Sermon Tone Analysis

A Psalm of Mercy

All over this Psalm, we see the evidence of God’s mercy.

There are pockets and instances of injustices all over the world.

And where they are, we can be sure that God in his righteousness will do what is right.

Genesis 18

He is Good.

He is just.

if you need an example, he gives it in verse 7.

They were in bondage.

Enslaved.

Forced to work in a land that would never be their own.

God comes and makes his ways known.

He gives this example because the examples we see in the Bible reveal something of the character of God.

We see the character of God on display in bringing Egypt to her knees as well as Pharoah to his knees.

He will make it right.

We have to trust this.

We are called.

Taking vengeance out on someone is essentially impatience with God.

Dustin Benge

I would also say if we have a vengeful heart, we should check ourselves.

Vengeful heart says- they need to get what they deserve.

All the while we are expecting God to not give us what we deserve.

Do you see the inconsistency here?

We should remind ourselves of verse 8.

This is who God is.

For me.

He has been compassionate.

Gracious.

Slow to anger.

Abounding in love.

This is who God is.

But make no mistake here.

God is long suffering, but he is not forever suffering.

There is coming a day, when the wrath of God will be poured out.

I’m amazed at people who know better, who have been taught the Gospel, who toy with sin, who mistakingly think that God is just waiting for them.

Who do we think we are?

And who do we think God is.

This is a pleasant thought or even a pleasant preaching point for me, but I believe the reason for a lot of what we see in our world and culture today, is from a lack of honesty about who God is and what he has done in salvation.

He is in control of salvation.

Not us.

We don’t just get to come when we are ready.

I talked with a friend recently, who basically said, I know better, but I only live once.

BUT YOU CAN DIE TWICE.

God is not obligated to them.

God is gracious in giving any of us salvation.

He is merciful.

Psalm 103:

I am so thankful for verse 10 in my life.

What I deserve for my sin is death.

I don’t deserve an ounce of what Ive been given.

Everything is grace.

If God had given what we deserve, Adam and Eve would have never made it out of the Garden.

Israel would have never made it through the wilderness.

And I would have never made it to where I am.

His lovingkindness is high above the earth.

There is no measuring rod long enough to measure that.

Its immeasurable.

He’s compassionate.

He loves us, because we are his children.

He knows this but often we forget.

“The trouble with being strong and healthy is that you and I begin to believe we are something other than dust into which God has temporarily breathed the breath of life.”

Christopher Ash 

“Whether suddenly or gradually, whether in youth or old age, God will say, ‘Return to the dust, child of Adam.’

He may say that today or in twenty years’ time; but the moment God says that, we will return to dust.

How strange to think so proudly about ourselves and our strength when we are so fragile.”

Christopher Ash

He knows who we are.

We often forget.

Let David remind us here.

Psalm 103:15-

Psalm 103:

But theres hope for our weary souls.

Look at what God has done.

Psalm 103

In light of our frailty, there is but one hope.

Remember that we are dust and trust in the Creator of the dust.