Who He Is: Psalm 103

Intro:

If you were to describe God the Father in 1 or 2 words what would it be?

As we come to Easter, some might ask, what kind of a God is God if He would allow His Son to go through that kind of “Cosmic Child abuse”? If He would allow that to happen to Jesus, what will He allow to happen to me...

Maybe, hearing the term, “Go the Father” is really hard for you because if God is anything like you earthly father, you want nothing to do with Him. Or maybe you never knew your father. Or perhaps you have had a great example in a Father and making the connection is not that hard for you.

Instead of trying to take all of this Psalm in, try focusing on a 1-2 things about God that really challenge you.

Outline:

Bless The Lord: “All His Benefits” (vs. 1-5)

His Ways/Works: “He Made Known” (vs. 6-14)

Man’s Need: “His Days are like Grass” (vs. 15-19)

Bless the Lord: “His Angels, Hosts, and Works” (vs. 20-23)

Summary: Stirring the soul of the finite starts with The steadfast benefits of the infinite.

Prayer:

Bless The Lord: “All His Benefits” (vs. 1-5)

With Everything (vs. 1-2)

Bless the LORD

O my soul- stir the uttermost parts of who I am

and All that is within me- “Spurgeon said this about this passage, “Half-hearted, ill-conceived, unitelligent praises are not such as we should render to our loving Lord”

Bless His holy name- David repeats the need to bless the Lord, almost as if he is seeking to stir himself for the tasks of adoration

For Everything (vs. 3-5)

Bless the LORD

O my soul

And forget not all his benefits

Who forgives all your iniquity

Who heals all your diseases- “The term taḥăluʾîm (“diseases”) can refer to psychological as well as physical maladies, and in Deut 28:21–22, 27–29, 35, 59–61 a variety of diseases are included in the list of divine judgments on sin (cf. Ps 32:2–5).

Daniel J. Estes, Psalms 73–150, ed. E. Ray. Clendenen, vol. 13, New American Commentary (Nashville, TN: B&H Publishing Group, 2019), 264.

Who redeems your life from the pit (grave)

Who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy

Who satisfies you with good

so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s

Application/Implications:

Renew the Mind (the Scriptures):

Which verse or word catches your attention the most?

Maybe there is a word or verse that you would like to study more about this week?

Engage the Heart (humility vs. pride):

Where are you stirred in your soul this morning?

Enlist the Body (Words, actions, emotions):

What if we do this, David had to work himself into adoration, how about we do the same as a family. I am going to read each statement and I want you to return, from the soul, PRAISE THE LORD!!

What do you do to stir your soul?

Transitional phrase: David is activly seeking to respond to God with everything He has, everything from the inside out. He then moves to what God has done for the Nation of Israel as well.

His Ways/Works: “He Made Known” (vs. 6-14)

Towards the oppressed (vs. 6-8)

The LORD works

righteouness and- adhereing to what is required according to a standard

Justice- an action, judgment is made determining rights and the assignment of rewards and punishments. Not only is there a standard, but the LORD works at assigning the right rewards and punishment.

for all who are oppressed- verb, to be come down upon unjustly.

He made known

His ways to Moses- did this onw mount Sinai after the golden calf

His acts to the people of Israel- reminds me of Rom 1. we are really good at supressing the truth about what God has displayed

The LORD is

Merciful

Gracious

Slow to anger- being patient, having the idea of greater than average spatial extension (long), conceived of as having a long nose

Aboudning in steadfast love (Ex. 34:6 “The Lord passed before him and proclaimed, “The Lord, the Lord, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness,” Neh 9:17, Pss 86:15; 145:8; Joel 2:13; Jonah 4:2. An unfailing kind of love, kindness, or goodness; often used of God’s love that is related to faithfulness to his covenant

Towards sinners (vs. 9-12)

He will not always

chide- accuse “bring a court case against”

nor will He keep His anger forever

He does not deal with with us

according to our sins- He is able to set our sins aside

nor repay us according to our iniquities

As High as the heavens are above the earth

so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him

as far as the east is from the west

so far does he remove our transgressions from us

Towards His children (vs. 13-14)

As a father shows compassion to his children

so the LORD show compassion to those who fear him

For he knows our frame

He remembers that we are dust

Application/Implications:

Renew the Mind (the Scriptures):

Which verse or word catches your attention the most?

