Speaker A
I wish you hadn't saying that. Would you like to try to speak after that? Would you just remember where you were when the Lord found you?
Dr. Bob Utley preaches on Psalm 103, focusing on Yahweh as the covenant Redeemer God, contrasting it with Elohim in Psalm 104, and on God's forgiveness and grace.
Key Takeaways
- Psalm 103 is a song of praise to Yahweh, the covenant Redeemer, offering thanks for who God is and what He has done.
- Hebrew divine names (Yahweh vs. Elohim) emphasize different aspects of God's character.
- Gratitude should be a deliberate, ongoing practice, not a ritual or an afterthought.
- God forgives completely and restores those who confess, offering new beginnings regardless of past failure.
- Hope is anchored in God's unchangeable character rather than human merit or achievement.
What the video covers
- Dr. Bob Utley introduces a sermon on Psalm 103, centered on the divine name Yahweh as the covenant, Savior, and Redeemer name of God.
- He contrasts Psalm 103 (praise of God as Savior) with Psalm 104 (praise of God as Creator, using Elohim), noting how Hebrew divine names highlight different characteristics.
- Utley notes that Psalms are largely independent and rarely arranged in sequence, with few exceptions such as Psalms 32 and 51 on David's repentance.
- The sermon emphasizes praising God for who He is rather than asking for things, observing that Psalm 103 requests nothing and thanks God for His works.
- Utley warns against gratitude that is merely ritual, using a humorous anecdote about prayer before meals to illustrate blessings taken for granted.
- He references Deuteronomy 8:11-20, cautioning against attributing material prosperity to one's own power and forgetting God as the giver.
- He discusses healing, expressing that faith-based healing promises are not guaranteed and that he does not understand why some are healed and others are not.
- The sermon reflects on God's forgiveness, drawing on Psalm 103:12 and Isaiah imagery that God removes sin as far as east is from west.
- Utley encourages listeners burdened by guilt to confess sins, citing 1 John 1:9, and to receive God's cleansing and restoration.
- The message closes by stressing that hope rests in God's unchanging character rather than human performance, worth, or lineage.
Chapters
- 00:00Introduction: Hope in the Unchanging God
- 02:00Psalms Structure and Divine Names Overview
- 05:30Psalm 104 Contrast: God as Creator (Elohim)
- 07:30Psalm 103 and Gratitude for Blessings
- 09:30Deuteronomy 8 and Warning Against Self-Reliance
- 13:00Healing, Faith, and God's Sovereignty
- 17:00Forgiveness and Removal of Sin
- 22:00Call to Confession and Restoration
Full Transcript — Download SRT & Markdown
Speaker A
God that's searching for us um the older I get the more I know my Bible the more I'm committed that my hope is not in human performance human worth human lineage our hope is in the unchangeable character of The God Who called us out
Speaker A
I remember. I want to talk about Him this morning. This God that seeks us out.
Speaker A
the Psalms are independent they they stand alone although some are deal with the same subject like Psalm 32 and 51 deal with David's repentance very very seldom the Psalms come in an order matter of fact this is the only two that
Speaker A
This God that's searching for us. Um, the older I get, the more I know my Bible, the more I'm committed that my hope is not in human performance, human worth, human lineage. Our hope is in the unchangeable character of the God who called us out of darkness into light.
Speaker A
through the end of two because there's two different names Nam for God the rabbis say that the names for God are ways to focus on different characteristics of God now I want you to know that Psalm 103 focuses on the name
Speaker A
It's this God that I want to talk about today, and I want to do it from an Old Testament Psalm. So if you'll turn to Psalm 103.
Speaker A
will be what I have been or something like that if you look just for a minute at at Psalm 104 which I'm not going to deal with you will notice that the word God is inserted not just all caps Lord
Speaker A
Very few times in the Bible are there Psalms that go together. Most of the Psalms are independent. They stand alone, although some deal with the same subject, like Psalms 32 and 51, which deal with David's repentance. Very, very seldom do the Psalms come in an order. As a matter of fact, these are the only two that I know do come in an order.
Speaker A
life on planet Earth now these two characteristics are are pretty much standard throughout the Old Testament so in Psalms 104 we're praising the god of creation and in Psalms 103 we're praising the god of Salvation now it's Psalm 103 that I want to look at and
Speaker A
And you know, I taught Old Testament for years and years, and I always get interested when scholars say, "Well, in Genesis we have two accounts, one in Genesis 1 and one in Genesis 2 through the end of 2, because there's two different names for God." The rabbis say that the names for God are ways to focus on different characteristics of God.
