Today we’re in verses 6 through 18 of Psalm 103, a song of David entitled, “Bless the Lord, O My Soul.” As we read through these 13 verses, it’s important to remember they are couched between the personal praise to God that we found in the first five verses of this psalm, along with the six specific benefits the Lord offers to his sheep, and universal praise to God in the last four verses of this psalm for His sovereignty over everything He created. Let's read together: 

6 The Lord works righteousness

    and justice for all who are oppressed.

7 He made known his ways to Moses,

    his acts to the people of Israel.

8 The Lord is merciful and gracious,

    slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.

9 He will not always chide,

    nor will he keep his anger forever.

10 He does not deal with us according to our sins,

    nor repay us according to our iniquities.

11 For as high as the heavens are above the earth,

    so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him;

12 as far as the east is from the west,

    so far does he remove our transgressions from us.

13 As a father shows compassion to his children,

    so the Lord shows compassion to those who fear him.

14 For he knows our frame;

    he remembers that we are dust.

15 As for man, his days are like grass;

    he flourishes like a flower of the field;

16 for the wind passes over it, and it is gone,

    and its place knows it no more.

17 But the steadfast love 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 to do his commandments.

This psalm so beautifully talks of God’s mercy and grace and His great and incomprehensible love for those who fear and worship Him. David reminds us that we, the Father’s human sheep, are simply mortals who are as frail, weak, and fragile as grass. David juxtaposes the frailty of humanity to the robustness, strength, and eternality of the Almighty. It shows that we have nothing to fear or despair over as we serve a mighty God.

We pray that you hear the words of this psalm today. That amidst frustration with those you lead or the foreboding feeling of your own sin and failures, that you will welcome the humble hopes and grateful memories as you seek to display for those you shepherd — whether in your parish, your home, your small group, your neighborhood, your community — the traits of the Good Shepherd Himself. 

May you live deeply into your calling this week. Thank you for joining us.