Psalm 103

Who saves your life from the pit

Read/pray the psalm. (Full text at bottom.)

• We modern Christians tend to narrow the scope of how Jesus “saves” us. It’s not just an ethereal judgment without practical implications.

• “The pit”—Hebrew shachat, meaning corruption, destruction, grave, or Sheol/Hades—is a broad symbol.

• This psalm alludes to three specific points of rescue:

  • divine mercy in preventing death

  • the ultimate defeat of Death and the Grave by the resurrection of our bodies, in the image of Jesus’ own glorious Resurrection body

  • … and between the two, “the harrowing of hell.” (See the image at top.)

• The Apostles Creed says of Jesus, right after his burial: “He descended to the dead.”

  • Sometimes translated “hell” or “Hades”—not the place of torment, but the place of the dead, awaiting resurrection.

  • There is much we do not know about this event happening before the Resurrection, traditionally called the “Harrowing of hell/Hades.”

  • Jesus liberates all those righteous souls imprisoned in death (traditionally beginning with Adam and Eve in icons), taking them with him to paradise.

  • Again: NOT the resurrection of the dead, yet, but an anticipation of it.

  • The end of the story is not “heaven,” but “the resurrection of the body”—yours, mine, ours—the transformation of all Creation into the New Heavens and the new earth, the New Jerusalem descending out of heaven, and God with us! Forever!

• “Jesus saves.”

• From what?

• Whaddya got?

So…

• The point of Psalm 103 is gratitude for God’s goodness—now and forever.

• Listen to and affirm this modern classic declaring the psalm’s first verse:

Andrae Crouch, “Bless the Lord, O my soul”

Psalm 103
Benedic, anima mea

1	Praise the Lord, O my soul, *
		and all that is within me, praise his holy Name.
2	Praise the Lord, O my soul, * 
		and forget not all his benefits:
3	Who forgives all your sin *
		and heals all your infirmities,
4	Who saves your life from the pit *
		and crowns you with mercy and loving-kindness,
5	Who satisfies you with good things, * 
		renewing your youth like an eagle’s.
6	The Lord executes righteousness and judgment * 
		for all those who are oppressed with wrong.
7	He showed his ways to Moses, *
		his works to the children of Israel.
8	The Lord is full of compassion and mercy, * 
		long-suffering and of great goodness.
9	He will not always chide us, *
		neither will he keep his anger for ever.
10	He has not dealt with us according to our sins, * 
		nor rewarded us according to our wickedness.
11	For as the heavens are high above the earth, *
		so great is his mercy also toward those who fear him.
12	As far as the east is from the west, * 
		so far has he set our sins from us.
13	As a father pities his own children, *
		so is the Lord merciful to those who fear him.
14	For he knows whereof we are made; * 
		he remembers that we are but dust.
15	The days of man are as grass; *
		he flourishes as a flower of the field.
16	For as soon as the wind goes over it, it is gone, * 
		and its place shall know it no more.
17	But the merciful goodness of the Lord endures for ever and ever upon those who fear him, *
		and his righteousness upon children’s children,
18	Even upon those who keep his covenant *
		and think upon his commandments to do them.
19	The Lord has prepared his throne in heaven, * 
		and his kingdom rules over all.
20	O praise the Lord, you angels of his, you that excel in strength, *
		you that fulfill his commandment, and hearken unto the voice of his words.
21	O praise the Lord, all you his hosts, *
		you servants of his that do his pleasure.
22	O speak good of the Lord, all you works of his, in all places of his dominion; *
		praise the Lord, O my soul.

New Coverdale Psalter