Speaker A
and all that is within me bless His holy name well I Pastor in LC I told you that several times and um one of my friends from college days was the the song leader with me and we used to love to go
Speaker A
Now I want you to know that Psalm 103 focuses on the name Yahweh, which is the covenant name for God, the Savior name for God, the Redeemer name for God. And if you want to see what it means, Exodus 3:14 is usually translated "I am that I am" or "I will be what I have been" or something like that.
Speaker A
nobody prays with a sauca Well Jack and I my friend we'd be eating that stuff and his wife would say you didn't bless it we knew what she was doing Debbie you pray so she would always pray this was
Speaker A
If you look just for a minute at Psalm 104, which I'm not going to deal with, you will notice that the word God is inserted, not just all caps LORD, which is Yahweh, but God, which reflects the Hebrew word Elohim, which is what's used in Genesis 1:1, "In the beginning God." Elohim is that name for God that emphasizes God as Creator, God as provider, and God as sustainer for all life on planet Earth.
Speaker A
being I want to praise God and then it lists some of the things matter of fact this this Psalm of David asks God for nothing and thanks God for who he is and what he's done I want to say that again
Speaker A
Now these two characteristics are pretty much standard throughout the Old Testament. So in Psalm 104 we're praising the God of creation, and in Psalm 103 we're praising the God of salvation.
Speaker A
got several texts that I want to use this morning but there's a problem for me in in the time frame I have and in a group this this big many of you did not bring your Bibles and Lord I'll slap you
Speaker A
Now it's Psalm 103 that I want to look at, and you'll notice this Psalm starts out and ends in the same way: "Praise the Lord, bless Him, praise Him." That's what we've been doing. It's so wonderful to do that in a corporate way as well as an individual way. "Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless His holy name."
Speaker A
write it down in Deuteronomy 8: 11-2 God basically says when you get in the land and I've given you crops and herds and I've multiplied your children and they're healthy and I've given you gold and silver don't you say look what I've
Speaker A
Well, I pastor in LC. I've told you that several times. One of my friends from college days was the song leader with me, and we used to love to go out after Sunday night church. We'd go to our favorite Mexican food place, and they would bring the chips and the salsa. Now, no person who's normal prays with the chips and the salsa. You pray when the enchiladas come. Right? Nobody prays with a salsa.
Speaker A
now you may not think you have a lot but I guarantee you you have far more than the vast majority of this world can imagine in their lifetime we are so blessed and the problem with being blessed is you think
Speaker A
Well, Jack and I, my friend, we'd be eating that stuff, and his wife would say, "You didn't bless it." We knew what she was doing. Debbie, you pray. So she would always pray. This was kind of her postgastric prayer: "Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me." No, that's not what this is all about. It's not praying after you swallowed. No, it doesn't cover it.
Speaker A
because I think there's a reason for blessing follow with me and forget none of his benefits and we're about in verses 3 through 5 to label some of those now please please hang with me much of the Bible is in poetry
Speaker A
This is saying, with everything that I am, with all of my being, I want to praise God. And then it lists some of the things. As a matter of fact, this Psalm of David asks God for nothing and thanks God for who He is and what He's done. I want to say that again: this Psalm asks for nothing but praises God for who He is and what He's done.
Speaker A
a rhyme poetry it's not a sound poetry it's a thought poetry and in Hebrew poetry the lines are balanced and E either have the lines saying exactly opposite or the lines saying exactly the same are the lines building to a
Speaker A
So follow with me in your Bibles. I hope you brought them. "Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget none of His benefits."
Speaker A
diseases I want you to look at me because I don't i' rather be a heretic and be understood than you not listen well and me be a heretic okay I believe in a god of healing when my kids are sick and I'm
Speaker A
Now I've got several texts that I want to use this morning, but there's a problem for me in the time frame I have, and in a group this big, many of you did not bring your Bibles, and Lord, I'll slap you, and many of you don't want to look at four or five texts. So here's what I'm going to do. I'm going to mention the text, characterize it. Those of you who are interested and want to go to heaven, write it down. Deuteronomy 8:11-20.
Speaker A
praying and all of God's people are praying I don't understand why some are healed and some aren't I do know that most Americans want to Healing just so they can have a longer life and use more of Their Blessings I'm sure the reason
Speaker A
God basically says, when you get in the land and I've given you crops and herds, and I've multiplied your children and they're healthy, and I've given you gold and silver, don't you say, "Look what I've produced by the power of my own hand." Don't you forget that it is God who's given you these blessings.
