Psalm 103:8-13 (NRSV)
Read Psalm 103:8-13 on biblegateway.com
Verse 8The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.
Verse 9He will not always accuse, nor will he keep his anger forever.
Verse 10He does not deal with us according to our sins, nor repay us according to our iniquities.
Verse 11For as the heavens are high above the earth, so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him;
Verse 12as far as the east is from the west, so far he removes our transgressions from us.
Verse 13As a father has compassion for his children, so the Lord has compassion for those who fear him.
Devotion
Anger is a powerful emotion, and God is not immune to it. The Bible tells us that God has good reason to be angry. To be sure, the only way for God not to feel anger would be to have a God who did not care about our infidelity, a God who is unmoved by the violence, injustice and cruelty we perpetuate. God may be slow to anger, but there should be no doubt that God cares deeply about this world and how we behave.
Even so, God’s love always triumphs over God’s anger—even justified, righteous anger.
How great is God’s love? It reaches to the skies. How much does God care for us? More than any earthly mother or father. What has God done with our sin? God has sent it off farther than the Voyager space probes. Oh my soul, bless the LORD!
Prayer
Gracious God, please do not deal with us according to our sins, but according to your infinite mercy and grace. We who are but dust rise to praise you for your infinite compassion and mercy. Amen.