Psalms 103

Bless the Lord

The psalmist is meditating on the Lord and finds the only appropriate response is to praise Him. He notes that all that is within him will praise the Lord.

He references his soul blessing the Lord for His goodness. He mentions the benefits of the Lord.

When we stop and meditate on the Lord we will have a similar response. The Lord is good and blessed us with so much. When we pause and reflect on who He is and what He has done for us we cannot help but to praise His holy Name.

Blessings of the Lord

Pardons all iniquities

The Lord forgives us all of our sin. This means that our rebellious spirit and acts of sin are not given the punishment they deserve. Romans 6:23

Romans 6:23 NASB95

For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Sin is punishable by everlasting death, but God has given us his Son so that we do not have to pay the penalty for our sin. We are granted total forgiveness. We are pardoned from all our iniquities.

Heals all disease

God is a great physician. He always heals. It can be on this side of the earth through a miracle or medical help. God can also choose to heal us by taking us home where their is complete healing.

God not only heals the disease of the body, but also the heart and mind. Though the body is where we physically feel the pain of disease, the heart and mind can suffer from disease. The disease of sin can be cured through a relationship with Jesus. Tell story of guy struggling with homosexual temptation but not engaging in the act because he knows it is wrong. God can heal our hearts as well as our bodies from disease.

Redeems your life from the pit

God saves us from the lake of fire. John 3:16

John 3:16 NASB95

“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.

He spares us from the eternal death in the lake of fire.

He redeems us. This means we are in right standing before God.

Crowns with lovingkindness and compassion

The Lord not only forgives us of our sin but gifts us with lovingkindness and compassion. This means that he does not dislike us, but grants unto us kindness by His love. He also extends compassion to those who struggle. He understands the struggle and brings comfort in the midst of the struggle.

2 Corinthians 1:4 NASB95

who comforts us in all our affliction so that we will be able to comfort those who are in any affliction with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.

Satisfies your years with good things

The Lord brings a tremendous amount of good things to a person’s life. Life itself. The creation to enjoy. Salvation from sin. Family and friends. Material possessions. Spouse, children, grandchildren. Work and health. Joy and happiness.

The list is endless of all the good thing the Lord has brought into our lives.

Character of God

The blessings of God flow from the character of God

Performs righteous deeds

The Lord is incapable of sin. He can only engage in righteous deeds. 1 John 1:5

1 John 1:5 NASB95

This is the message we have heard from Him and announce to you, that God is Light, and in Him there is no darkness at all.

It is impossible for God to sin. It goes against His character.

He vindicates the oppressed

The Lord does not turn a blind eye to the oppressed. He is the one who brings them justice. We see this many times when Israel was oppressed. God would deliver them.

God delivers us from oppression.

God makes His ways known

When Moses was frustrated he ask the Lord to show him his way. The Lord was gracious and showed Moses the way. Exodus 33:12-23

Exodus 33:12–23 NASB95

Then Moses said to the Lord, “See, You say to me, ‘Bring up this people!’ But You Yourself have not let me know whom You will send with me. Moreover, You have said, ‘I have known you by name, and you have also found favor in My sight.’ “Now therefore, I pray You, if I have found favor in Your sight, let me know Your ways that I may know You, so that I may find favor in Your sight. Consider too, that this nation is Your people.” And He said, “My presence shall go with you, and I will give you rest.” Then he said to Him, “If Your presence does not go with us, do not lead us up from here. “For how then can it be known that I have found favor in Your sight, I and Your people? Is it not by Your going with us, so that we, I and Your people, may be distinguished from all the other people who are upon the face of the earth?” The Lord said to Moses, “I will also do this thing of which you have spoken; for you have found favor in My sight and I have known you by name.” Then Moses said, “I pray You, show me Your glory!” And He said, “I Myself will make all My goodness pass before you, and will proclaim the name of the Lord before you; and I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will show compassion on whom I will show compassion.” But He said, “You cannot see My face, for no man can see Me and live!” Then the Lord said, “Behold, there is a place by Me, and you shall stand there on the rock; and it will come about, while My glory is passing by, that I will put you in the cleft of the rock and cover you with My hand until I have passed by. “Then I will take My hand away and you shall see My back, but My face shall not be seen.”

The Lord makes His way known to us by revealing Himself to us in His word. It is in the study of God’s word that we discover the Lord.

The Lord is compassionate, graci