As far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us.
As a father has compassion on his children, so the LORD has compassion on those who fear him" (Psalm 103:11-13)
Psalm 103 is again one of those favourite Psalms, so often used in worship, and in private meditation. It is a Psalm focusing on the grace of God shown towards those who sin. It extols the greatness of his love and compassion towards his people and towards David. It begins and ends with the line, "Bless the Lord, O my soul!"
The three verses we are looking at this morning, are three repetitive comparisons building a case for the greatness of God's love.
The first line, speaks of the height of the heavens being the measure of his love. This word for love is again the "Hesed" – steadfast love, which we spoke about earlier. We remember that this is both God's character and an action. Not only is he himself love, but his actions towards us are ones of continual helpfulness, always acting for our best interests, always having us on his mind. The psalmist then talks about this love in a comparison that shows us that it is so infinite and abounding that it fills all of time and space.
The second line shows the extent of his forgiveness and grace. Not only are we forgiven but our sins are completely cast away – so far from us that they would never be found. This contrast appears in differing forms throughout Scripture. In Isaiah it reads
"Thought your sins are like scarlet they shall be as white as snow…" (1:18)
"You have put all my sins behind your back" (38:17)
"I, even I, am he who blots out your transgressions for my own sake, and remembers your sins no more." (43:25)
His love covers all our sins – to the point that they cannot be seen or remembered.
Lastly he compares the compassion a father has on his children, to the mercy God has on those who fear him. This is to bring it home to a place that we can relate to once again. Just as a parent would get angry with a child, the anger is momentary but the love for the child never changes. So too God's love for us is unchanging and constant.
The love of God is so vast and infinite that it covers our sins and is unchanging through time. I pray that this morning you can spend some time with the Father just acknowledging him and praising him for his great love. I pray that you, together with all believers, may grasp how wide and long and high and deep is this love that he has for you. (Eph 3:18)
One of my favourite worship songs simply says this
"Think about his love
Think about his goodness
Think about his grace – that's brought us through
For as high as the heavens above
So great is the measure of our Father's love
Great is the measure of our Father's love"
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