Speaker A
were promised healing by his stripes we are healed Bob you just don't believe the Bible no I study a Hebrew text and I understand Hebrew poetry and I'm more than proof texture for personal gain this this verse as so many verses
Speaker A
Now I think all of us ought to stop and realize that we're in the top 5% of the world in material blessings. You may not think you have a lot, but I guarantee you have far more than the vast majority of this world can imagine in their lifetime. We are so blessed, and the problem with being blessed is you think your IQ, your education, your wonderfulness, your neatness did it for you. Wrong. If we got what we deserved, we'd all be in hell. We have been blessed by the God of heaven. Why? Well, I'm going to come back to that, because I think there's a reason for blessing.
Speaker A
and Israel is described as a person who is sick from the top of their head to the souls of their feet they're completely sick with wounds and raw Soares and there's no one to heal quite often disease is an Old
Speaker A
Follow with me: "and forget none of His benefits," and we're about, in verses 3 through 5, to label some of those. Please, please hang with me. Much of the Bible is in poetry. One-third of the prophets, almost all of the Psalms. Even there are poetic sections in the Pentateuch, the Song of Moses, the Song of Miriam. I think one-third of the Old Testament is poetry.
Speaker A
healing but I get so upset when somebody tells me if you just have enough faith God would heal you if you just believe strong enough God would do it and I have great Christians die with great faith and I think it's an
Speaker A
Hebrew poetry is not rhyme poetry. It's not a sound poetry. It's a thought poetry. And in Hebrew poetry, the lines are balanced. Either the lines say exactly opposite, or the lines say exactly the same, or the lines are building to a conclusion.
Speaker A
Faith follows the will of God people say to me when I go to the hospital and pray I want God's best for your life I'm not sure what that is oh you're not praying in faith I'm praying in in a Bible
Speaker A
Now I want you to hang with me. Look at this. Look at the first one: "who pardons all your iniquities." Amen. We would say "forgives all your sins." And then look at the second line of verse 3: "who heals all your diseases." I want you to look at me, because I'd rather be a heretic and be understood than you not listen well and me be a heretic. Okay?
Speaker A
the hand of a loving God why some die and some are miraculously restored I don't know no but to claim that if we just believed enough believe strong enough that we would all be healed when would we ever die when would our loved
Speaker A
I believe in a God of healing. When my kids are sick and I'm sick, I pray. Do you? I ask God to have mercy on them and on me. I believe that God still heals. The mystery is why some wonderful people die in tragic ways over a long time in the hospitals when they're praying and all of God's people are praying. I don't understand why some are healed and some aren't.
Speaker A
30 years and now his young son in medical school just got married with one child has a brain tumor I don't understand that I don't understand when missionaries are killed on the field but I do understand the character
Speaker A
I do know that most Americans want healing just so they can have a longer life and use more of their blessings. I'm sure the reason for the healing is as theologically important as the healing itself. But I want to say to you, this verse has nothing, nothing, nothing, nothing to do with physical healing.
Speaker A
people didn't die lost people would become Christians for all the wrong reasons to get this word loving kindness is used four times this this psalm can almost be characterized this is the Hebrew word hessed which means God's covenant
Speaker A
People say to me, "No, no, no, when we were promised redemption in Isaiah 53, we were promised healing by His stripes. We are healed." Bob, you just don't believe the Bible. No, I study the Hebrew text, I understand Hebrew poetry, and I'm more than a proof-texter for personal gain. This verse, as so many verses, is parallel, where healing is exactly the same as spiritual forgiveness.
Speaker A
is his character that I hope in not the faith I have in the midst of disease or problem or reversal all of us have problems all of us sin none of us are worthy of the mercy and grace of God it
Speaker A
Now I'll give you two quotes. Maybe you'll write them down, and you can check me on this. Isaiah 1:5 and 6. Jeremiah 30:12-15. Israel is described as a person who is sick from the top of their head to the soles of their feet. They're completely sick with wounds and raw sores, and there's no one to heal. Quite often disease is an Old Testament metaphor for spiritual disease, not physical disease.
Speaker A
translations at home I hope you'll look that up nobody has a clue what the last line of verse 5 means the word is just unknown sometime it's ye fears sometime it's desire sometime it's ornament sometime it's macaroni and cheese I have
Speaker A
So what we have in Hebrew parallelism is: He forgives our iniquity, and He heals our diseases, which means He pardons our sins. Now I want to say again, I believe in a God of healing, but I get so upset when somebody tells me, "If you just have enough faith, God would heal you. If you just believe strong enough, God would do it." I have seen great Christians die with great faith, and I think it's an abomination to think that I have the power to manipulate God. There's a time to go home, and there's nothing wrong with going home. Faith never sets the direction and the agenda. Faith only follows the initiation of God. Faith never...
