Bless The LORD, O My Soul
(Psalm 103:1-22)
Bless the LORD, O my soul,
and all that is within me,
bless his holy name!
Bless the LORD, O my soul,
and forget not all his benefits,
who forgives all your iniquity,
who heals all your diseases,
who redeems your life from the pit,
who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy,
who satisfies you with good
so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.
The LORD works righteousness
and justice for all who are oppressed.
He made known his ways to Moses,
his acts to the people of Israel.
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.
For he knows our frame;
he remembers that we are dust.
As for man, his days are like grass;
he flourishes like a flower of the field;
for the wind passes over it, and it is gone,
and its place knows it no more.
But the steadfast love of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear him,
and his righteousness to children’s children,
to those who keep his covenant
and remember to do his commandments.
The LORD has established his throne in the heavens,
and his kingdom rules over all.
Bless the LORD, O you his angels,
you mighty ones who do his word,
obeying the voice of his word!
Bless the LORD, all his hosts,
his ministers, who do his will!
Bless the LORD, all his works,
in all places of his dominion.
Bless the LORD, O my soul!
1. Bless the LORD for how He loves me. (1-6)
Do you ever become so overwhelmed with the goodness of God that you cry out with all the are in joy and adoration for the one who loves you more deeply and completely than anyone else in the universe? I think most of us have experienced this both in the midst of corporate worship at church or even on our own while driving in the car. For most of us, it is mainly done in the aftermath of some wonderful blessing. David starts this amazing Psalm of praise with a reminder to “forget not” the amazing “steadfast love” of God in our lives. The Jesus Storybook Bible phrases the steadfast love of God as, “Never stopping, never giving up, always and forever love.” This love is ever present in our lives because of Jesus and the work he accomplished on the Cross and through his resurrection.
Look at how David reminds us of the amazing benefits we have in Jesus. We are forgiven thanks to the love of God and the gift of His Son. Just as Paul tells us in Ephesians 1:7, “In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace.” How amazing is the forgiveness we have in Jesus. Christian friend there is NO condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus (Romans 8:1). Our sins were paid for once and for all. “For the death he died he died to sin, once for all.” (Romans 6:10).
The benefits of belonging to Christ continue with physical healing. Some of you may ask, “What about the sickness that leads to death?” or “What about the pain that plagues my back?” The answer, my friend, is in the comforting hope of the resurrection of Jesus. Jesus reminded Martha, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?” (John 11:25-26). One day we will stand healed from all sickness and injury for the rest of eternity and everyone said, "AMEN"!
He reminds us that our lives have been redeemed from the pit, from death. Not only are we redeemed, but He crowned us with His love and mercy. This crowning implies royalty. “And raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus.” (Ephesians 2:6). How amazing is it that God doesn’t just save us from Satan, sin, and death but elevates us to royalty in the kingdom of heaven? Simply amazing!
Those that belong to Jesus are satisfied with goodness. This reminds me of the beatitudes in Matthew 5:6, “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.” Those that seek righteousness through Jesus, will be given their desire. This will cause us to be renewed in our soul. Like Isaiah said, “But they who wait for the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.” (Isaiah 40:31).
In the Cross of Christ, the righteousness and justice of God are satisfied; and we, Christian friends, are the recipients of that marvelous work. God in His providence works all things together for our good in Christ Jesus. (Romans 8:28).
2. Bless the LORD for how He loves His people. (7-19)
The LORD pours out His mercy and grace on His children. Like a loving Father, His love for us never stops, never gives up, is always and forever. He doesn’t hold our sins against us. He doesn’t pour out His wrath on us. Why? Because he poured it out on Himself first! There is NO greater love than this!
He removes our sin as far as the east is from the west! He doesn’t just sweep them under the rug and pretend that all is clean. He actually takes it away. Our sin is gone. Because he did what no one else could do; He poured it on himself first. “For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.” (2 Corinthians 5:21).
Though our lives are like grass, and we are here today and gone tomorrow, yet we have an eternal hope. This hope is in the life that we have in Jesus. This hope is in His power to save, in His healing touch, and in His eternal love.
3. Bless the LORD Everyone! (20-22)
Lastly David invites the angels to bless the LORD, the hosts of heaven to bless the LORD, and the works of creation to bless the LORD. Therefore, I beseech you Christian friend along with David and all those who have been overcome by the steadfast love of God, bless the LORD will all your soul. With every fiber of your being, cry out and declare His never stopping, His never giving up, always and forever love!
Pastor Rob