Higher Than the Heavens

Paul prayed that believers would know the width and length and depth and height of Christ’s love (Ephesians 3:18). Long before Paul, Psalm 103 used pictures like these in a song about God’s love.

A song of thanks. “Bless the Lord, O my soul, And forget not all His benefits” (Psalm 103:2). The writer did not want to forget one good thing God had done.

Merciful and gracious. “The Lord is merciful and gracious, Slow to anger, and abounding in mercy” (103:8). Mercy is God holding back the punishment we deserve. Grace is God giving us good we do not deserve.

Not angry forever. “He will not always strive with us, Nor will He keep His anger forever” (103:9). God does not keep a list of forgiven sins to bring up again.

Not what we deserve. “He has not dealt with us according to our sins” (103:10). Every one of us has sinned, yet God does not treat us the way our sins have earned.

As high as the heavens. “For as the heavens are high above the earth, So great is His mercy toward those who fear Him” (103:11). Look up at the sky. You could never climb to the top of it. God’s mercy is like that.

To fear the Lord. To fear God here means to honor Him and trust Him, the way you look up to someone you love and respect. It does not mean being scared that He will stop loving you.

East and west. “As far as the east is from the west, So far has He removed our transgressions from us” (103:12). Transgressions are sins. If you travel east, you never reach a place where east turns into west. That is how far God puts forgiven sins away.

Like a loving father. “As a father pities his children, So the Lord pities those who fear Him” (103:13). To pity means to care with a tender heart. Some children have a father close by and some do not, but every child can know God’s tender care.

He remembers we are dust. “For He knows our frame; He remembers that we are dust” (103:14). God knows we are small and weak, and He is gentle with us.

From everlasting to everlasting. “But the mercy of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting On those who fear Him” (103:17). God’s love has no beginning and no end.

The cross shows it. How could God remove our sins so far? Jesus died on the cross for our sins, and God raised Him from the dead. Everyone who trusts Jesus is forgiven.

What this means for you. When you feel bad about something you did, tell God and ask Him to forgive you. Then remember the east and the west, and thank Him for His mercy.

Psalm 103 measured God’s mercy by the sky. Psalm 36 measures His love by the heavens, the clouds, the mountains and the deep sea.

A heart that forgets God. The psalm begins with a man who has “no fear of God before his eyes” (Psalm 36:1). He “flatters himself in his own eyes” (36:2). Pride keeps him from seeing his sin.

Look up. Then the writer prays to God: “Your mercy, O Lord, is in the heavens; Your faithfulness reaches to the clouds” (36:5). God’s mercy is higher than anyone can reach.

Faithful. Faithfulness means God always keeps His word. He never changes His mind about loving His people.

Like the great mountains. “Your righteousness is like the great mountains” (36:6). Mountains stand firm for thousands of years. God’s goodness never wobbles.

A great deep. “Your judgments are a great deep” (36:6). God’s wise decisions go down deeper than the deepest ocean. We cannot see the bottom, but we can trust Him.

People and animals. “O Lord, You preserve man and beast” (36:6). God takes care of people and animals alike.

Precious love. “How precious is Your lovingkindness, O God!” (36:7). Lovingkindness is love that stays loyal.

A full house. “They are abundantly satisfied with the fullness of Your house, And You give them drink from the river of Your pleasures” (36:8). God gives His people more than enough of Himself.

The fountain of life. “For with You is the fountain of life; In Your light we see light” (36:9). Life comes from God, the way water flows from a spring.

A river that keeps flowing. A river never stops running. God’s goodness to His people keeps flowing like that.

The cross. Every one of us has sinned, like the proud man at the start of the psalm. Jesus died on the cross for our sins and rose again, so that sinners can come to God’s fountain of life by trusting Him.

What this means for you. Next time you see a mountain, a cloud or the ocean, let it remind you how big God’s love is. Thank Him, and stay close to Him.