Speaker A
I'm going to show you who I am so notice how he does it performs righteous deeds and judgment for all who are oppressed he made known his ways to Moses his acts to the sons of Israel God has revealed
Speaker A
himself how has he done that creation the call of Adam and Eve Noah uh Moses Abraham just go through the Old Testament list we were talking about in the song the last song God Has revealed himself by what he has done and what he
Speaker A
has said I can know him and I can trust him because his words and his acts have been recorded for us and we call it the Bible this most wonderful of all books now beginning in verse 8 and N I heard a
Speaker A
sermon on this once I thought I was going to die you've heard sermons like that too verse eight and N seem to imply that there is a period God will work with us and have patience with us but after a
Speaker A
period he'll say forget it you've just sended away your day of Grace you I'm just tired of you I'm not going to work with you anymore that is not at all what this is saying that is not at all what
Speaker A
this is saying I don't believe we ever send away our day of Grace I don't believe if you if you if you think of the communication between God and humans as a as a a tube or something the clog
Speaker A
never happens from God's end the clog never happens from God's end the clog always happens from our end now sometimes that unpardonable sin clogs That Thing Up permanently but God never stops loving human beings made in His image you say oh but I've done terrible
Speaker A
thing this is a PS of David premeditated sexual violator murderer liar God called him after repentance a man after my own heart I don't care what you've done you're not maybe you are God still loves you and God never never steps away you
Speaker A
say how do you know that the context my soul you cannot pull one verse out of the Bible and make it say what you want to what does the next line say what does the next part of this parallel poet
Speaker A
say look at the look at how this finishes he will not always strive with us nor will he keep his anger forever now what does that mean does God get mad you bet you're bippy he does and what
Speaker A
does he get mad at how we treat each other how we don't take his word to lost people how we get arrogant and prideful does God get mad at what human beings do absolutely so what does he do about that
Speaker A
look at the next line he has not dealt with us according to our sins nor rewarded us according to our iniquities you don't earn his love because you don't sin and you don't lose his love because you do sin Hallelujah
Speaker A
if God's going to count iniquities who can stand who can stand beginning in verse 11 down through 14 is a series of poetic metaphors to describe the for giving character of God follow with me beginning in verse 11 as
Speaker A
high as the heavens are above the Earth so great is his Covenant loyalty toward those who rever him now I want to stop right here you know I just feel a time restraint in these morning services and I'm sorry about
Speaker A
that in this audience today there are people who are carrying the guilt of past sins saved people crushed under words and thoughts and deeds and Satan is whipping you every day because of what you did or what you said or what
Speaker A
you didn't do and the Bible says you're forgiven but you say no he can't forgive me and you I I hate Christian Counseling I just soon sleep under a water bed just not my gift but being a pastor most the people I talk to they're
Speaker A
worried about what's going to happen tomorrow or they're worried about what happened in the past and they never live in joy in the present so many Christians I know something happened to you you did something years ago you have never been
Speaker A
able to forgive yourself you've been never to been able to accept God's forgiveness and you think that is a witness for us to keep on praying God forgive me God forgive me I think what God says when we say God forgive me the
Speaker A
second time about the same thing I'm paraphrasing God of course for what for what I submit to and I'm about to give you five scripture texts so you know it's not Bob if I would you get a pencil
Speaker A
out it's the teacher in me no test until you get to heaven I'm gonna take the book of Isaiah to do it Isaiah 1:18 come now let us reason together though your sins be as Scarlet I'll make them white as
Speaker A
snow there are four other places if you'll look at the margin of any Bible there are four other times in Isaiah where God promises now I'm going to car I'm must paraphrase now to separate your sins as far as the east as the West as
Speaker A
high as the heavens are above the Earth he's going to wipe them out like a Morning Mist he's going to erase them and I want you to know you could not erase anything in the ancient world because the ink had an acid and it bit
Speaker A
into the papy and there was no way to erase it it's a they didn't have bleach they couldn't eras uh couldn't uh Dy something white again so when God says I'll take red and make it white and and
Speaker A
when I'll take what's written and erase it these are Miracle things I'll put your sins behind my back and remember them no more now these are the promises that God makes Isaiah 38:17 Isaiah 43 25 Isaiah 4422 Micah
Speaker A
79 now I'm not sure I'm going to finish rest of this Psalm because we need to stop right here there were some of you look like Pilgrims Progress you're saved going to heaven Redeemed by the blood of Jesus Christ and you're carrying this
Speaker A
