慈爱的天父
诗篇一零三篇
1（大卫的诗。）我的心哪，你要称颂耶和华！凡在我里面的，也要称颂他的圣名！
2我的心哪，你要称颂耶和华！不可忘记他的一切恩惠！
3他赦免你的一切罪孽，医治你的一切疾病。
4他救赎你的命脱离死亡，以仁爱和慈悲为你的冠冕。
5他用美物使你所愿的得以知足，以致你如鹰返老还童。
6耶和华施行公义，为一切受屈的人伸冤。
7他使摩西知道他的法则，叫以色列人晓得他的作为。
8耶和华有怜悯，有恩典，不轻易发怒，且有丰盛的慈爱。
9他不长久责备，也不永远怀怒。
10他没有按我们的罪过待我们，也没有照我们的罪孽报应我们。
11天离地何等的高，他的慈爱向敬畏他的人也是何等的大！
12东离西有多远，他叫我们的过犯离我们也有多远！
13父亲怎样怜恤他的儿女，耶和华也怎样怜恤敬畏他的人！
14因为他知道我们的本体，思念我们不过是尘土。
15至于世人，他的年日如草一样。他发旺如野地的花，
16经风一吹，便归无有；他的原处也不再认识他。
17但耶和华的慈爱归于敬畏他的人，从亘古到永远；他的公义也归于子子孙孙
18就是那些遵守他的约、记念他的训词而遵行的人。
19耶和华在天上立定宝座；他的权柄（原文是国）统管万有。
20听从他命令、成全他旨意、有大能的天使，都要称颂耶和华！
21你们作他的诸军，作他的仆役，行他所喜悦的，都要称颂耶和华！
22你们一切被他造的，在他所治理的各处，都要称颂耶和华！我的心哪，你要称颂耶和华！
信息分享
神究竟为我们做了些甚么呢 (8-12节) ？首先，祂赦免我们的一切罪孽。我们若抚心自问，也会发觉自己不容易宽恕别人；然而，当我们还是罪人的时候，神却愿意赦免我们的罪。我最初以罪人的身分来到神的面前，祂白白地赦免了我；但如今，我仍会犯罪跌倒，我只能够像一个做错事的小孩子那样，来到慈爱的天父面前，寻求祂的饶恕，而祂又再次愿意白白地赦免我。神的慈爱实在是丰厚，是吗？
我们的天父不会保留任何好处不给祂的儿女(13至14节)，问题只是：它真是对儿女好吗？诗人明言，神的慈爱远高过诸天，世上任何一位父亲都望尘莫及。天父深知我们的软弱和需要，祂必定比我们的生父更能无微不至地看顾我们。
此外，我们的天父更是信实守约的(15-18节)。世人的年日如草一样，今天还在，明天却归于无有。有些时候，我们的朋友即使很想兑现承诺，可惜却碍于种种原因而有心无力。但我们的天父却不会这样；祂言出必行，必能兑现祂给我们的应许。历史已一再证明祂是信实守约的神，而且，祂是永不改变的，祂不能背乎自己。
为此，我们岂不应该亲自来到祂的面前，为到祂给我们的一切好处和施予我们的慈爱，向祂发出由衷的颂赞及感谢吗？请记着腓立比书四章6节的教导：「只要凡事借着祷告、祈求和感谢，将你们所要的告诉神。」我们要学会向神多说「谢谢」；当我们知道自己原来能因此得益，天父也因而喜悦的话，我们可能会深感惊讶！
OUR WONDERFUL FATHER
Psalm 103
1 Bless the LORD, O my soul;
And all that is within me, bless His holy name!
2 Bless the LORD, O my soul,
And forget not all His benefits:
3 Who forgives all your iniquities,
Who heals all your diseases,
4 Who redeems your life from destruction,
Who crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies,
5 Who satisfies your mouth with good things,
So that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.
6 The LORD executes righteousness
And justice for all who are oppressed.
7 He made known His ways to Moses,
His acts to the children of Israel.
8 The LORD is merciful and gracious,
Slow to anger, and abounding in mercy.
9 He will not always strive with us,
Nor will He keep His anger forever.
10 He has not dealt with us according to our sins,
Nor punished us according to our iniquities.
11 For as the heavens are high above the earth,
So great is His mercy toward those who fear Him;
12 As far as the east is from the west,
So far has He removed our transgressions from us.
13 As a father pities his children,
So the LORD pities those who fear Him.
14 For He knows our frame;
He remembers that we are dust.
15 As for man, his days are like grass;
As a flower of the field, so he flourishes.
16 For the wind passes over it, and it is gone,
And its place remembers it no more.
17 But the mercy of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting
On those who fear Him,
And His righteousness to children’s children,
18 To such as keep His covenant,
And to those who remember His commandments to do them.
19 The LORD has established His throne in heaven,
And His kingdom rules over all.
20 Bless the LORD, you His angels,
Who excel in strength, who do His word,
Heeding the voice of His word.
21 Bless the LORD, all you His hosts,
You ministers of His, who do His pleasure.
22 Bless the LORD, all His works,
In all places of His dominion.
Bless the LORD, O my soul!
Message
What are some of the things God has done? (vv. 8-12). What does this Psalm say? He has forgiven us. That is something which is not easy for us to do, is it? We sometimes find it very difficult to forgive other people. But God does it all the time for us. I came the first time to God as a sinner and he forgave my sins. I still fail and sin. But now I come as a child to my loving Father and he still forgives me. Isn't that wonderful?
There is nothing our Father would not do for his child (vv. 13-14). The only question is this: Is it good for the child? The Psalm says that God is even kinder than any human father could ever be. He knows our weakness and our need. Try and think of all that a human father would do for his child. Remember our loving heavenly Father goes far beyond all that!
Now think of our Father's faithfulness(vv. 15-18). Man is like grass, here today and gone tomorrow. Our best friend may not be able to fulfill his promise to us, however much he may wish to do so. God our Father can and does. He has proved it over and over. He is always the same. He cannot fail.
Don't you think then that we ought to praise him and thank him personally for all he has done and for his love for us? Remember the words of Philippians 4:6, 'In everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known unto God'. Try saying thank you to God. You may be surprised how much it will do for you as well as being a joy to your heavenly Father.