“From Everlasting to Everlasting”
I love the poetry of the Psalms. The Psalms are prayers for the people and Psalm 103 is a beautiful one. Through it, we remind ourselves of the character of God and His relationship to us. His steadfast love is beyond measure! It’s so vast that it is as “high as the heavens are above the earth” and so long-lasting that it’s “from everlasting to everlasting.” His steadfast love (His “chesed”) toward us reveals His mercy, His compassion, and His forgiveness. He does not view us through the lens of our sins and weaknesses, but His character. It is His character, not our behavior, that makes Him faithful to His covenant promises.
You may be very aware of your sin and weaknesses and think that those are making God turn away from you. But it is quite the opposite. God loves you and has abundant mercy and forgiveness ready for you. He “remembers that we are dust,” and quite frail. Even still, His steadfast love is overflowing for you! He invites you to repent of any sin, recognize your weaknesses, and turn your face back toward Him to experience His unfailing steadfast love.
Scriptures
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.
19 The Lord has established his throne in the heavens,
and his kingdom rules over all.
6 “Seek the Lord while he may be found;
call upon him while he is near;
7 let the wicked forsake his way,
and the unrighteous man his thoughts;
let him return to the Lord, that he may have compassion on him,
and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.
8 For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord.
9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth,
so are my ways higher than your ways
and my thoughts than your thoughts.
10 “For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven
and do not return there but water the earth,
making it bring forth and sprout,
giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater,
11 so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth;
it shall not return to me empty,
but it shall accomplish that which I purpose,
and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it.
3 If you, O Lord, should mark iniquities,
O Lord, who could stand?
4 But with you there is forgiveness,
that you may be feared.