Justice for the Oppressed
Read: Psalm 103:1-6; Exodus 3:7-12 The LORD works righteousness and justice for all who are oppressed. (Ps. 103:6) I have already mentioned Henry F. Lyte’s paraphrase of Psalm 103 in
Rev. David Bast March 11, 2026
Do you ever find yourself forgetting just how much God has done for you? Life gets busy, problems press in, and gratitude slips away. Psalm 103 calls us back: “Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits.”
This devotional series takes us deep into one of Scripture’s most beloved psalms—a song overflowing with thanksgiving for God’s mercy, forgiveness, healing, and steadfast love. Across these devotional readings, we will remember together the benefits of belonging to God: forgiveness of sin, redemption from the pit, compassion like a father’s, and love that is “from everlasting to everlasting.” We’ll be reminded that God does not treat us as our sins deserve, that he removes our transgressions “as far as the east is from the west,” and that he remembers we are dust—yet loves us beyond measure.
As we trace the themes of Psalm 103, we’ll also see how they find their fulfillment in Jesus Christ. At the cross, God’s justice and mercy meet; in the resurrection, we discover that dust is not the end; in the Spirit, we experience renewal day by day.
If you’ve been feeling weary, guilty, or forgotten, this psalm speaks directly to your heart. It assures us that God knows us completely and loves us fully. Let this series help you remember and rejoice in all God’s benefits, responding with gratitude and praise. Bless the Lord, O my soul!
This series was written by writer and pastor David Bast, who served for 23 years as the President and Broadcast Minister for Words of Hope. In his more than 40 years of devotional writing and preaching, he has been encouraging believers around the world to be shaped by God and his Word.
Read: Psalm 103:1-6; Exodus 3:7-12 The LORD works righteousness and justice for all who are oppressed. (Ps. 103:6) I have already mentioned Henry F. Lyte’s paraphrase of Psalm 103 in
Read: Psalm 103:1-7; Exodus 3:1-6, 13-15 He made known his ways to Moses, his acts to the people of Israel. (Ps. 103:7) How do we know God? When the Bible
Read: Psalm 103:1-8; Exodus 33:18–34:6 The LORD is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. (Ps. 103:8) Moses wanted to see God. “Show me your glory,”
Read: Psalm 103:1-8; Romans 2:1-4 The LORD is . . . slow to anger. (Ps. 103:8) Many of the expressions we use for human anger combine the ideas of heat
Read: Psalm 103:1-9; Hebrews 12:7-11 He will not always chide, nor will he keep his anger forever. (Ps. 103:9) God is eternal, as are his attributes. His justice, mercy, love,
Read: Psalm 103:1-10; Matthew 18:21-35 He does not deal with us according to our sins,nor repay us according to our iniquities. (Ps. 103:10) What would it be like if God
Read: Psalm 103:1-11; Psalm 8 As high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him. (Ps. 103:11) How high are
Read: Psalm 103:1-12; Micah 7:18-20 As far as the east is from the west, so far does he remove our transgressions from us. (Ps. 103:12) In his commentary on Psalm
Read: Psalm 103:1-13; Romans 8:14-17 As a father shows compassion to his children, so the LORD shows compassion to those who fear him. (Ps. 103:13) The psalmist affirms God’s fatherly
David Bast is a writer and pastor who served for 23 years as the President and Broadcast Minister for Words of Hope. In his more than 40 years of devotional writing and preaching, he has been encouraging believers around the world to be shaped by God and his Word.
Prior to his ministry and work at Words of Hope, Dave served as a pastor for 18 years in congregations in the Reformed Church in America. A graduate of Hope College and Western Theological Seminary, he is the author of nine devotional books and Bible studies, including God of My Days,Why Doesn't God Act More Like God,Christ in the Psalms, andA Gospel for the World.
Dave and his wife, Betty Jo, have four children and eight grandchildren. Dave enjoys reading, growing tomatoes, and avidly follows the Detroit Tigers.