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BLESS THE LORD
BY PASTOR MARK TAYLOR
“Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless His Holy Name.”
Psalm 103: 1
We bless God by speaking well of Him, by calling attention to all the things God has done to enrich our lives. The word “Bless” often carries the synonym of being happy. David is telling himself to make God happy by thanking Him for His blessings and not forgetting the things He has done for him. I could imagine when our Heavenly Father looks down on Earth and sees all the crime, corruption, moral depravity, and other sins it makes Him unhappy. It certainly did in the days of Noah. “Then the Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. And the Lord regretted that He had made man on the earth, and it grieved Him at His heart.” Genesis 6:5-6
David had to remind his heart and mind (soul) that God had been really good to him and that He needed to give thanks to Him. We see that the opposite of praising God is forgetting God’s benefits, overlooking all the great things God has done to enrich our lives. Instead of neglecting God’s blessings, the psalmist stirs himself to remember, to praise God, to bless God. He wanted to be a person on Earth that could let God know He was loved and appreciated. He wanted to “Bless” God.
In our busy schedules, we often forget to “Bless The Lord”. We forget that He appreciates being loved. This would make Him happy just as a parent would be happy at receiving thanksgiving from their children. David tells us that we can “Bless The Lord” by not forgetting all His blessings on our lives. Psalms 103-2-5 gives us a list of things we should thank and “bless” Him for:
“Who forgives all your sins....” (v.3a). What a wonderful benefit to “Bless The Lord” for. Even though others may not forgive you or forget your poor life choices, God is merciful to us. “For as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is His mercy toward them that respect and love Him. As far as the east is from the west, he has removed our sins from us. Like a father has pity on his children, so the Lord pities them that fear Him.” (Psalm 103: 11-13). How about a big “thank you Lord” for continuing to forgive my sins.
“Who heals all my diseases...” (v. 3b). All healing is divine healing and all recovery from sickness, injury and surgery is the result of the healing properties that God has built into our bodies. Medicine, surgery and therapy are merely extensions of God’s healing ministry.
This verse doesn’t say that God heals everyone’s diseases, but that He heals all diseases. There is no disease or sickness that lies beyond His healing power—not even what we call “incurable.” He is the Great Physician.
“Who redeems your life from destruction..” (v. 4a). The Lord not only saves our souls from hell, but He also redeems our lives from the clutches of the devil. Satan is bent on damning our souls and destroying our lives. Many of us have been rescued from death’s door and life-threatening circumstances. “Satan comes for no other reason, but to steal, and to kill, and to destroy you: I am come that you may have life, and that you may have it more abundantly.” (John 10:10 edited). Can we say “Bless The Lord” for protecting me and my children, and grandchildren from that accident, that storm, that home invasion, being at the wrong place at the wrong time, that financial disaster, and so many other situations that could have happened, but did not because of the mercy and grace of our Heavenly Father.
“Who crowns you with lovingkindness, and tender mercies..” (v. 4b) This is God’s favor on your life. He is saying to you, that He is going to listen to your prayers and answer them and help you when you get into difficult situations. Every time you look in the mirror, visualize a crown on your head that says “God loves me.” By now your soul should really be shouting “BLESS THE LORD!!”.
“Who satisfies your mouth with good things; so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.” (v. 5). God is concerned with giving you your basic needs and then more. He wants you to be satisfied with the many good things you have now and the things He has planned for you in the future. “Eye has not seen, nor ears heard, neither has it entered into the heart of man, the things which God has prepared for them that love Him.” (I Corinthians 2:9). Your youth shall be restored to you when you arrive in Heaven and you get your glorified body. The last time the disciples saw Jesus, He was a young man about 33 years old. “Beloved, now are we the children of God, and we cannot see what we shall be: but we know that, when He shall appear, we shall be like Him; for we shall see Him as He is. (I John 3:2). “Bless the Lord, O My Soul” for your new resurrected body.
Your soul is your true person, it is your spirit and your mind. I would encourage us all to memorize Psalm 103: 1-5 and say it to ourselves as a prayer. The entire chapter should be read often to remind of us how much God loves us and cares for us. These verses can lead you into a worshipful time with your Heavenly Father, and He will be blessed and so will you.
“BLESS THE LORD, O MY SOUL,
AND ALL THAT IS WITHIN ME
BLESS HIS HOLY NAME”
