This psalm is one of the best I have ever read; I have read it many times but never realized how spiritually and doctrinally deep it is. If our political leaders had the same attitude David displayed in this psalm, we would live in a much better world. There are three characteristics we see of David in this psalm: his humility; his gratefulness; his joy. We see these in his praise of God.
He praised the Lord realizing that God had given him everything he had; he had been a shepherd boy in a field with sheep when God chose him to be a king. His father Jesse had inherited the farm from his father, Obed, who inherited it from his father, Boaz the husband of Ruth, but David realized that everything good comes from God.
In verses 3-5, David recounts several things he praised God for: “He forgives all my sins and heals all my diseases. He redeems me from death and crowns me with love and tender mercies. He fills my life with good things. My youth is renewed like the eagles.”
In verses 6-18, David wrote about what God does for all of His people. Verse 8 states, “The Lord is compassionate and merciful, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love.” When we sin, we may lose the sense of God’s love for us. We lose that sense because we sinned, not because God no longer loves us. That is why we are told to confess our sins to God and ask forgiveness. When we do that, our fellowship with Him is restored.
In verse 9, David wrote, “He will not constantly accuse us, nor remain angry forever.” God will speak to us when we have sinned, but after we seek forgiveness and are restored to fellowship with Him, it is Satan who constantly whispers guilt in our ears and minds because he wants to discourage us from following Christ, praising God, and sharing His great love with others.
In verses 10-18, David gave us examples of how great God’s love for us is. God understands our weaknesses, and like a father is to his children, He is “tender and compassionate”. . .”the love of the Lord remains forever with those who fear Him. His salvation extends to the children’s children of those who are faithful to His covenant, of those who obey His commandments.”