Praise the Lord, O My Soul!
Psalm 103 The book of Psalms is actually a collection of sacred songs, prayers, poems, and processional hymns written by a number of Hebrew authors. Moses, David, Solomon, Asaph, and others contributed psalms under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. In the oldest manuscripts the Hebrew word "tehillim" used to describe this book. This word is translated "praise". The Psalms might best be described as "the Book of Praises". Indeed, you will find praise as an element, many times the overarching theme, of all the Psalms except for 88. Even in Psalm 88, the writer first cries "O Lord, the God who saves me..." which, to me, would seem to be an act of praise.
For God is our Savior in the person and work of Jesus Christ. Our Lord Jesus Christ wants a personal relationship with you. If you repent of your sins and accept Him as Savior and Lord, He will come into your heart and provide for you meaning and purpose in this life. Studying the Psalms will give you a deep appreciation for this "God who saves." Let's see what we find out about our Lord in Psalm 103:
Praise the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits - who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion, who satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's. (Psa. 103:2-5, NIV)
Why does David (who wrote this particular Psalm) praise the Lord? For the many benefits that a personal relationship with the King provides - freedom from the guilt and stench of our sins, healing, redemption from a meaningless existence here on earth, our desires satisfied with good things. This is a God worthy of our praise! He delights in giving good gifts to His children. As someone in our class pointed out, the spouse He has given us is a "crown of love and compassion" as the Psalmist so poignantly wrote. The Proverbs testify that "A wife of noble character is her husband's crown" (Prov. 12:4a, NIV). I thank God for an excellent wife. I'm sure you feel the same way about your spouse too.The Lord is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love...He does not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our iniquities. For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his love for those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us. (Psa. 103:8,10-12, NIV)
Many a skeptic would look in the Old Testament and complain that God is a "bully". I submit that they do not know the God I know. As this Old Testament passage so clearly illustrates, God is abounding love; He is a compassionate God, a gracious God, a patient God (I thank the Lord for this one). God's love and mercy are greater than our sins or His Holy anger because of them. This is indeed a God worthy of our devotion and praise! When you're depressed, you can be picked up by your bootstraps through the knowledge of God's abiding love. When you're tired and cannot go on, you can be carried through the strength of our Lord who made you and knows your frailty and weakness. Remember to praise God for His wonderful character when you are "up" as well as when you are "down". God's character never changes - He is always seeking to draw you near to Him. "Come near to God and He will come near to you" (James 4:8, NIV). God's love is with you who accept Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord.
Praise the Lord, O my soul; all my inmost being, praise his holy name. (103:1, NIV)
Our Creator God loves you and wants you to know Him! If you would like to contact this ministry for further information or questions, please send your e-mail to:
Email: ministryrequest1@WordTruth.Com
Web Site: WordTruth.ComCopyright 1999, Randy Lariscy.
