For today’s meditation let us dwell on Psalm 103:13, “As a father shows compassion to his children, so the LORD shows compassion to those who fear him.” (ESV)
This Psalm that David wrote is based on the understanding that the relationship between the Almighty God and mankind is like that of a father with his children. Just as a father has compassion on his children, the Lord too shows compassion on all those who fear Him. All through this Psalm, God is portrayed as the one who is all-wise, all-knowing, powerful, holy, Almighty One who has no beginning or end. It also describes the immense love that this God has for all human beings.
The bible teaches us that everyone who believes on the Lord Jesus become sons and daughters of the Most High God. As we study this psalm we will try to understand the characteristics of this God who is our Father. Sometimes when we look at earthly fathers we may falter, as we erroneously compare them to our heavenly Father.
1. A Father who forgives us
We read in Psalm 103:3, “who forgives all your iniquity” (ESV)
So often we perceive that God is harsh or strict, and one who is keenly waiting to punish us. The reason for this faulty understanding of God is that there are those who portray God this way. They therefore also teach that one can appease God by their good deeds. Let me remind you that we have a God who forgives us all of our iniquities. Iniquities are all those sins we commit willfully, and knowingly against the commandments of God. Nonetheless, the privilege for the children of God, is the fact that God is willing to forgive us all of our sins and iniquities. This forgiveness is priceless, because God the Father sent His only Son Jesus, and placed the sins of all mankind on Him, so that everyone who believes in Him will be forgiven of all their sins and iniquities.
In Titus 2:14 we read, “who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works.” (ESV)
Jesus redeemed us from all lawlessness by His sacrificial death on the cross, and made us a holy people so that we can do good works, and accomplish the will of God on the earth. We must bear in mind that God is one who is forgiving. The bible teaches us that God is our loving God though we go astray many times, and in many ways. While we were entangled with sin, curse and sickness, God the Father sent His Son Jesus to deliver us from all of them. If you are in doubt if your sins are forgiven, all you need to do is confess your sins, and be sure that we have a Father who will forgive us of all our sins and wickedness. God is bountiful in forgiveness, but every so often we do not comprehend this. There are those who when they go through a hardship or trial, blame themselves, and feel that God is punishing them for some sins they committed in the past. Be certain that when God forgives us, He does so totally and will never remember our sins and iniquities any longer.
I am reminded of an incident in John 8 where the men brought to Jesus a woman who was caught in adultery. They wanted to stone her to death in keeping with the laws of Moses, and wanted to know what Jesus thought about it. Jesus was categorical when He told them that the one who was without sin should be the first one to cast a stone at her.
As believers in Jesus we want the Lord to forgive our sins, but so often we are frugal in extending forgiveness to others. The prayer that Jesus taught His disciples, reminds us that God forgives us as we decide to forgive those who trespass against us. If you are filled with this sense of being unforgiven, it could well be because you have not forgiven someone, and are holding a grudge in your heart. Choose to forgive all those who are against you, and every issue that hurt you from the depth of your heart, and never remember them anymore. We have a God who is always willing to forgive us of all our iniquities, and He is our loving Father.
2. A Father who heals us
We read in Psalm 103:3, “..who heals all your diseases,” (ESV)
Let me emphasize on this verse that declares that God is one who heals all diseases. When Jesus was here on earth, He performed many wonders and miracles. He turned water into wine, raised the dead to life, drove out demons, but one thing He did regularly was to heal those who were sick.
This is recorded this way in Matthew 4:23, “And he went throughout all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom and healing every disease and every affliction among the people.” (ESV)
Notice how Jesus healed every disease, and also set people free from every affliction. Many people have the faith to believe and accept the forgiveness of sins that Jesus offers. However, these same people lack in faith to believe that Jesus could also heal them of all their diseases.
They brought a man who was paralyzed to Jesus who was in a helpless condition. Interestingly, the first thing that Jesus told the man was that his sins were forgiven, and the next thing Jesus did was to ask Him to take up his bed and walk. At that very moment he got up, took up his bed and walked.
It is also recorded in Matthew 8:16-17, “That evening they brought to him many who were oppressed by demons, and he cast out the spirits with a word and healed all who were sick. This was to fulfill what was spoken by the prophet Isaiah: “He took our illnesses and bore our diseases.”” (ESV)
Again we read that Jesus healed all those who had any sort of disease who were brought to Him. This was the fulfillment of the prophecy of Isaiah who foretold these almost 700 years before Jesus came. The prophet Isaiah also prophesied the sufferings of Christ, and also the blessing that would be ours because of this sacrifice that Jesus would make. As Jesus healed the multitudes who came to Him, it was the fulfillment of the prophecy that ‘He would take our illnesses and bear our diseases on Himself.’
