Here is the big idea: He knows what he knows and does what he does because he is who he is.
Psalm 103:1-14 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. The LORD works righteousness and justice for all who are oppressed. He made known his ways to Moses, his acts to the people of Israel. The LORD is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. He will not always chide, nor will he keep his anger forever. He does not deal with us according to our sins, nor repay us according to our iniquities. For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west, so far does he remove our transgressions from us. 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.
What God Knows
The Heavenly Father knows our first parents. He creates Adam from the dust of the ground. Eve is custom-made from the side of God’s glorified dust. Then, in every subsequent act of procreation, our Heavenly Father forms eggs, guides sperm, and oversees every chromosome, gene, and DNA. In his own language, God personally knits us together in our mother’s wombs, perfectly fitting us for his purpose. Yes, our Heavenly Father knows us well. He knows our frame, and he knows we are dust — marvelous dust.
However, our Heavenly Father also knows our folly and idolatry. Though he creates us to enjoy, worship, and represent him as royal sons, daughters, kings, queens, lords, ladies, and vice-regents, he sees us all turn aside. He watches us all go astray and prove to be children of darkness following the course of this world. All of us have become high priests of our own self-worshiping cult. We have all dishonored him. Yes, our Heavenly Father knows us well. He knows our frame, and he knows we are dust – useless, offensive, and nauseating dead dust.
What God Does
God is the same – yesterday, today, and forever. He is immutable. He never changes. Therefore, God always responds to wickedness in the same manner.
Every day, God remains angry at evil. Without exception, our Heavenly Father chides or fights against sin. He cannot tolerate unrighteousness. In his kingdom of light, sin is always punished. Yes, for every iniquity payment is required. Never ought one to think God winks and smiles at our transgressions. He is the “holy, holy, holy” God who cannot tolerate evil, and “as he was in the beginning, so now and ever shall be.”
However, as seen in this Psalm, God does not always treat his children as they deserve:
- God gives “benefits” to some.
- God “forgives all our iniquity.”
- God “heals all our diseases.”
- God makes payment and “redeems our lives from the pit” of damnation.
- God “crowns us with steadfast love and mercy.”
- God “satisfies us.”
- God “renews us.”
- God “works righteousness and justice for us who are oppressed” by the world, the flesh, and the devil.
- God does “not always chide or fight” against us.
- God does “not keep his anger forever” towards us.
- God does not “deal with us according to our sins.”
- God does not “repay us according to our iniquities.”
- God has “high, great, and steadfast love” towards us who are learning to reverence him.
- God thoroughly “removes our transgressions from us.”
- God has “tender-father-like compassion” for us. (Twice this is stated)
How can this be? How can the immutably just God treat us in such an “unjust” way?
The answer is found on the cross and in the Gospel. There, God the Father chides sin. There, the righteous anger of the Father is poured out upon a sinless substitute. In this sacrificial transaction, none of the condemnation earned by God’s children is erased. There is no “free” pardon. To the contrary, the judgment-debt of many sinners is completely paid by Jesus Christ — the Lamb of God. This is the Gospel “made known to Moses and the people of Israel.” In their ceremonies, they preached this to themselves every day. This is Gospel heralded by the Psalmist. This is the Good News of the Heavenly Father for whosoever confesses their sins, abandons their self-righteousness, and believes in Christ’s free gift of righteousness and reconciliation.
However, in this Psalm, there is more good news. Why does God do what he does?
Who God Is
Too often I believe God acts contrary to his heart. What do I mean by this statement? I know God has damned Jesus for my sins and has granted me access to heaven, but I still believe him reluctant to be my intimate friend. I reason with his hands he saved me, but his heart remains offended, skeptical, and a bit different.
Friends, remember the big idea: He knows what he knows and does what he does because he is who he is.
The LORD is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.
Our God, he does not just display mercy; he is merciful.
Our God, he does not merely offer grace. He is gracious; he drips it.
Our God, in his essential nature, is not just one who shows longsuffering patience. His anger is very slow in coming because in his heart he is reluctant to show forth his wrath. It is like he has to be “provoked.”
Our God, though he be “holy, holy, holy,” he is also “highly, greatly, and steadfastly loving.”
Sure, God knows what he knows. Yes, God does what he does. And all of this is because God is who he is. So do not keep your distance. Do not put yourself in some form of probation or timeout. He likes you. He loves you. He is the friend of repenting sinners. It may make no sense to you, but he is who he is. So draw near to his heart, because He with the big heart is drawing near to you.
Unfathomable Grace 