The author of Psalm 103 was David and he shares with us about God's love and how amazing it is for us. David's praise focused on God's glorious deeds. It is easy to complain about life, but David's list gives us plenty for which to praise God - he forgives our sin, heals our diseases, redeems us from death, crowns us with love and compassion, satisfies our desires, and gives righteousness and justice. We receive all of these without deserving any of them.
No matter how difficult your life's journey, you can always count your blessings - past, present and future. When you feel as though you have nothing for which to praise God, read David's list in this entire psalm (notated below).
Psalm 103:7 - "He made known his ways to Moses, his deeds to the people of Israel"
God's law was given first to Moses and the people of Israel. God's law presents a clear picture of God's nature and will. It was God's training manual to prepare his people to serve him and follow his ways. When you have some time, I invite you to review the Ten Commandments, located in Exodus 20, and history of how they were given, asking God to show you his will and is ways through them.
Psalm 103:12 - "...as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us"
East and west can never meet. This is a symbolic portrait 0f God's forgiveness - when he forgives our sin, he separates it from us and doesn't even remember it. We need never wallow in the past, for God forgives and forgets. We tend to dredge up the ugly past, but God has wiped our record clean. If we are to follow God, we must model his forgiveness. When we forgive another, we must also forget the sin. Otherwise, we have not truly forgiven.
Psalm 103:13, 14 - "As a father has compassion on his children, so the LORD has compassion on those who fear him"
We are fragile, but God's care is eternal. Too often we focus on God as Judge and Lawgiver, ignoring his compassion and concern for us. When God examines are lives, he remembers our human condition. Our weakness should never be used as a justification for sin. His mercy takes everything into account. God will deal with you compassionately. Trust him.
Psalm 103:20-22 - "Praise the LORD, you his angels, you mighty ones who do his bidding, who obey his word. 21-Praise the LORD, all his heavenly hosts,, you his servants who do his will. 22-Praise the LORD, all his works everywhere in his dominion. Praise the LORD, O my soul"
Everything everywhere is to praise the Lord; all angels - mighty ones and heavenly hosts - and all his works! Praising God means remembering all he has done for us, fearing him and obeying his commands, and doing his will. Does your life praise the Lord?
Psalm 103 / New International Version
ReplyDelete1 Praise the Lord, O my soul;
all my inmost being, praise his holy name.
2 Praise the Lord, O my soul,
and forget not all his benefits—
3 who forgives all your sins
and heals all your diseases,
4 who redeems your life from the pit
and crowns you with love and compassion,
5 who satisfies your desires with good things
so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.
6 The Lord works righteousness
and justice for all the oppressed.
7 He made known his ways to Moses,
his deeds to the people of Israel:
8 The Lord is compassionate and gracious,
slow to anger, abounding in love.
9 He will not always accuse,
nor will he harbor his anger forever;
10 he does not treat us as our sins deserve
or repay us according to our iniquities.
11 For as high as the heavens are above the earth,
so great is his love for those who fear him;
12 as far as the east is from the west,
so far has he removed our transgressions from us.
13 As a father has compassion on his children,
so the Lord has compassion on those who fear him;
14 for he knows how we are formed,
he remembers that we are dust.
15 As for man, his days are like grass,
he flourishes like a flower of the field;
16 the wind blows over it and it is gone,
and its place remembers it no more.
17 But from everlasting to everlasting
the Lord’s love is with those who fear him,
and his righteousness with their children’s children—
18 with those who keep his covenant
and remember to obey his precepts.
19 The Lord has established his throne in heaven,
and his kingdom rules over all.
20 Praise the Lord, you his angels,
you mighty ones who do his bidding,
who obey his word.
21 Praise the Lord, all his heavenly hosts,
you his servants who do his will.
22 Praise the Lord, all his works
everywhere in his dominion.
Praise the Lord, O my soul.