Psalm 103: Blessing the LORD
When I post some of my Bible studies, I hope that you will take the time to read the Word and spend time alone with God. I go into depth at my church into these lessons. I can’t go into depth here but if you have questions, please write me at [email protected].
The next four Psalms are alike, they center on praise and blessing. Compare Ps.103:1, 104:1, 105:1, and 106:1? What do you observe? All praise and blessing is dependent on how big God’s work and ways impact the worshipper. Here is an outline explaining this truth:
• 1-5: Praise for God’s Work
• 6-10: Praise for God’s Ways
• 11-18: Praise for God’s Warm-Heartedness
• 19-22: Praise for God’s Word
David demonstrates for us how we should approach the Lord. Read vss.1-5 and note that David praises God for five things. God is personal; He is in relationship with His children because He loves His children. David begins his praise with God ‘who pardons all your iniquities.’ In Leviticus this word for pardon is translated ‘forgiveness’ because as a believer did sacrifices God fulfilled His word to forgive. Is.55:7 says, “Let the wicked forsake his way, And the unrighteous man his thoughts; And let him return to the LORD, And He will have compassion on him, And to our God, For He will abundantly pardon.” David also mentions God healing, redeeming, crowning, and satisfying us as His children. Lovingkindness is mentioned four times in the passage (vss.4, 8, 11, and 17)
In vss.6-10 God focuses on His ways. It is very important for us to read the Torah, the first five books of the Bible. The reason is given to us in vs.7 “He made known His ways to Moses, His acts to the sons of Israel.” If you want to know what God is like, we need to not neglect the Old Testament. It is very hard for Christians in our day to read the Old Testament because there are some gaps between us and the text. Some of the gaps are historical, cultural, and the type of language used. All of these can be overcome. Most Christians only read the New Testament and have an unclear view of God because of it. Jesus knew and read from the OT all of the time. What does God focus on in vs.6-10? Does God get angry? When did He get angry? What promises does He give? It is clear in the scriptures that God gets angry, remember the flood, Sodom and Gomorrah, and the Exodus? It is important to work these things out because God is bringing days of vengeance on the earth in the near future.
In vss.11-18 God shows how warm hearted He is! A key verse is vs.12, “As far as the east is from the west, So far has He removed our transgressions from us.” When God forgives, He does not remember or bring it up again. God forgives and has great compassion on His children. From Abraham we have received a great covenant in which God forgives us His children. Each subsequent covenant has shown us the great forgiveness and love of God. It is topped off by the New Covenant and the payment for our sins in Jesus. As humans, we are frail and finite, but God’s lovingkindness is everlasting!
In vss.19-22 God shows us how important His Word is! The key verse for the whole Psalm is vs.19, “The LORD has established His throne in the heavens, And His sovereignty rules over all.” What is foundational to all doctrine and belief is the sovereignty of God over all things. The Word of God is about the works and ways of God. You cannot escape God’s sovereignty either in life or in the scriptures. God rules over all things and that includes the invisible world. In the invisible world are angels and God brings up His rule over the angels in this passage. They are mighty, they perform His Word! What angels do better than humans is obey His Word. Have you blesses the Lord over His angels today? He ends the Psalm with a strange phrase, ‘all you works of His in all places of His dominion.’ In other words, where in all of the creation has God not worked or reigned? When we bless the Lord in all of these things, we can be sure that the Lord is still in control and He still loves us!
