God can give direction, but sometimes you gotta just do the thing and trust that He will work things out. Anyway, I lived in FEAR, because I felt very unsure about that particular decision.

That was NOT a healthy fear of God. In fact, I look back and think that God must have been grieved to think that was how I viewed Him.

Here’s a TRUTH from this Psalm :

I honor and fear the Lord when I make HIM the decisive orienting center of my life. My life should revolve around pleasing Him. Oh, I have so much growing to do! I am thankful, though, for God who constantly shows me His unfailing love, His mercy, His grace and His compassion.

Maybe this is a new way for you to consider God’s great love for you and what it might mean for you to “fear Him.”