Psalm 103:13-14
Bless the LORD, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless his holy name! Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits, who forgives all your iniquity, who heals all your diseases.Who redeems your life from the pit, who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy. Who satisfies you with good so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s… *As a father shows compassion to his children, so the LORD shows compassion to those who fear him. For he knows our frame; he remembers that we are dust.
We live in a world where everyone minds their own business. As a result, it is extremely difficult to find someone who will truly and genuinely empathise with your situation. Those who may truly feel our pain are our parents, and even they, in some unfortunate cases, do not. David, in our passage, uses the analogy of a father who truly cares, who is compassionate towards their child. And he uses this to point us to God’s compassion towards us, those who fear Him. In other words, unlike human beings who may not feel us, and unlike the other gods who are unfeeling, our God is deeply moved by our plight.
This theme of God’s compassion runs throughout the Scriptures: When God introduced Himself to Moses, He declared Himself as thus, _”The LORD, the LORD, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness…”_ (Exodus 34:6); In Lamentations 3:22-23, the Bible reminds us that, _”The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.”_; When Jesus walked this earth, the Bible records an incidence where, _”When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.”_ That is the kind of God we are talking about. Who is compassionate towards us because He knows we are weak, we are just dust. Praise Him today for His compassion towards you. Come before Him with gratitude!
Reflections
1. In what ways has this week’s devotional series aided you in developing an attitude of gratitude?
2. How have you experienced God’s compassion in your life?
