Psalm 103 Memory Challenge: Soon and Very Soon, We Are Going to See the King!

Last week, as we memorized Psalm 103:13-14, we saw God’s heart for us, and the frailty of our life. The verses we’ll be memorizing this week, Psalm 103:15-16, elaborate on our frailty and the brevity of our life.

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As for man, his days are like grass;

As a flower of the field, so he flourishes.

For the wind passes over it, and it is gone,

And its place remembers it no more. Psalm 103:15-16

Because life is short, and tomorrow is promised to no one, our memory verses for this week really caused me to look at my priorities and ask myself, “With life as brief and unpredictable as it is, am I spending my time on the best pursuits?” As Paul wrote the Corinthians, “All things are lawful for me, but all things are not helpful. All things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any.“ (1 Cor. 6:12) This verse has been a great filter for making wise choices in various areas of my life. Right now it is my verse to guide me in how I spend my time, and what I eat, to aid me in reaching my current weight loss goals. 

Matthew Henry offers great commentary on our memory verses this week. In reference to God, he says:

“He has perpetuated his covenant-mercy and thereby provided relief for our frailty, v. 15–18. See here, (1.) How short man’s life is and of what uncertain continuance. The lives even of great men and good men are so, and neither their greatness nor their goodness can alter the property of them: As for man, his days are as grass, which grows out of the earth, rises but a little way above it, and soon withers and returns to it again. See Isa. 40:6, 7.

Man, in his best estate, seems somewhat more than grass; he flourishes and looks great; yet then he is but like a flower of the field, which, though distinguished a little from the grass, will wither with it. The flower of the garden is commonly more choice and valuable, and, though in its own nature withering, will last the longer for its being sheltered by the garden wall and the gardener’s care; but the flower of the field (to which life is here compared) is not only withering in itself, but exposed to the cold blasts, and liable to be cropped and trodden on by the beasts of the field. Man’s life is not only wasting of itself, but its period may be anticipated by a thousand accidents. When the flower is in its perfection a blasting wind, unseen, unlooked for, passes over it, and it is gone; it hangs the head, drops the leaves, dwindles into the ground again, and the place thereof, which was proud of it, now knows it no more. Such a thing is man: God considers this, and pities him”

Though the message of Psalm 103:15-16 can be sobering on one hand, for those of us who love Jesus these verses also give us much to rejoice about!

“How so?” you might ask.

When I consider how short life is, I can rejoice that, as the gospel song proclaims, “Soon and very soon, we are going to see the King.”

Soon and very soon, we will:

• Be delivered from all our troubles! (Psalm 34:17, 19)
• Experience no more sorrow and no more pain! (Revelation 21:4) 
• See God as He is (1 John 3:2)
• Behold the New Jerusalem! (Revelation 21:2)

Spurgeon elaborates, “Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither hath entered into the heart of man the things which God hath prepared for them that love him; but he hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit,” and, as far as we understand that revelation we are taught by it that we shall enter into a state of complete rest and perfect peace; a state of holy delight, and of serene and blissful activity; a state of perfect praise; a state of
satisfaction; a state, probably, of progress, but still of completeness at every inch of the road; a state in which we shall be as happy as we are capable of being, every vessel, little or great, being filled to the brim. We shall be supremely blessed, for at the right hand of God there are pleasures for ever more."

It’s going to be amazing! I sure am glad we don’t live to be 900 years old as they did before the flood! (Gen 5:27) “Soon and very soon, we’re going to see the King!”

Just for this week…

Week	Dates	Verses to Memorize	Daily Memorization Plan
8	July 30-August 5	Psalm 103:15-16	1. Review last week’s verses first (Psalm 103:13-14) by reciting them 10 times (look at your Bible if you need to.) 2. Review old verses altogether (Psalm 103:1-14) by reciting it once through. 3. Read Psalm 103:15 out loud 10 times, then recite the verse 10 times.  4. Read Psalm 103:16 out loud 10 times, then recite the verse 10 times.

 Question for you: Does Psalm 103:15-16 excite you about going to heaven?

Psalm 103 Memory Challenge Quick Links 

For tips and helps in memorizing your verses this week, check out the previous posts for the Psalm 103 Memory Challenge:
Introduction to Memorizing Psalm 103
Week 1: Psalm 103:1-2    Remembering God’s Faithfulness.
Week 2 (Part 1): Psalm 103:3   There's No god Like Our God!
Week 2 (Part 2) Psalm 103:4   Oh, How He Loves Us!
Week 3 (Part 1) Psalm 103:5   Strength For The Weary
Week 3 (Part 2) Psalm 103:6   God Will Give You Justice!
Week 4 (Part 1) Psalm 103:7   God Makes Himself Known!
Week 4 (Part 2) Psalm 103:8   Mercy in Abundance!
Week 5: Psalm 103:9-10 Better Than I Deserve!
Week 6: Psalm 103:11-12   How High and Wide is God's Mercy For Us!
Week 7: Psalm 103:13-14  God's Loving Compassion For Us!
Week 8: Psalm 103:15-16 Soon and Very Soon, We are Going to See the King!
Week 9: Psalm 103:17-18 God's Mercy is from Everlasting to Everlasting!
Week 10: Psalm 103:19-20 God Rules Over All!
Week 11: Psalm 103:21-22 Bless the Lord! 
Week 12: My Plan for Keeping Psalm 103 Hidden In My Heart!
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Copyright © 2012 Brooke Espinoza.