terrible burden from the past you can't let it go you can't let it down it haunts you every day that Satan beats you up all the time over it and I want to tell you right now right now just
Speaker A
close your eyes everybody in here is there something bothering you in the past have you asked God to forgive it if not you ought to be bothered but if you have it is a it is against the character
Speaker A
of God for his children to ask him to forgive them and them not to forgive themselves I want you to know you're as clean as the whitest white that ever ever was because of his blood I want you
Speaker A
to know that whatever you've done when you give it to him first John 1:9 if we confess our sins this is to Christians now to Christians now if we confess our sins he's faithful and just to forgive for give us from all
Speaker A
unrighteousness now do you believe God's a liar you say Bob you don't know what I've done you you don't know the hidden things in my life I know the grace and mercy and character of God and I'm telling you
Speaker A
today if you've been walking in darkness and judgment and condemnation and guilt and shame we can wipe that thing away not not me not first West the god of the Bible can cleanse you if you'll just accept that
Speaker A
forgiveness Hallelujah and I know God's people carry that guilt and we need to pray we don't do that again and we need to ask God to make us stronger and we need to ask God to not lead us in Temptation and we need
Speaker A
to be careful yea do I thank God for a clean page every time I ask him and he doesn't come back and say I've given you 13 Pages already today we just get a clean page whenever we ask him
Speaker A
amen as far as the East is from the West so far has he removed our transgressions from us as a father has compassion on his children so the Lord has compassions on those who fear Him for he knows our
Speaker A
frame our yeter our intent and he is mindful that we are but dust clay remembers how we made us remembers who we are remembers how fragile we are and walks with us in forgiveness and power this sermon has the potential to change
Speaker A
your life today if you just listen to me have I made this up or am I going to this Psalm are these verses in Isaiah or are they not when God forgives God forgets I want you to say
Speaker A
it with me when God forgives gives God forgets do you believe that why Isaiah 1 18 43 25 44 22 Micah 719 in verse 15 16 is this metaphor of all of us are like grass I lived in LEC there's just
Speaker A
LEC is semiarid there it's just dirt there's t humble weeds out there it's just dirt and come a rainstorm and a week There's wild flowers everywhere just beautiful you give it two weeks of hot sun the wild flowers have sprouted up
Speaker A
bloomed dried died and you can't find a hole where they were hundreds of thousands of them that's the way you are your life means nothing you're dust on the scales of time but in him in him we have eternality he is the true one he is
Speaker A
the one that holds us he is the one that is The Giver of Life and in him we have this life we are but nothing but in the Eternal one he can give us eternal life ye look at 17 and 18 there are
Speaker A
conditions on this by the way you just can't go out and sin at random you just can't go out and do everything you know is wrong What are the conditions look at 17 and 18 to those who respect him awe
Speaker A
him fear fear him it's not the word fear like afraid it's the word fear like holy moly I'm in the presence of a holy God number two to those who keep his Covenant and number three who remember his precepts to do them Jesus said it so
Speaker A
well in Luke 6:46 when he said why do you call me Lord Lord and do not the things that I tell you to do obedience is a sign that we know God failure is a sign that were human
Speaker A
beings the holy God will work with sinful human beings look how many he made all of us struggle all of us have problems all of us wrestle with sin all of us have bad days all of us make
Speaker A
tragic errors but this God this God has pursued us and loved us and forgive not cheap than the death of his only son but it's really free and it's really for whosoever I want you to Bow your heads
Speaker A
me again please now some of you don't need this at all thank God for you others of you this can be a defining moment in your life you you have drugged something like a ball in a chain from your past you
Speaker A
have not let it go you have not turned it Loose you've given it to God you've asked God to forgive you but somehow you keep asking over and over you just keep thinking about it you you keep letting
Speaker A
that hurt you and destroy you take your joy away I want you to give it to him today I want you to give it to him and not take it back I want you to claim these promises of of complete cleansing
Speaker A
as far as the East is from the West as high as the heavens are above the Earth Crimson to snow fog burned away dropped in the deepest part of the sea behind his back out of sight out of
Speaker A
mind can you accept that today can you let the cleansing power of God restore you to Joy and fellowship can you know what it means to have a brand new PR page and a brand new opportunity and a brand new moment to
Speaker A
serve him this can be a lifechanging moment I pray the spirit of God will woo you to accept his promises woo you to accept his love in Jesus Christ woo you to draw close to him in Fellowship again when God
Speaker A
forgives God forgets
Topics:Psalm 103Bob UtleyYahwehElohimBible studyOld TestamentforgivenessgratitudeHebrew poetrysermon
