For as the heavens are high above the earth, so great is His mercy toward those who fear Him. As far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us. (Psalm 103:11-12)
In these verses, David continues to express his appreciation for the magnitude of God’s mercy and compassion, this time in metaphor. To us here on earth, nothing seems higher than the heavens. Before the Space Age, it was completely unreachable, and even with our current technology, the vast reaches of space are still beyond our ability to probe and understand. Therefore, David used the example of something that is unfathomable to man to describe the extent of God’s kindness to us — in other words, there is no limit. As Jeremiah reminded us, “Through the Lord’s mercies we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not” (Lamentations 3:22).
Similarly, David alludes to the great distance the sun “travels” across the earth — “as far as the east is from the west” — to speak of the separation that takes place between us and our transgressions when we have repented. The Creator causes the sun to rise in the east and set in the west, thus demonstrating the extremes between day and night, light and darkness. Likewise, as different as night is to day, David acknowledges how our lives are transformed from spiritual darkness to spiritual light by the benefit of God’s goodness when we turn from our sins.
Finally, notice also that the benefits David described are available to those who fear Him. As it is written, “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding” (Proverbs 9:10). If one is to realize the goodness of God, then we must be prepared to humble ourselves before Him, and present ourselves as willing servants. In a manner of speaking, as we go higher into the heavens — i.e. as we approach God in humility — we experience His goodness in greater measure; in fact, it is intensified toward us. All these thoughts lead me to this concluding thought: as we limit our will and selfish desires in deference to the Almighty’s purpose, we unlock the limitless reservoir of His kindness and mercy toward us. Not a bad deal.
Blessings and Shalom,
Bill
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