Bless the LORD, O My Soul1
Before we proceed to the reign of Solomon, we must read two or three of David’s most familiar psalms. We only regret that we do not have time to read them all in our family worship. However, in our private devotions, we should study every one. They are all more precious than fine gold. Today, we will read one of the sweetest and best known.
Psalm 103
Of David.
1 Bless the LORD, O my soul,
and all that is within me,
bless his holy name!
Music from the heart is the most precious music. When we praise the Lord it should rise up from deep within us.
2 Bless the LORD, O my soul,
and forget not all his benefits,
We have poor memories when it comes to good things. Still, let us try to remember them when we praise the Lord.
3 who forgives all your iniquity,
who heals all your diseases,
4 who redeems your life from the pit,
who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy,
5 who satisfies you with good
so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.
The sweet singer threads a few of the best pearls of mercy on the string of memory, then places them around the neck of gratitude, where they sparkle as she sings the joyful praises of her God.
6 The LORD works righteousness
and justice for all who are oppressed.
No person in need will ever plead their case to the Lord and be disappointed. Woe to those who oppress the poor.
7 He made known his ways to Moses,
his acts to the people of Israel.
8 The LORD is merciful and gracious,
slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.
9 He will not always chide,
nor will he keep his anger forever.
His very love will cause him to chasten2 us at times, but the hand of discipline is soon withdrawn.
10 He does not deal with us according to our sins,
nor repay us according to our iniquities.
11 For as high as the heavens are above the earth,
so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him;
12 as far as the east is from the west,
so far does he remove our transgressions from us.
What a glorious fact. The east is infinitely distant from the west and so our sin is removed an infinite distance from us. In fact, it is washed away. It disappears and is forgotten forever.
13 As a father shows compassion to his children,
so the LORD shows compassion to those who fear him.
At their best, children need their father’s compassion. At their strongest, they are defective and weak.
14 For he knows our frame;
he remembers that we are dust.
We are not iron, and not even clay, but dust held together by a continuous miracle.
15 As for man, his days are like grass;
he flourishes like a flower of the field;
16 for the wind passes over it, and it is gone,
and its place knows it no more.
17 But the steadfast love of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear him,
and his righteousness to children’s children,
18 to those who keep his covenant
and remember to do his commandments.
Children who reject the Lord will not be saved because their parents are. Living unsaved in a Christian home will only increase the judgment against them. Their parents cannot remove their guilt. They must accept the Lord’s promise for themselves personally or they will have no place in heaven.
19 The LORD has established his throne in the heavens,
and his kingdom rules over all.
20 Bless the LORD, O you his angels,
you mighty ones who do his word,
obeying the voice of his word!
21 Bless the LORD, all his hosts,
his ministers, who do his will!
22 Bless the LORD, all his works,
in all places of his dominion.
Bless the LORD, O my soul!
The psalmist was so full of praise that he wanted all of creation to join him in glorifying the Lord. But he did not forget that the most important thing is that our own soul adores the Lord. He concludes, as all good composers do, with his main point. Let our motto be today and every day, “Bless the Lord, O my soul.”
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1 Psalm 103:1
2 chasten, chastening or chastisement - The act of discipline which may include scolding, criticizing or pain inflicted for the purpose of correction or moral improvement.
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