Psalm 103: Ripples of Blessing

​Key Verses
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,
 
Meditation
Encountering God personally will grow a life that glorifies God globally.
 
The imperative, “bless the Lord, oh my soul!” begins and ends today’s reading. Like ripples in still water, the praise circle widens from Israelites who fear God (vv. 6-19) to the cosmic universe created by God (vv. 20-22). The basis for blessing the Lord is the unchanging character of God.
 
God’s steadfast love is the basis for all His benefits (vv. 7-17). God has revealed Himself through covenant relationship, and He is merciful, forgiving, gracious, and giving. God’s love for us removes our sin from us so we can know His compassion and covenant care. God’s steadfast love meets us personally so we can know Him intimately and worship Him corporately, in His family.
 
“The steadfast love is from everlasting to everlasting! ” (v. 17) Who is like our God (Micah 7:18)? No one and no thing, so worshippers respond to encountering Him with everything. Satisfied with His goodness (v. 5) we grow in godliness, obeying the word of God and living for the glory of God (vv. 11, 13, 18).
 
Jesus Christ is the ultimate revelation of the steadfast love of the Lord. Jesus “works righteousness and justice” through His life, death, and resurrection.  Jesus forgives sins, modeling God’s mercy and giving us a window into God’s sovereign grace. Jesus knows us deep in our soul, and He still loves us! This love frees us to bless Jesus with all that is in us, joining the covenant community and all the cosmos in His creation.
 
Today’s Reading
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!
 
Richly Dwelling
-What stands out to you from today’s reading, especially the intimate touch of God’s steadfast love and the infinite chorus we join in blessing His Holy name?
 
-The psalmist is doing more than preaching the gospel to himself. He is summoning song with the steadfast love of God. When have you encountered this love and how does it compel worship from your lips and life?
 
-Jesus is the fullness of God’s love and faithfulness. Take a moment to meditate on how Christ’s love fulfills all of these promises for you. Re-orient your heart with God’s faithfulness in the person and work of Jesus Christ.
 
Key Verses
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,