Page 24 - Living light - The Psalms

Monday June 24 - Made known his ways
He made known his ways to Moses, his deeds to the people of Israel: the
Lord is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love.
Psalm 103:7-8
Yesterday we spoke of God’s personal blessings to us as individuals. These include forgiving our sins; healing our diseases; redeeming our lives; pouring out love and compassion; working righteousness and justice in our lives. Today we see his national blessings: ‘He made known his ways to Moses, his deeds to the people of Israel...’ This verse recalls the Exodus event, the central act of God’s deliverance in the Old Testament, and a working out of God’s chesed (loving-kindness). The Hebrew root behind the words translated (depending on version) as ‘mercy’ in verse 4, ‘merciful’ in verse 8, and ‘compassion’ (twice) in verse 13 is rechem, which means ‘womb’. Thus the picture behind these words is the kind of affection a mother has for the child of her own womb.
David refers back to Exodus 34:6 when God hid Moses in the cleft of the rock, passing in front of him and proclaiming the words in today’s verse. These occur many times in the Psalms and the prophetic books. When phrases are repeated in various places in the Bible, it is clear that they are important messages for us to receive. Which of these words or phrases are speaking to you today? The Lord is: 1 compassionate; 2 gracious; 3 slow to anger; 4 abounding in love. Can you praise him for each of these characteristics of his, and hence for his deep love for you?
Thank you, Lord, for your amazing love for me; that you are compassionate, gracious and slow to be angry. Amen.
Tuesday June 25 - God’s awesome, lavish love
For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his love for
those who fear him... Psalm 103:11
How far are the heavens above the earth? As far as we can imagine! In Psalm 103, David compares the vastness of the heavens to the greatness of God’s love for those who fear (honour) him. Psalm 103 is a psalm which declares the love of God, from beginning to end.
We all have an inbuilt need for love and there is no love or mercy greater than God’s. David praises the Lord from the depths of his being for his awesomely deep, endless love. In Psalm 57:10, we witness David also affirming, ‘For great is your love, reaching to the heavens; your faithfulness reaches to the skies.’ Writing this reminds me of 1 John 4:8 which declares, ‘God is love’. He not only loves but he is love.
Psalm 118, sung by worshippers in procession to the Temple, proclaims: ‘Give thanks to the Lord for he is good; his love endures forever’ (v 1). It goes on in verses 2-4 to remind us all to declare that God’s love is everlasting: ‘Let Israel say: “His love endures forever.” Let the house of Aaron say, “His love endures forever.” Let those who fear the Lord say: “His love endures forever.”’
Spend some time reflecting on God’s love, and then write down or speak out words of gratitude, thanking him for his love for you, that never ends.
Thank you for the incredible richness and depth of your love for me, which is unconditional. Praise you Lord. Amen.
PRAYER FOR TODAY
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PRAYER FOR TODAY