The Crown We Wear
“Praise the LORD, O my soul; all my inmost being, praise his holy name…who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion.” Psalm 103: 1, 4
I have been meditating on Psalm 103 in recent weeks. There are so many treasures to be mined there when one picks apart each word. God’s Word is so rich! How often do we read familiar passages simply breezing through them, forgetting to slow down, that each word is inspired and full of truth and grace?
Yesterday I was struck anew by these words in verse 4: “…and crowns you with love and compassion.” “I wonder what that part about crowning is in reference to?” I thought. “A reference to royalty, perhaps?”
In our modern world, the only time that we really see crowns being used is on the head of a king or a queen and even then only on significant occasions such as a coronation that we can watch on TV or the internet. Here in the United States we are less accustomed to seeing this so it can feel quite unfamiliar to our every-day lives.
As I studied this passage in more detail, I came to learn that for the Old Testament Hebrew, the word used here could mean:
1. To encircle (for attack or protection – as in Psalm 23:26)
2. Especially to crown (literally or figuratively – as in Psalm 8:5).
Biblehub.com summarizes the range of meaning of the word in this way:
“The verb עָטַר traces a rich biblical motif of crowning and encircling. Whether used of literal royal investiture, divine favor that surrounds the righteous, or ironic acknowledgment of worldly power, each appearance points to the Lord as the ultimate Giver and Defender of honor.” [1]
According to the Lexicon, Psalm 103:4 likely falls into the figurative category along with other verses such as Psalm 65:11 (“You crown the year with your bounty…”) and Psalm 8:5 (“You made him a little lower than the heavenly beings and crowned him with glory and honor…”).
Apparently the literal act of crowning was not out of the ordinary in the ancient world. Diadems, wreaths, or garlands being placed often signified victory in a battle or competition, a sign of status, or the bond of a covenant. They could be given by prophets when a king was anointed (2 Kings 11:12), by mothers at a celebration such as a marriage (Song of Songs 3:11), or as a sign of authority from a conquering king to a lower one (Isaiah 23:8). (see again Strong’s note)
So let’s dive a little deeper. What is this imagery pointing us to?
Going back to our passage, it states that we are crowned with love and compassion. We are taken from a pit that is a place of God’s just condemnation for the spiritual disease of sin (as in verses 1-3) and given forgiveness, healing, and redemption. It is not just that God begrudgingly forgives us, but that he generously pours out more than we could ever need. He doesn’t just give us mercy in withholding what we actually deserve. He does that and much more – he showers us with his lavish grace – his favor and blessing.
One of my favorite passages to read when I need to remember all I have been given in Christ is Ephesians chapter 1. “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ…In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace which he lavished on us with all wisdom and understanding…” (verses 1, 7-8; emphasis mine)
Crowning us with these things represents a bestowing of honor. He lifts us up and out of our mess, elevates us with His love. One commentator said it this way:
“The idea here is not merely that God is the source of these blessings, but there is something of beauty, of dignity, of honor, as in the conferring of a crown or garland on anyone. With loving-kindness and tender mercies – mercy and compassions. God showed mercy to him [the psalmist] – evinced compassion- and these were so abundant that they might be said to be the crown or ornament of his life.” (emphasis mine) [2]
Have you ever had the feeling of being ‘adorned’ in this way?
This past January, my husband and I celebrated our 5th wedding anniversary. We went away to a nice hotel for the night that included a jacuzzi tub and a fireplace to enjoy. We also treated ourselves to a lovely dinner out at an Italian restaurant and a day at Longwood Gardens outside of Philadelphia. While these things were special, a highlight for me was giving and receiving gifts while sitting in front of the fireplace together. My husband gifted me with a beautiful necklace that graced my neck for the rest of the weekend. It was in the shape of the infinity symbol – a visual reminder of our forever covenant and his commitment to me. The lovely sparkle that we ladies enjoy was an added bonus!
Whenever I wear this necklace (or any piece of jewelry that he has given me), it feels like a signal to the world of his love for me; an announcement that I am his. I feel adorned – decorated with something beautiful that reminds me of his love, care, and commitment when I wear it. I feel special, cherished, and honored to be his wife.
I believe that God wants us as his children to know and feel his care, his protection, and his pride in us in a similar way. We wear his blessing and are encircled by his constant loving-kindness and compassion. Yet, we so often put on our old mess and live in condemnation, shame, or other lies.
In the Gospels, Luke records a parable for us that we call the Parable of the Lost Son. In chapter 15: 11-31, we read about a young son who rudely demands his share of his inheritance while his father is still living. He then leaves home with the money for a foreign land and proceeds to spend it away quickly on ‘wild living’. We see that he sinks so low that he hires himself out to someone who gives him a job feeding pigs – an unclean and detestable animal to the Israelites. He is so hungry and his need is so great that he even eats the food that is meant for them. Imagine what he must have looked like, smelled like…
And yet…
While any natural father would have been at home ruminating on the hurt that this son had caused, wallowing in unforgiveness and worry for his son, we read that this father is different. He was eagerly waiting for his son to return home, watching with great hope. He was anticipating how he would shower him with grace upon his return!
“But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him” (Luke 15: 20).
As if that wasn’t enough, the Father re-clothed his son, allowing him to remove the stench, the dirt, maybe even rags at that point - that represented who he had been and what he had done.
“‘Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate. For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ So they began to celebrate” (Luke 15: 22-24, emphasis mine).
He didn’t just give him a fresh set of clothes – he richly adorned his son with the best robe, sandals, and a ring!
Jesus doesn’t tell us how the son responded. How do you think he felt? How would you have reacted? Would you refuse to put on these signs of your father’s favor, wallowing in shame, condemnation, and doubt? Or would you wear them proudly, all the while realizing your unworthiness?
How do you live on a daily basis with the love and compassion that God has richly adorned you with? Sister, godly remorse for your sin or your past doesn’t mean you have to live in the rags of your old life. There is no more of God’s wrath left over for you – Jesus has taken it all! He wants you to wear his forgiveness, love, and compassion as a crown of honor that declares you are his!
You can live joyfully and confidently, putting on your new and glorious heavenly outfit every day!
“…let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful” (Hebrews 10: 22-23).
[1] Strong's Hebrew: 5849. עָטַר (atar) -- To crown, to encircle, to surround