Jesus is the same yesterday, today and forever, and if He could heal all those who came to Him, He could do the same for us today. As children of God let us keep in mind that Jesus not only forgives us our sins, but is also able to deliver us from all our infirmities and diseases. Let us claim this promise for our lives, and believe that God is able to fulfill this in our lives as well. This body is God’s gift to us, it is the temple of the Holy Spirit, and God dwells within us. We must confess this truth, and by faith receive the healing that the Lord is ready to give to us. Oftentimes we are filled with fear only because we let the voice of God, and His word to get drowned by the voices of those around us. Remember that God is able to change all our weaknesses, and heal all of our diseases.
3. A Father who redeems us
We read in Psalm 103:4, “Who redeems your life from destruction” (AFV)
There are so many people who only think about their life on earth, and never stop to consider the eternal life that is ahead of them. We are all heading to either one of two destinations, one a place of eternal comfort, and the other a place of eternal torment. When a person is born into this world they are given a name, and most of us think it is for our physical body. Have you noticed how when a person is dead, and the spirit leaves, no one will refer to them by their name, but as a corpse only. The name then is for the soul that is inside of us, and when we breathe our last, our soul departs from us, and we decide where this soul will end up, while here on earth itself.
Remember that it is the Lord who redeems our life from destruction. This is one of the teachings of Jesus as mentioned in Luke 16:19-31. The incident is about two men, one a rich man and the other a poor beggar named Lazarus. Lazarus lived a life of a destitute, utterly at the mercy of the rich man in front of whose house Lazarus lay. Interesting to note that the name of the rich man is not mentioned, and it seemed that he did not care one bit about the plight of poor Lazarus. Both of them died, the rich man went to that place of immense torment, and Lazarus was carried off to the place of solace and comfort. The rich man in the midst of his torment could think, feel, recognize, and regret for the life he led on earth. Since the name of Lazarus is mentioned so clearly, we can infer that this was a real incident, and not just a parable that Jesus told. Think about the intense torment that the rich man suffered, that he begged Lazarus to give him one drop of water, while Lazarus was enjoying total bliss in the presence of God.
There are those who think that death would be an escape from all the hardships and trials that they undergo here on earth, and therefore yearn to die. If you have uttered words saying that you wish you would die, may I request you to repent of the same. Ask the Lord to help you fulfill His will in the years that He has ordained for you. Many people take the story of Lazarus and the rich man lightly saying that it was only a parable that Jesus taught. The reason for this is that many are fearful to stand before the judgement seat of Christ, they would like to ignore all those portions of scripture that speak about life after death.
God the Father made a way for us to enter heaven through His Son Jesus. Let us ask God to help us be rid of all our sins, and to make us worthy to be with Him in heaven. This life we lead on earth and the decisions we make will have eternal consequences. Let us therefore choose wisely, and do the will of God so that when faced with death, and we will have the confidence of being in His presence eternally.
As Jesus hung on the cross there were two men, criminals who hung on either side of him. One of them in those last moments recognized who Jesus was, and therefore pleaded with Him that Jesus should remember him when He came in His kingdom. That man recognized that Jesus was the Son of God, and the Lord assured him that on that very day, he would be with Him in paradise. This was possible only because He placed his faith in Jesus.
If you are confused about death, and what lies after death, come to Jesus and He will give you the assurance of eternal life.
4. A Father who crowns us
We read in Psalm 103:4, “….who crowns you with loving kindness and tender mercies;” (WEB)
There are two words that the Psalmist uses loving kindness and tender mercies. It is the loving kindness of God that saves a man so that he does not do down the path of destruction and end up in hell. On the other hand, it is the tender mercies of God that makes a man worthy to stand in the presence of God in heaven. Both these blessings that God crowns us with are most essential to us.
For anyone who thinks that your life is empty, just believe in the Lord Jesus and ask Him to crown you with His loving kindness and tender mercies, for He will surely do that.
Jesus told the parable of a man who had two sons. While the elder one stayed with his father, the younger one rebelled and walked away with his share of the property. When the younger son squandered all his wealth, and returned as a pauper to his father’s house, the father lovingly accepted him back, which was because of his loving kindness. However, the tender mercies of the father prompted him to give to his son a ring for his finger, brand new clothes, sandals for his feet and restoring him back to the position as son in the family. This is the heart of a loving father, and that’s exactly how God the Father is toward His children. If you turn back to God be sure that He will crown you with His loving kindness and tender mercies.
5. A Father who satisfies us
We read Psalm 103:5, “He keeps satisfying you with good things,” (ISV)
Many people are dissatisfied in spite of having so much. There always seems to be a sense of discontentment. The eyes of so many are not satisfied because they are constantly watching lots of commercials, and there is a sense of dissatisfaction that takes over. This vacuum in our hearts can never be filled with relationships, money or material things, but only with the love of God. God alone can satisfy us with good things and keep us content.
May we thank God for being a loving and compassionate Father to us. Thank God that He is our Father who forgives us, heals us, redeems us, crowns us, and satisfies us with all good things. If we can comprehend this amazing privilege, we will be rid of all the confusion in our lives, and we will live joyful lives as God’s own children.
Rev. F. Andrew Dixon
www.goodnewsfriends.net
Transcribed by: Sis. Esther Collins
