During the month of November, our sermons focused on Psalm 103. The purpose was to reflect on Thanksgiving and all of the blessings God has bestowed upon His people. David spends time in this Psalm reflecting on the Greatness of God. He shows us how God reveals this greatness. God has done amazing things in history, continues to do amazing things, and will always be amazing in the minds and hearts of believers. Let’s look at this Psalm together.
Verses 1-5
In the first five verses, David gives us a great glimpse of worship. We are called to worship God completely (“Bless the Lord, Oh my soul and all that is within me. Bless His Holy Name.”) This lets us know that worship is deeper than words on the lips or thoughts on the mind. Worship is surrendering everything about you, everything you have, and everything you are to God and His Glory.
David continues by giving thanks to God for forgiveness of sins. It is interesting that David, the shepherd boy who became king, opens up with forgiveness. But that should be telling to us as we study. Forgiveness is perhaps God’s greatest blessing because it is God’s willingness to forgive that makes salvation possible. Without God’s forgiveness, we would not experience God’s grace or mercy. Often when we count our blessings, we begin with material things in mind. David begins with God’s forgiveness.
After forgiveness, David reflects on Salvation and Satisfaction. These two items are only found completely in Christ. We may be temporarily saved form a bad situation by a job promotion, or a gift from a friend, or a lucky break. But True, Biblical Salvation is found in Christ alone. And it is a salvation that is everlasting. The same is true for satisfaction. Many things in life seem to temporarily satisfy but again, Christ satisfies our deepest need for all time.
Verses 6-16
In these verses, David describes different aspects about the Care God gives His people. God cares deeply for His people but He also cared deeply enough to die for, and provide salvation to, all who would call upon His name. God cares about the wealthy and the poor. The marginalized and the popular. The healthy and the sick.
Too many times when we think of justice and righteousness, we let modern dictionaries define these words. We either fall so far one direction that we do not believe God has any concern for the poor or weak and that if they just had more faith they would be better and do better. Or we fall to the opposite direction and say God desires to make the poor physically wealthy here on earth by removing from the rich and giving to the poor. So we tend to make God a rather harsh ruler or a rather powerful Robin Hood.
Scripturally though, God cares because God created. He cares for us faithfully (vv. 6-7. He cares for us patiently (vv. 8-10). He cares for us abundantly (vv. 11-12). And He cares for us intimately (vv. 13-16). David paints beautiful pictures of our Great God in these lyrics.
Verses 17-22
I was recently reading an article yesterday that said the average person complains between 15 and 30 times a day. God has done so much for His people, for this whole world, that we cannot run out of reasons to be thankful. But too many times, we cannot run out of reasons to complain.
David closes this Psalm with great testimony of what God has done and who God is. He shows us in verses 17-18 that God blesses us through His eternity. God is from everlasting to everlasting, meaning He always was, He currently is, and He forever will be. We have a specific beginning in time. There is a time when I was not. Even though God has created me for eternity, either with Him in Glory or facing His wrath, I am not from everlasting to everlasting. But thankfully, God IS.
In these same verses, we see that God makes a covenant with His People. This means that God’s promises are not bound to my ability and power but to His. This is something to be thankful for! God has placed His word on the promises He makes.
In the last four verses, God shows us that He blesses us from His position and His power. This means that He makes promises, offers blessing, executes judgement, and many other works because He has the position to do so. Have you ever had someone make a promise to you that they did not have the power to keep? Perhaps it was negotiating a car price. Maybe it was what you would be able to accomplish in your job. People often make statements that they do not have the authority to back up. God, however, is in the ultimate position to do what He says He will do.
Not only does He have the position, He also has the power, or the ability. We have seen incompetency in high places in this life. One of my favorite cartoon strips is Dilbert. In this cartoon, the office workplace is lived out in subtle hilarity. One of the most recurring themes in this cartoon is the incompetence of the “pointy-haired boss”. He shows over and over again that, although he is in the position, he does not have the power. This causes a lot of problems in the office. However, our God is ABLE. Thank God that He has both POSITION and POWER!
Sermons
November 8th Sermon Content (vv. 1-5)- https://youtu.be/dr4BpyOwfcU
November 15th Sermon Content (vv. 6-16)- https://youtu.be/u6xEeC5PS7M
November 22nd Sermon Content (vv. 17-22)- https://youtu.be/Qq6EVj4Ntv4
Speak These Things- Titus 2:15 