Psalm 103:14-22 NKJV
14 For He knows our frame;
He remembers that we are dust.
15 As for man, his days are like grass;
As a flower of the field, so he flourishes.
16 For the wind passes over it, and it is gone,
And its place remembers it no more.
17 But the mercy of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting
On those who fear Him,
And His righteousness to children’s children,
18 To such as keep His covenant,
And to those who remember His commandments to do them.
19 The Lord has established His throne in heaven,
And His kingdom rules over all.
20 Bless the Lord, you His angels,
Who excel in strength, who do His word,
Heeding the voice of His word.
21 Bless the Lord, all you His hosts,
You ministers of His, who do His pleasure.
22 Bless the Lord, all His works,
In all places of His dominion.
Bless the Lord, O my soul!
The entirety of Psalm 103, given to David by the Holy Spirit, is one of beautifully and lovingly stated thanks to God for His goodness, for making the body and soul, and making us joyful and confident in God, and for delivering us from our enemies and distresses.
Specifically in today’s verses we are comforted with the fact that God Himself “knows our frame;” He made us, and He knows us better than we could ever know ourselves. He knows that we are dust – from the dust of the ground He made Adam and Eve – so it is important for us always to acknowledge that fact. David reminds us that our lives are fleeting. In fact, everything about our earthy existence is temporary. We are not to hold on to this life or make every effort not to leave this world, but to focus on the life of the world to come which is promised to all who, by faith, believe in Jesus and His all-atoning sacrifice to pay for all sin.
In stark contrast to our fleeting and temporary existence in this world, we are reminded, more importantly, that God’s mercy is “from everlasting to everlasting;” it is never temporary or uncertain. You can count on God’s mercy to strengthen and bolster you through the troubles and trials of this fallen world. He gave His only Son to pay for your sins, therefore God has invested Himself totally in your eternal well-being and promises to strengthen and support you with His unbridled love.
Dear saint, trust in God; bless the Lord, remember his loving Commandments, and know that your eternal salvation is certain through faith in Christ.
Let us pray: O God, You see that of ourselves we have no strength. Keep us both outwardly and inwardly that we may be defended from all adversities that may happen to the body and from all evil thoughts that may assault and hurt the soul; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.