Clergy/Leaders’ Mail-list No. 2-050 Sunday 10 Mar 2002

Reading: PSALM 103 – ALL HIS BENEFITS

(From ‘Encounter with God’ Bible Reading Notes)

Prepare to be caught up in wonder at God’s indescribable goodness.

Here is some sublime poetry brought into the service of the praises of God. Between the opening words, as David calls upon his soul (his inner being) to praise God’s holy name, and the closing verses, when he calls on the angels and all God’s handiwork to do likewise, there comes a catalogue of all God’s benefits, which find echoes in every believer’s heart. The verbs tell the story: he forgives, heals, redeems, crowns and satisfies.

History comes into it, too: he made his ways known to Moses, for our God is not just there, resplendent in his glory, but has revealed himself to his people so that they may know him and appreciate his love. His character too, demands a mention: compassion for the weak and helpless, sandwiched between two towering expressions of his love (vs 11,17). The list takes the breath away as blessing is piled on blessing, culminating in the picture of the Lord seated in heaven and ruling over all.

As we read, we are struck not merely by what God does for us, but by what he does not do for us. He does not treat us as our sins deserve (v 10) and he will not always accuse (v 9). It is all too common for the Christian who has sinned grievously to be plagued by an accusing conscience long after he has repented and been forgiven. But can that be the work of God, who blots out our transgressions and who does not remember our sins? (See Isa 43:25; Micah 7:18-19)

The only response to such harassment is to thank God that you have a sensitive conscience, to welcome the reminder of your human frailty that keeps you humble and to shut your ears to the voice of the accuser (in Hebrew ‘the Satan’). Once the Lord has convicted you and brought you to repentance and forgiveness through the cross, he accuses you no more.

‘Praise the Lord…and do not forget …’

– Bishop John B Taylor

Copyright Scripture Union, 2002

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