Day 236: Psalm 103:11-12

"For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his love for 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, NIV

There's a literary element of poetry that David is quite fond of, and that is exaggerated metaphor. Exaggerated because if you've ever read the psalms, it's clear that a lot of things don't quite fit in reality. The wicked don't always win. The righteous don't always win.

The metaphor here describing God isn't so much exaggerating as it is exemplifying our inability to comprehend how much He loves us, how far He's put our sins from us. David was probably writing about Jesus's act on the cross in verse 12, when God has removed our sins from us.

And all of these promises, of God to love us, of God to forgive us, all will come to pass so long as we revere God and obey Him. God's love is unconditional for all mankind, but His gift of free will limits the fulfillment of the promises for those who choose to make it so in their lives.

We can make that choice today. So help us God.