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The Lord is Very Merciful

Thanksgiving Series

Sunday

November 16th, 2025

Introduction

Postulation

    Thanksgiving Series: Thank the Lord for His Mercy - Psalm 103

  1. We should thank the Lord! - vs. 1-5, Last Wednesday

    1. Our Response

      1. Comprehensive - vs. 1

      2. Conscientious - vs. 2

    2. His Benefits - the Big Five

      1. Forgiveness for Sins - vs.3a

      2. Healing for Diseases - vs.3b

      3. Rescue from Corruption - vs. 4a

      4. Kindness and Compassion - vs.4b

      5. Satisfaction and Renewal - vs. 5

  2. We revere the Lord because He is merciful!

    1. He is not very angry, He is very merciful. - vs. 6-10, Today

    2. He shows compassion to those who revere Him. - vs. 11-14, This Wednesday

    3. His kindness is everlasting. - vs. 15-18, Next Sunday

  3. Everyone, thank the Lord! - vs. 19-22, Day before Thanksgiving

Read Psalm 103:6-10

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. (NKJV)

Prayer

Exposition

6 The LORD executes righteousness and justice for all who are oppressed.

  • executes - YLT - The LORD ‘is doing’

  • righteousness - LXX - ἐλεημοσύνη - benevolence

    • The Lord does righteously in that He is benevolent towards the oppressed.

  • oppressed - LXX - ἀδικέω (passive) - all who have had suffered wrong or injustice

7 He made known His ways to Moses, His acts to the children of Israel.

  • acts - LXX - θέλημα - things He desired (willed) to do

    • God’s will and way are made known to mankind.

8 The LORD is merciful and gracious, Slow to anger, and abounding in mercy.

  • slow to anger - LXX - μακροθύμως - patient

    • This shows us that ‘slow to anger’ is to be taken positively.

  • abounding in mercy - LXX - πολυέλεος - basically, ‘super-merciful’ or ‘merciful to the max’

9 He will not always strive with us, nor will He keep His anger forever.

To put this verse in different words for clarity:

He will not be angered by us to the bitter end, contending with us the whole way. He will not vent His wrath forever.

10 He has not dealt with us according to our sins, nor punished us according to our iniquities.

Explanation

  1. Abundant Mercy

    1. Directed

      6 The LORD executes righteousness and justice for all who are oppressed.

    2. Disclosed

      7 He made known His ways to Moses, His acts to the children of Israel.

  2. Limited Anger

    1. Slow

      8 The LORD is merciful and gracious, Slow to anger, and abounding in mercy.

    2. Short

      9 He will not always strive with us, nor will He keep His anger forever.

    3. Small

      10 He has not dealt with us according to our sins, nor punished us according to our iniquities.

Illustration

Good Justice

Protect the Innocent

Punish Evildoers

God's Justice

Jerimiah 23:20 The anger of the LORD will not turn back until He has executed and performed the thoughts of His heart. In the latter days you will understand it perfectly. (NKJV)
Lamentations 3:33 For He does not afflict willingly, Nor grieve the children of men. (NKJV)
Psalm 103:10 He has not dealt with us according to our sins, nor punished us according to our iniquities. (NKJV)

willingly - LXX - ἀπὸ καρδίας - from His heart

Application

What we are like compared to God?

Consider the implications for our thankfulness.

Invitation

Christians

We understand His heartbeat.

Non-Christians

What if you were God?

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