PSALM 103
Leader Thoughts
This week our focus is on Psalm 103. This is a beautiful Psalm that David writes. David would cry out to his own soul that it would bless the Lord. He would go on to walk through many of the reasons why one would have to give such blessing to an amazing God. This week in our home group time. Let’s walk together through all of the Psalm together and highlight a few of the reasons given.
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The LORD is like a father to his children, tender and compassionate to those who fear him. For he knows how weak we are; he remembers we are only dust.
Psalm 103:13-14
Psalm 103 underscores our weakness, our limitations, our “dustiness,” but with good news. This psalm celebrates God’s multifaceted goodness to us. He forgives all my sins and heals all my diseases (103:3). He redeems us from death (103:4). He fills our lives with good things (103:5). He gives justice to the oppressed (103:6). He is “compassionate and merciful, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love” (103:8). God does not deal harshly with us, though we are sinners (103:10). His love for us is great and his forgiveness broad (103:11-12).
Then Psalm 103 adds, “The LORD is like a father to his children, tender and compassionate to those who fear him. For he knows how weak we are; he remembers we are only dust” (103:13-14). Knowing our weakness and dustiness, God is tender and compassionate. God’s love for us means that he does not abandon us in our limitations and sins. Rather, he looks upon us like a father with his own children. And, indeed, the Father loves us so much that he sent his only Son to bear our sin and open us up to the way of wholeness.
So, even as we acknowledge our limitations, our frailty, and our sin, we celebrate the fact that God understands who we are, and that he has come in Christ to do what we could never do on our own.
QUESTIONS FOR FURTHER REFLECTION: How have you experienced God’s tenderness and compassion? When you think of God as your Heavenly Father, what thoughts or images come to mind?
PRAYER: How I thank you, dear Lord, for being like a father to me. Indeed, you are my Heavenly Father, the one I call “Father” through your Son.Thank you for being tender and compassionate to me, for understanding my weakness. Your goodness to me far outstrips anything I could ever imagine or deserve.Thank you for remembering that I am dust, and thus looking upon me with gentle love.As I reflect upon my need for you, help me to experience yet again how wonderful you are.Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless God’s holy name. Amen.
Home Group Guide
OPENING
If someone were to ask you why you worship God, what reason would you give?
SCRIPTURE
Say something like: Today we are going to look at Psalm 103 and see the reason David would give to himself why he would worship God.
Read Psalms 103
In verse 4 we read that God would crown us with love and compassion. What do you believe this means?
What can we learn about God’s forgives and love from verses 8-12?
Do you ever struggle with feeling like your sins are not forgiven? Why is that? What should we take away from verse 13-18?
APPLICATION
We see in this Psalm that David is telling his soul to bless the Lord. If we are honest there maybe some morning that we don’t “Feel” like worshiping. What should we tell ourselves when this emotion comes?
How can we grow as believers in worship? Is this something that can be learned? Where do we start?
PRAYER
Lord give us hearts that desire to praise you the way you desire. God free us from our own desires and preferences. Remind us of your goodness and love for us. Lead our hearts to yours.