PRAISE THE LORD

Passage: Psalm 103:1-22

Key verse: 1

NIV

Psalm 103
Of David.

1 Praise the Lord,(A) my soul;(B)
    all my inmost being, praise his holy name.(C)
2 Praise the Lord,(D) my soul,
    and forget not(E) all his benefits—
3 who forgives all your sins(F)
    and heals(G) all your diseases,
4 who redeems your life(H) from the pit
    and crowns you with love and compassion,(I)
5 who satisfies(J) your desires with good things
    so that your youth is renewed(K) like the eagle’s.(L)

6 The Lord works righteousness(M)
    and justice for all the oppressed.(N)

7 He made known(O) his ways(P) to Moses,
    his deeds(Q) to the people of Israel:
8 The Lord is compassionate and gracious,(R)
    slow to anger, abounding in love.
9 He will not always accuse,
    nor will he harbor his anger forever;(S)
10 he does not treat us as our sins deserve(T)
    or repay us according to our iniquities.
11 For as high as the heavens are above the earth,
    so great is his love(U) for those who fear him;(V)
12 as far as the east is from the west,
    so far has he removed our transgressions(W) from us.

13 As a father has compassion(X) on his children,
    so the Lord has compassion on those who fear him;
14 for he knows how we are formed,(Y)
    he remembers that we are dust.(Z)
15 The life of mortals is like grass,(AA)
    they flourish like a flower(AB) of the field;
16 the wind blows(AC) over it and it is gone,
    and its place(AD) 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(AE)—
18 with those who keep his covenant(AF)
    and remember(AG) to obey his precepts.(AH)

19 The Lord has established his throne(AI) in heaven,
    and his kingdom rules(AJ) over all.

20 Praise the Lord,(AK) you his angels,(AL)
    you mighty ones(AM) who do his bidding,(AN)
    who obey his word.
21 Praise the Lord, all his heavenly hosts,(AO)
    you his servants(AP) who do his will.
22 Praise the Lord, all his works(AQ)
    everywhere in his dominion.

Praise the Lord, my soul.(AR)

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Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source: BibleGateway

ESV

Bless the Lord, O My Soul

Of David.

103 (A)Bless the Lord, O my soul,
    and all that is within me,
    bless his holy name!
2 (B)Bless the Lord, O my soul,
    and (C)forget not all his benefits,
3 who (D)forgives all your iniquity,
    who (E)heals all your diseases,
4 who (F)redeems your life from the pit,
    who (G)crowns you with steadfast love and mercy,
5 who (H)satisfies you with good
    so that your youth is renewed like (I)the eagle's.

6 The Lord works (J)righteousness
    and justice for all who are oppressed.
7 He made known his (K)ways to Moses,
    his (L)acts to the people of Israel.
8 The Lord is (M)merciful and gracious,
    slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.
9 (N)He will not always chide,
    nor will he (O)keep his anger forever.
10 He does not deal with us (P)according to our sins,
    nor repay us according to our iniquities.
11 For (Q)as high as the heavens are above the earth,
    so great is his (R)steadfast love toward (S)those who fear him;
12 as far as the east is from the west,
    so far does he (T)remove our transgressions from us.
13 As (U)a father shows compassion to his children,
    so the Lord shows compassion (V)to those who fear him.
14 For he knows our frame;[a]
    he (W)remembers that we are dust.

15 As for man, his days are like (X)grass;
    he flourishes like (Y)a flower of the field;
16 for (Z)the wind passes over it, and (AA)it is gone,
    and (AB)its place knows it no more.
17 But (AC)the steadfast love of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting on (AD)those who fear him,
    and his righteousness to (AE)children's children,
18 to those who (AF)keep his covenant
    and (AG)remember to do his commandments.
19 The Lord has (AH)established his throne in the heavens,
    and his (AI)kingdom rules over all.

20 Bless the Lord, O you (AJ)his angels,
    you (AK)mighty ones who (AL)do his word,
    obeying the voice of his word!
21 Bless the Lord, all his (AM)hosts,
    his (AN)ministers, who do his will!
22 (AO)Bless the Lord, all his works,
    in all places of his dominion.
(AP)Bless the Lord, O my soul!

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Footnotes
  1. Psalm 103:14 Or knows how we are formed
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Source: BibleGateway

“Bless the Lord, O my soul” (1) is a call to wholehearted gratitude. David reminds us not to praise God halfheartedly, but with all that is within us. How can we do so when we don’t feel like it and our hearts are hard? We need to start by remembering how much God has forgiven our sins and lifted us out of the pit we were in. We often forget how Jesus saved us from our wandering life of sin and the trouble we dug ourselves into. We forget how broken and incurable our condition was physically and spiritually. But Jesus heals all our diseases and we could live normal and blessed lives. We could renew our strength and even look younger than we are.

Moreover, his love is high and wide and deep. He graciously removes the stain of our sins as far away as east is from west. As we reflect on his forgiveness, mercy, steadfast love, and countless blessings, our souls are stirred to worship. To bless the Lord with all our soul is to engage our hearts, minds, and affections in wholehearted praise. Remember his goodness and let gratitude overflow in sincere worship to Him.

Prayer: Father, thank you for saving me and sustaining me. Please help me to praise you and give thanks for what you have done.

One Word: Praise the Lord with all my soul