Psalm 103—He Knows our Frame of Dust and Gives Us His Steadfast Love

Psalm 103—He Knows our Frame of Dust and Gives Us His Steadfast Love

Pure elation marks the opening of this psalm. Love erupts in blessing from the depths of the soul. The name of the Lord is exalted as the psalmist recalls the numerous benefits of the Lord.

“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…” Psalm 103:1-2

Forget not, but recall, his benefits. He forgives our sin. He heals our diseases. He redeems us and restores our lives from the depths of the pit. He crowns us with steadfast love and mercy. He satisfies us with good. He renews us as an eagle. Benefits. Undeserved. Lavish.

Further, righteous and just works are available for all who are oppressed. He leads us and guides us and makes known his ways. His instruction, statutes, and truth is clear.

“The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.” Psalm 103:8

When it comes to benefits, grace and mercy are among the most beautiful. Deserving death, we are given life. Not deserving any good from the Lord, we receive his best. Instead of his anger we receive his steadfast love.

We will receive correction in life, absolutely; however, his rebukes will not always endure for us who are hidden by the blood of Jesus. His anger has an end. He attends to the subject of our sins and iniquities with grace and mercy. He does not repay us for he has paid the price for us.

“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.” Psalm 103:11-12

If we haven’t erupted in blessing to this point, David presses into the beauty of his message. The Lord’s steadfast love is higher than the heavens are above the earth. The Lord’s steadfast love is as wide as east is from west. Our Father shows us, his children, compassion by removing our transgressions, blotting them out. This compassion is what Jesus felt in Matthew 9:35 when he looked at the distressed and downcast multitudes.

“For he knows our frame; he remembers that we are dust.” Psalm 103:14

Robert Grant wrote in his well-known hymn, “O Worship the King,” “Frail children of dust, and feeble as frail, In Thee do we trust, nor find Thee to fail; Thy mercies how tender, how firm to the end, Our Maker, Defender, Redeemer, and Friend.” It’s good to know our place. We are only dust, but he knows our frame. He takes pity with tender mercies. He is our Maker. He is also the Defender of his created ones. He didn’t leave us where we were in the miry pit; he became our Redeemer. And he became our Friend.

“My big load is not a feather to him. He knows my frame; he remembers that I am dust.” Theodore Cuyler, God’s Light on Dark Clouds

The psalmist continues and compares our days to grass or a flower. It’s a good illustration. It’s tempting to assume brokenness will never visit us or ours. However, the wind blows, and we are gone.

Remember, our frame is dust.

“But the steadfast love of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear him, and his righteousness to children’s children, to those who keep his covenant and remember to do his commandments.” Psalm 103:17-18

Dusty frames, wind-swept grass, or feeble as frail, the Lord does not remove his steadfast love. Stand firm upon this promise. His lavish love is from everlasting to everlasting. He, therefore, deserves our devotion. Those who fear him keep his covenant, remember his commandments, and enjoy his love.

His throne is invincible. He is ruler over the heavens and the earth and all that fills them. Our response to his love is to bless him and obey him. All who embrace him and his ways do his will. All the works under his power bless his name.

My soul joins all creation and blesses his name!

“Bless the Lord, all his works, in all places of his dominion. Bless the Lord, O my soul!” Psalm 103:22

4 Comments

    • D. Ray Davis

      Thanks, Lynn. It’s a great psalm.

  1. Greg Davis

    This was my father’s favorite psalm. He memorized it and frequently quoted it. He often began his prayers by reciting the first few verses. Thank you for reminding me today.

    • D. Ray Davis

      Psalm 103 is a favorite of so many. I grew to love it more on this journey.

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