A Reading from Ash Wednesday: Psalm 103

One of readings for Ash Wednesday was Psalm 103, which begins and ends with, "Bless the Lord, O my soul." 

Some thoughts:

“As a father has compassion on his children, so the Lord has compassion on those who fear Him. For he knows how we were made; he remembers that we are dust.” vs. 13-14.

I remembered a photo of my father holding my week-old son. Dad, who was uncomfortable holding babies, fearful he’d hurt or drop them, is deep in thought, prayer, exhaustion, lament, worry, intercession. Carl is sound asleep on his shoulder. What should have been a moment of great joy was one of anxiety, as my parents were reeling from the news that my marriage was disintegrating. The photo captures my dad's concern and compassion. 

This is my picture of God, the father, who “has compassion on his children.” God the father who loves, groans for us, weeps for us, yearns for our well-being.

God forgives, heals, redeems, crowns with love and mercy, satisfies and renews.
There's a progression here in this first part of the Psalm (vs. 1-5). God forgives us for our sins, our acts of disobedience, our behavior toward each other and toward creation. He heals. We need healing from our wounds—wounds that we inflict on others, wounds we inflict on ourselves, wounds we inflict on creation. It is not enough to be forgiven. We must also be healed from the trauma. God redeems. God makes anew, recreates, raises up out of the ashes. Transforms hearts, minds. Anoints us. Takes what was damaged and makes something new—something we couldn’t have imagined. Crowns with love and mercy. Gives us what we need to move forward, to serve again and anew. God gives us the gifts of love and mercy to share with others. Satisfies and renews. What more to say?

God is just and mighty. God is tender and compassionate.
This second section of the Psalm (vs. 6-14) begins with image of the mighty, just and righteous—the God of great power, authority, integrity. The God on high. But it concludes with the image of the tender, compassionate father—the parent who knows the child—knows the circumstances of the child’s conception, birth, and family. The picture is of the father who knows intimately who and why the child is as she is. This father does not judge, but loves and is full of compassion.

But there is something else. Verse 6 says, "The Lord works vindication and justice for all who are oppressed." God is merciful. He vindicates the oppressed. He brings justice. But then the section continues to recount God’s mercy and grace. God does not hold his anger. "The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. He will not always accuse, nor will he keep his anger forever. He does not deal with us according to our sins, nor repay us according to our iniquities." This includes the oppressor. 

What a slap upside my self-righteous head! I had been on the cheering squad in verse 6, “Yeah, God! Free the oppressed! Bring justice!” But then the Psalm spins me around and reminds me that once God brings justice, God then “forgives, heals, redeems, crowns, and satisfies.” Yes, God has compassion even on the perpetrator. The oppressor is one of “his children” too.

And to be honest, I perpetrate, oppress, and harm. I may not knowingly enslave another human being. But my buying preferences, my desire for “affordable” (read: “cheap”) goods may fuel a business built on human slavery. The newest piece of technology I buy was most likely assembled in a factory of inhumane working conditions. And how do I harm or oppress people in my daily life? What attitudes do I harbor? What words do I use? God forgives, heals, redeems, crowns, and satisfies me. Again.

Verses 15-18 is a bit distant. It's written in the 3rd person

As if we need to step outside a bit and look more analytically? Speaks about "mere mortals," and "those who fear" God. The section before used 1st person: God "removes our transgressions from us," and "knows how we were made." But now it's 3rd person. We step back a bit. And the writer uses simile. Mortals "are like grass; they flourish like a flower." But God's love is "steadfast." Still love. Still everlasting.

We are called to join the rest of creation--that part of creation that does God's bidding.
At the end, verses 19-22, we come back around a call to bless God. First there is the call to the angels, hosts, ministers—the heavenly bodies ("Bless the Lord, O you his angels, you mighty ones who do his bidding") and creation ("Bless the Lord, all his works, in all places"). This is a great chorus of creation and angels and mighty ones—all that God created during the first 5 days. This is all of creation that follows God’s precepts. It’s we human beings, we mortals who break the laws, disturb the order, insist on our way, who need to be reminded to bless the Lord. Everything else in creation does what God has ordained.

And then the bookend: "Bless the Lord, O my soul." I am part of this wonder that is creation. I am one of many. One of an entire universe. And God knows me.

I'm needing that reminder these days. "Bless the Lord, O my soul." In everything, in every way. For God forgives me, heals me, redeems my life and my choices and my actions, gives me the benefits and gifts of love and mercy, and satisfies me "with good." 

A holy cycle.