The LORD is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. He will not always chide, nor will he keep his anger forever. He does not deal with us according to our sins, nor repay us according to our iniquities. For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west, so far does he remove our transgressions from us. As a father shows compassion to his children, so the LORD shows compassion to those who fear him. (Psalm 103:8-13 ESV).
I have heard many well meaning people assign the suffering of disease to the punishment for our sins. While it is true that there are times when suffering is a direct result of our foolish or uninformed decisions, this is not the punishment of God. The “sin and suffer” theology is just wrong headed. Look at our reading again today. The psalmist is very clear: He [God] does not deal with us according to our sins, nor repay us according to our iniquities (v. 9).
Later this spring I’ve been asked to teach at our church with a focus on the Book of Job. I’m sure you are familiar with the story of Job. He loses nearly everything but his life in a series of calamities that progressively test his faith in God. Job’s friends accuse him, saying he must have brought this on himself by sinning against God. Job even asks God, “If I have sinned, what have I done to you? Why have you made me your target?” (Job 7:20). And God responds by showing him that God’s ways are higher than human ways.
Go back to our reading today as we start this little series dealing with suffering and evil in our world. The psalmist declares that God “does not treat us as our sins deserve.” Instead, God uses a sin-removal policy based on his everlasting love: God pays the price of our sin. If God let us pay for our wrongdoing, every living person would be stuck forever in the disease and death we have earned for our rebellion (cf. Romans 6:23).
There is not a week that goes by that someone will come to me for counseling or coaching, tearfully taking the blame for their own health diagnosis or life challenge. I have confidently assured them that God does not operate that way. I personally know how easy it is to wrestle with whether God was displeased with me about something; however, I am immediately reminded of his abounding love and grace that is greater than all my sin. And, that is where we must begin this study. Read our text again and thank God that He has given the sacrifice necessary for our atonement in Jesus.