Text: Psalm 103:8–14
The Lord is merciful and gracious, Slow to anger, and abounding in mercy. He will not always strive with us, Nor will He keep His anger forever. He has not dealt with us according to our sins, Nor punished us according to our iniquities. For as the heavens are high above the earth, So great is His mercy toward those who fear Him; As far as the east is from the west, So far has He removed our transgressions from us. As a father pities his children, So the Lord pities those who fear Him. For He knows our frame; He remembers that we are dust.
Devotion
Last Sunday we heard about God’s great joy at the sinner’s salvation. It humbled us and exalted us, that no shepherd can look for a lost sheep, no poor woman can search for a lost coin, as diligently as the Lord looks for those who stray. But tomorrow we come to the words: “Be merciful as your Father also is merciful.” So He surrounds us with the Word of mercy. And then the Bible text read is splendidly fitting for today. How the Lord wants to impress on our heart that He is a gentle God of grace! He wants the Word of His mercy to fill our soul, so that our laments become thanksgiving, our sighs turn to songs of praise. When Moses went up on Sinai to receive the Law the second time, after the people’s idolatry had broken the covenant and its tablets, the Lord began His discourse about righteous anger over sin with these words: “The Lord, the Lord God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abounding in goodness and truth, keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin” (Exo 34:6-7). Even on Sinai He proclaims Himself the God of mercy! In Nineveh He reveals such mercy that His own prophet is troubled by it and says: “Ah, Lord, was not this what I said when I was still in my country? Therefore I fled previously to Tarshish; for I know that You are a gracious and merciful God, slow to anger and abundant in lovingkindness, One who relents from doing harm” (Jon 4:2). “For as the heavens are high above the earth, So great is His mercy toward those who fear Him.” This makes our worst sins completely into nothing. The distance from earth to heaven is immeasurable. From the highest mountain and from the deepest valley it is just as far. The difference is infinitesimal, because heaven is so high! So your mountains of sins are taken away by the Lord’s powerful grace just as easily as the least failing of the greatest saint. What can men, angels, or demons do compared to the Lord’s almighty mercy which is as high as the heavens? – “As far as the east is from the west, So far has He removed our transgressions from us.” Doesn’t that say that He has completely taken them away, so they shall never touch or harm us any more? But how can they be so far away? He did it. He laid them on His Son, and He carried them so far away.
Closing Prayer
Lord God, heavenly Father, how shall we thank You for Your mercy? Teach us this by Your own Holy Spirit. Teach us to fear You and to believe in You. Teach us to love You and to praise You forever! Amen.
Hymn
“So truly as I live,” God saith,
“I would not have the sinner’s death,
But that he turn from error’s ways,
Repent, and live through endless days.”
To us therefore Christ gave command:
“Go forth and preach in every land;
Bestow on all My pard’ning grace
Who will repent and mend their ways.”
Herman: L 465:1-2 ELH 417:1-2 tr. M. Loy;
tune: So wahr ich leb