Psalm 103:13-18

Bless the LORD: We May Never Forget Who We Are

I. We Need the Compassion of God (v.13)

Psalm 103:13 NASB95

13 Just as a father has compassion on his children, So the Lord has compassion on those who fear Him.

The Fatherhood of God is a constant theme in Scriptures.

God is described as a compassionate and loving Father (1 John 3:1)

1 John 3:1 NASB95

1 See how great a love the Father has bestowed on us, that we would be called children of God; and such we are. For this reason the world does not know us, because it did not know Him.

Romans 8:14–17 NASB95

14 For all who are being led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. 15 For you have not received a spirit of slavery leading to fear again, but you have received a spirit of adoption as sons by which we cry out, “Abba! Father!” 16 The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God, 17 and if children, heirs also, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him so that we may also be glorified with Him.

adoption as sons, heirs of God.

Fathers feel for their children, especially when they are in pain, they would like to suffer in their behalf, their sighs and groans cut them to the heart: In the same way, sensitive towards our pain and need is our heavenly Father.

We do not worship a god of stone, but the living God, who has a tender heart.

As a loving Father, he also disciplines his children.

Hebrews 12:9–11 NASB95

9 Furthermore, we had earthly fathers to discipline us, and we respected them; shall we not much rather be subject to the Father of spirits, and live? 10 For they disciplined us for a short time as seemed best to them, but He disciplines us for our good, so that we may share His holiness. 11 All discipline for the moment seems not to be joyful, but sorrowful; yet to those who have been trained by it, afterwards it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness.

FOR our GOOD

As a Father, he provides, he sustains, he empower.

As a Father, he protects ,he calls back those who are astray.

FRUIT OF RIGHTEOUSNESS

His compassion is what we need, everyday.

II. We are valued by God despite of our weaknesses and limitations (v.14)

Psalm 103:14 NASB95

14 For He Himself knows our frame; He is mindful that we are but dust.

God knows our frame (inside out) because he wonderfully and carefully made us

God knows what we can and we cannot do.

God knows what is in our hearts and minds.

God knows our desires and aspirations.

God knows our daily struggles with sin.

God knows our victories and defeats.

God knows our limitations....

But God is also mindful of us

“mindful” - remembers and consider.

God is mindful of our limitations and values us

He made the first humans literraly from the dust of the earth.

Psalm 139:13 (NASB95)

13 For You formed my inward parts; You wove me in my mother’s womb.

But here the word “dust” is used symbolically - lowly, has limitations because we will die, as we die, our bodies return to dust.

Our bodies has physical capacities and limits.

We often forgot that we are dust, and try to load our mind and body with excessive worrying and excessive loads that are too much to bear.

Avoid the Danger of Overestimating Yourself

Do not overestimate yourself and think that you are beyond the power of God

Do not overestimate yourself by thinking that you will live forever.

Do not overestimate yourself by thinking that you can abuse the compassion of God.

Avoid the Danger of Underestimating Yourself

Do not underestimate your life and value - it is a waste of God’s blessings when we allow the enemy and the world to poison our mind into thinking that we are useless, underachiever, and of no value.

Do not let the world dictate and decide your worth.

Do not let the Satan cripple you and stop you from achieving the Lord’s plan for you - to save you from your sins, and to be more like Christ, to be a credible witness for Christ.

III. We are living a borrowed life (vv. 15 - 16)

We are not sovereign over the length of our time on earth - we will die - death is sure. Temporary nature of our life is the reality.

Psalm 103:15–16 NASB95

15 As for man, his days are like grass; As a flower of the field, so he flourishes. 16 When the wind has passed over it, it is no more, And its place acknowledges it no longer.

His day are like grass and or flower - fragile / has expiration.

There’s a season to grow and a season to die.

when the wind passed over it, it is no more.

A great reminder to make use of our borrowed time

Let this be a warning not to waste our time and life in things that has no eternal value.

Isaiah 40:7 NASB95

7 The grass withers, the flower fades, When the breath of the Lord blows upon it; Surely the people are grass.

IV. We are a Covenant people of God (v.17-18)

Christians are people of the covenant (New Covenant)

Psalm 103:17–18 NASB95

17 But the lovingkindness of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear Him, And His righteousness to children’s children, 18 To those who keep His covenant And remember His precepts to do them.

The loving kindness of the Lord - everlasting, contrast to the temporary nature of man - like grass, shortlived.

His everlasting lovingkindness is link to the believers eternal security.

The lovingkindness of God is expressed in the OT Covenant and in the NT Covenant through the life of Jesus Christ.

What is a covenant? Kasabutan, contract...

Matthew 26:28 NASB95

28 for this is My blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for forgiveness of sins.

We must live according to the New Covenant of Jesus Christ (John 14:15)

John 14:15 NASB95

15 “If you love Me, you will keep My commandments.

While obedience matters to Yahweh, it is His care that sustains people, not our efforts at obedience.

Our hope is not in the ability of man and the genius of man.

Our hope is not in the invention of man...

Our hope in not in the effort of man....

Our hope in this world is in the everlasting compassionate God who is mindful of us!

Application:

Bless the Lord by making use of your borrowed life to serve God.

You can’t know when your life will be taken away from you.

If you are a follower of Christ, your life does not belong to you anymore but to Jesus who died to give you eternal life. Service is the right response (Gal. 2:20)

Bless the Lord by accepting your limitations and rest on God’s care.

Limitations are God’s gift to us - we can’t live forever in agony and pain, and sin.

Accept God’s gift of limitation - Do not overload yourself with worries and fears of the future. Give your heavy load to Jesus. (Matthew 11:28-30)

Jesus wants to help you…lighten up the load enough for you to carry.

Matthew 11:28–30 NASB95

28 “Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. 29 “Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 “For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”