Maybe there is a word or verse that you would like to study more about this week?

Engage the Heart (humility vs. pride):

There is a key phrase in this section, it was mentioned 2x, did you pick up on it? What was it? “To those who fear him” is that true of you

Because God exists, there is righteousness and justice for the oppressed. Our world would like to tell us there is no righteousness but only “right in my own eyesness” and we determine what should be celebrated and what is not acceptable.

Because He exists, he reveals his actions

Because He exists, we can understand mercy, grace, being slow to anger, and steadfast love that abounds.

Because He exists, he has provided a payment for our sins that remove the stain of transgression from us

Because He exists, we can experience a father’s compassion

Because He exists, we don’t have to hide our frailty and failings

Enlist the Body (Words, actions, emotions):

When David needed to stir himself up, he did not look at his accomplishments, guilt himself into doing something because of his own expectations, or act out of fear of not pleaseing someone! No, He turns to what God has made know about his works.

Maybe, you need to write out verse 8 on a cue card or post it note or have it on the lock screen of your phone this week

Transitional phrase: His ways are high above our ways, not in a way that we cannot understand but definitely in a way that we do not deserve. The only way to this relationship is through the fear of the LORD

Man’s Need: “His Days are like Grass” (vs. 15-19)

Something everlasting (vs. -)

As for man

His days are like grass

He flourishes like a flower of the field

For the wind passes over it

and it is gone- not a hurrican or something powerful

and its place knows it no more- not only is the life of a person short, but it is often quickly forgotten.

But the steadfast love of the LORD

is from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear him

and His righteousness to Children’s children

to those who keep his covenant

and remember to do his commandments

The LORD has established his throne in the heavens

and his kingdom rules over all- Who has ever claimed to invade heaven and take the throne? Sure, men and women have conquered countries, castles, governments, and waters, but no one has ever claimed to conquor heaven

Application/Implications:

Renew the Mind (the Scriptures):

Engage the Heart (humility vs. pride):

How is your heart responding to the fact that you days are like grass and our life expectancy is compared to a flower in a field? In what ways does that influence what you value in life? I had the privilege to visit some of our saints in the hospital this week. It is a sobering experience to be with someone as their body is shutting down.

You and I have to grarpple with the fact that we are finite beings, we all have an experation date. We need something everlasting! We need something steadfast! We need something that will outlast our children’s children! We need something that is established and no one can destroy! None of this can be found in you or I, it is only found in our eternal, heavely, Father.

Enlist the Body (Words, actions, emotions):

Transitional phrase: We have seen the LORD’s benefits, we have seen his works and the ways he has revealed Himself. We have seen our need for who He is. So what are we left with?

Bless The LORD: “His Angels, Hosts, and Works” (vs. 20-23)

His angels (vs. -)

Bless the LORD

o you his angels

you mightly ones who do his word

obeying the voice of His word!

His hosts (vs. -)

Bless the LORD

all his hosts

his ministers who do his will

His works (vs. - )

Bless the LORD,

all his works

in all places of his dominion- it begs the question, if all of these are blessing the Lord, what would stop me.

Bless the LORD, O my soul!

Application/Implications:

Renew the Mind (the Scriptures):

Engage the Heart (humility vs. pride):

Enlist the Body (Words, actions, emotions):

Transitional phrase:

Summary

Song:

Benediction/Looking ahead:

Discussion questions

Worship- Renew the Mind (Scripture)

1. What passage of Scripture did we look at? Summarize it in your own words.

2. ?

3. ?

4. ?

Grow- Engage the Heart (Conversation)

1. ?

2. ?

3. ?

Serve- Enlist the Body (Action)

?

?

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