SOAP 11/24/2015; Psalm 103:12

Today's reading: Matthew 17, 18, 19*

S) "¹² As far as the east is from the west,
So far has He removed our transgressions from us."

Psalm 103:12 (NASB)
*because there are already entries for each of these chapters, I also read Psalm 103

O) This verse is quite popular in Christian culture today. There was a successful song about it ("East to West" by Casting Crowns), it seems to show up in a lot of worship songs in one form or another. In our current scientific understanding, this verse is impossibly symbolic. Because the earth is a sphere, you can travel east forever, and always be headed east. That is, it will never suddenly be that the direction becomes western. East and west are directions, and so anywhere on the globe could be called east or west, depending on perspective. So in that context, separating east from west becomes impossible to rightly measure. David was prophetic in many of his Psalms, but I don't think that his understanding of the world would have been spherical. Or at least, it doesn't have to be; there is another significant image to glean from this verse. East and west were mostly related to the rising and setting of the sun, in most ancient cultures. In fact, for many centuries, maps were often oriented with east on the top (which is why orient, which has roots in "rise" became associated with correctly aligning something). So, in this verse there probably was not as much "right to left" imagery coming to mind for the readers, as much as there was "top to bottom" imagery. In fact, with context read from v.11, just before this, we see a clue to that very idea. So, this verse probably isn't as much about geographical impossibilities, as it is about highlighting His righteousness above ours, and that in His mercy, we are brought up from our transgressions.

A) Regardless of how my mind is oriented (right-left, top-bottom), the main point is that God has removed my transgressions from me completely. The mercy I receive through the cross is not temporary. The mercy I have through Jesus Christ cannot be reversed. He has already finished the atoning work. This is cause for perpetual thanksgiving and praise! God has corrected my orientation, so I am facing up.

P) Father, I am amazed by the complete nature of Your grace and mercy. I confess that I am still prone to sin. Yet, every time I repent, You are completely faithful to completely cleanse me of my sins. Like a master surgeon, You cut away the dying parts of my life, and take them so far from me that it cannot be measured. You plunge death into the depths, while You raise me to life. All praise and glory are Yours, Lord. Thank You for this grace and mercy. In Jesus's name I pray. Amen.