“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. In today’s portion of the Psalm we are reminding 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. It reminds us He does not view us through the lens of our sins and weaknesses, but through 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. His steadfast love is overflowing for you, and He invites you to repent of any sin and recognize your weaknesses and turn your face back toward Him and experience His steadfast and unfailing 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.
17 For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.