Transformed By Truth: The Boundless Mercy Of Father God Psalm 103:8-12 Series

Transformed by Truth: The Boundless Mercy of Father God Psalm 103:8-12

Psalm 103:8-12 (NLT): "The Lord is compassionate and merciful, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love. He will not constantly accuse us, nor remain angry forever. He does not punish us for all our sins; he does not deal harshly with us, as we deserve. For his unfailing love toward those who fear him is as great as the height of the heavens above the earth. He has removed our sins as far from us as the east is from the west."

Introduction

Today, we delve into the richness of Psalm 103:8-12, a passage that encapsulates the profound mercy, compassion, and love of our God. David, the psalmist, extols God's gracious nature, reminding us of His boundless forgiveness and love. As we explore this text, let us open our hearts to be transformed by the truth of God's mercy.

Point 1: The Compassionate and Merciful Nature of God

Psalm 103:8 (NLT): "The Lord is compassionate and merciful, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love."

David begins by highlighting God's compassion and mercy. This verse echoes the description of God found in Exodus 34:6, where God reveals His character to Moses.

Exodus 34:6: "The Lord passed in front of Moses, calling out, 'Yahweh! The Lord! The God of compassion and mercy! I am slow to anger and filled with unfailing love and faithfulness.'"

In this verse, God Himself declares His nature to Moses. Here, we see a vivid description of God's compassionate and merciful character. God’s self-revelation emphasizes that He is "slow to anger" and "filled with unfailing love and faithfulness." These attributes assure us of His patience and enduring love.

Charles Spurgeon once said, "God’s mercy is so great that you may sooner drain the sea of its water, or deprive the sun of its light, or make space too narrow, than diminish the great mercy of God."

This verse encourages us to trust in God's steadfast love, knowing that His mercy is inexhaustible. God’s mercy is not a fleeting emotion but a defining attribute of His being.

Compassionate: God's compassion involves deep sympathy and concern for His people, manifesting in acts of kindness and care.

Merciful: Mercy is God's willingness to withhold punishment and extend forgiveness, even when it is undeserved.

Imagine a father who, seeing his child in distress, rushes to comfort and aid them, regardless of the child’s mistakes. This father’s compassion mirrors God’s boundless mercy towards us.

Max Lucado wrote, "God loves you just the way you are, but He refuses to leave you that way. He wants you to be just like Jesus." This speaks to the transformative power of God’s compassionate and merciful nature.

Point 2: God’s Unfailing Love and Forgiveness

Psalm 103:10-11 (NLT): "He does not punish us for all our sins; he does not deal harshly with us, as we deserve. For his unfailing love toward those who fear him is as great as the height of the heavens above the earth."

David marvels at God's unfailing love and forgiveness. God's mercy is so vast that it surpasses human understanding. He does not treat us according to our sins but shows us grace.

Unfailing Love: This term, "hesed" in Hebrew, refers to God's steadfast, loyal love. It is a love that is unchanging and eternal.

Forgiveness: God’s forgiveness is complete and absolute, removing our sins entirely.

Ephesians 2:4-5 (NLT) states, "But God is so rich in mercy, and he loved us so much, that even though we were dead because of our sins, he gave us life when he raised Christ from the dead."

Paul’s words to the Ephesians highlight the richness of God’s mercy and the profound love He has for us. Despite our sinful state, God’s love prompted Him to give us life through Christ’s resurrection. This passage emphasizes salvation as a gift of grace, not something earned by our efforts.

John Stott eloquently wrote, "Grace is love that cares and stoops and rescues." Understanding that our salvation is a result of God’s mercy and grace should lead us to live in gratitude and humility, continually praising God for His incredible love.

Consider a judge who pardons a guilty person, not because the guilt is in question, but out of sheer grace and mercy. God’s love goes even further, offering not just pardon but a relationship with Him.

Charles Spurgeon said, "There is mercy enough in God to drown all our sins." This encapsulates the overwhelming nature of God’s forgiveness.

Point 3: The Complete Removal of Our Sins

Psalm 103:12 (NLT): "He has removed our sins as far from us as the east is from the west."

David concludes this section by illustrating the totality of God’s forgiveness. The east and west never meet, symbolising the infinite distance God places between us and our sins.