Bless the Lord, O my soul,
and all that is within me,
bless his holy name!
2 Bless the Lord, O my soul,
and forget not all his benefits,
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.
6 The Lord works righteousness
and justice for all who are oppressed.
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.
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.
13 As a father shows compassion to his children,
so the Lord shows compassion to those who fear him.
14 For he knows our frame;
he remembers that we are dust.
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.
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! Psalm 103 ESV
A Psalm of David and what a beautiful song.
- This one hundred and third Psalm has ever seemed to us to be the Monte Rosa of the divine chain of mountains of praise, glowing with a ruddier light than any of the rest. It is as the apple tree among the trees of the wood, and its golden fruit has a flavour such as no fruit ever bears unless it has been ripened in the full sunshine of mercy. It is man's reply to the benedictions of his God, his Song on the Mount answering to his Redeemer's Sermon on the Mount. Nebuchadnezzar adored his idol with flute, harp, sacbut, psaltery, dulcimer and all kinds of music; and David, in far nobler style awakens all the melodies of heaven and earth in honour of the one only living and true God. Our attempt at exposition is commenced under an impressive sense of the utter impossibility of doing justice to so sublime a composition; we call upon our soul and all that is within us to aid in the pleasurable task; but, alas, our soul is finite, and our all of mental faculty far too little for the enterprize. There is too much in the Psalm, for a thousand pens to write, it is one of those all-comprehending Scriptures which is a Bible in itself, and it might alone almost suffice for the hymn-book of the church. - C. H. Spurgeon
Bless the Lord, O my soul - This song is of great inspiration of itself but so much so that it has inspired new songs. It brings to mind 10,000 Reasons and it gives in it's verses the greatest reasons for which the soul should rise forth when we sing. Shall it be just my mouth, to hear my voice, check my breath, with my mind only partially engaged? No, thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart and soul and mind. And all that is within me.
Bless His holy name - His name is Holy, and in a Trinitarian sense, Holy, Holy, Holy, in all His attributes, eternally. I have been stuck here for days now and could easily remain without ever exhausting this aspect of God's nature, but I would like to continue through this passage so let me summarize, if that's even possible. We do not know God by our own effort, we would not naturally find Him nor comprehend except by way of Him revealing Himself to us, through His Word. At first glance of His Holiness I realize I am not, and this brings the first part of wisdom, which is fear, for He says, be holy, and I am already and most dreadfully corrupt. His holiness is not in opposition to His love though, which brings me to the cross, and the most understandable, clearest picture of any attribute of God, is found in His eternally begotten Son. Here we are again at the gospel which is the power of God unto salvation. I have seen the beginning of knowledge, that I am a sinner, but I see in the cross the satisfaction of God's holiness by merit of One Who is without sin, yet willing to take my sin upon Himself. This is Emmanuel, God with us, and this is the only satisfactory atonement for sin, the perfect Lamb of God.
…8 But what does it say? “The word is near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart,” that is, the word of faith we are proclaiming: 9 that if you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For with your heart you believe and are justified, and with your mouth you confess and are saved.… Romans 10: 8-10
I have received this gift of faith to put it in this one hope which is Christ. My heart has changed and caused my mouth to testify, but there is at work in me, at the same time, this struggle against my flesh. Fear was the beginning, knowing that all have sinned and that the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God was eternal life through Jesus Christ. The cross is a great testament to God's holiness in the attributes of His love and mercy. The cross does not diminish His holiness, but provides a way to show His love towards those whom He has chosen for His Son, a way to redeem mankind while leaving His holiness intact. It does not end here though, for Christ lived a holy life, died on the cross, was buried in the tomb, but on the third day, He rose. He is still Holy, and though I struggle I read on, that He, Who has begun a good work in me, is also faithful to complete it. As His child now I still sin, He convicts me of sin through His Holy Spirit, He corrects me through His word, and what use to be the fear of Him is now the fear of disappointing Him. I want to follow after Him, to hate sin, to grow in sanctification, knowing that His holiness is no longer against me but ever working on my behalf to conform me to the image of His Son. I will leave it at that, and with this link to the words of someone much more studied and mature. Please read this, I have no doubt you will be blessed by it.
…48 For He has looked with favor on the humble state of His servant. From now on all generations will call me blessed. 49 For the Mighty One has done great things for me. Holy is His name. 50 His mercy extends to those who fear Him, from generation to generation.… Luke 1: 48-50
1 At that time Hannah prayed: “My heart rejoices in the LORD in whom my horn is exalted. My mouth speaks boldly against my enemies, for I rejoice in Your salvation. 2 There is no one holy like the LORD. Indeed, there is no one besides You! And there is no rock like our God. 3 Do not boast so proudly, or let arrogance come from your mouth, for the LORD is a God who knows, and by Him actions are weighed.… 1 Samuel 2: 1-3
- In speaking of the holiness of God, it is good, perhaps, to begin with something of a definition. It was Hodge who said, “The holiness of God is not to be conceived of as one attribute among others. It is rather a general term representing the conception of God’s consummate perfection and total glory. It is His infinite moral perfection crowning His infinite intelligence and power.” He said it is infinite moral perfection as the crown of the God-head, holiness is God’s total glory crowned. - John MacArthur quoting Hodge
Bless the Lord, O my soul - Wake up, dear soul, it is time to rise and give thanks, to soar in lofty places, if you did not hear me the first time, then listen to these reasons.
Who forgives all your iniquity - I owe a debt I cannot pay, bless the Lord, Who has made a way for me in Christ. I have read Your law and stand guilty on all charges, yet You have satisfied the law and put new desires in my heart, causing me to run after You.
Who heals all your diseases - Sin has left a horrible stain, and it is the worst disease, yet You have provided a cure. I count my present troubles and suffering as nothing, for this body will return to nothing, and You have given me an eternity free of sin and all it's wages, all it's infirmities.
- Forgiveness is first in the order of our spiritual experience, and in some respects first in value. The pardon granted is a present one--forgiveth;it is continual, for he still forgiveth;it is divine, for God gives it; it is far reaching, for it removes all our sins; it takes in omissions as well as commissions, for both these are in-equities;and it is most effectual, for it is as real as the healing, and the rest of the mercies with which it is placed. Who healeth all thy diseases. When the cause is gone, namely, iniquity, the effect ceases. Sicknesses of body and soul came into the world by sin, and as sin is eradicated, diseases bodily, mental, and spiritual will vanish, till "the inhabitant shall no more say, I am sick." Many-sided is the character of our heavenly Father, for, having forgiven as a judge, he then cures as a physician. He is all things to us, as our needs call for him, and our infirmities do but reveal him in new characters.
"In him is only good,
In me is only ill,
My ill but draws his goodness forth,
And me he loveth still." - C. H. Spurgeon
Who redeems your life from the pit - I was dead in my trespasses and sin, yet You have caused me to come alive, like Lazarus I have been called forth.
Who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy - Your ways are so unlike unto ours, O God, that You truly adopt us as sons, my soul has to praise You, to cast these crowns at Your feet, O King live forever, glory and honor to You forever, bless the Lord, O my soul!
So that your youth is renewed like the eagles - He gives best and most wisely, and the Psalmist must have suffered some ill, but is now restored, able to soar again, finding himself above his issues and looking back a reason to thank the God that allows such. Bless the Lord, O my soul.
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