The Lord, the Lord

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

What an astounding, truth-filled verse!

The Lord is merciful.

The Lord is gracious.

The Lord is slow to anger.

The Lord is abounding in steadfast love.

What is more is amazing is that these attributes are fundamental to his nature. They are not secondary or tertiary but foremost to his nature.

In the Book of Exodus, Moses asks to see the glory of the Lord, that is, to see Him in his splendor and greatness. The Lord agrees to allow his glory to pass Moses while He declares his name to Moses. And so, in Exodus 34:6, we read, “The LORD passed before him and proclaimed, “The LORD, the LORD, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness…”

So Psalm 103:8 does not represent merely a preference of the Psalmist. It is a recapitulation of what is central to the Lord and what he has said about himself.

Psalm 103:8 is pure bedrock. You can build your life on this truth.

May you do just that. May you build your life upon this truth and never be shaken! Amen.