Monday, November 24, 2014

THE PSALMS – A JOURNEY IN WORSHIP AND FAITH - November 24, 2014 - Day 103 - Psalm 103


One thing I love about the church I attend is that we celebrate Communion every Sunday. When Jesus instituted the supper of communion he said we are to do this in remembrance of Him. Psalm 103 is a beautiful reminder of what Christ did for us at Calvary. Let us praise Him and thank Him as we look at God’s mercy and grace.

Psalm 103:1-2
A Psalm of David. Bless the LORD, O my soul; And all that is within me, bless His holy name! Bless the LORD, O my soul, And forget not all His benefits:

What are the benefits of being in the fold of the Great Shepherd?

Psalm 103:3
Who forgives all your iniquities, Who heals all your diseases,

Through the blood of Christ all our sins are forgiven. All of them, even that one you think is too heinous to be forgiven. It is a lie of Satan to think you cannot be forgiven.

Some will read this and say but God has not healed ALL my diseases. While I could argue that in the end He will, for in eternity you shall receive a new body, but that is not really what this verse is saying. It is the soul that is the subject here. Our souls must bless the Lord for He has healed the diseases of our soul, sin being at the source of what truly causes our pain.

Psalm 103:4-5
Who redeems your life from destruction, Who crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies, Who satisfies your mouth with good things, So that your youth is renewed like the eagle's.

Sometimes we get distracted. That is Satan’s goal; to get us so twisted up we forget what God has done for us and the blessings He has given.

Psalm 103:6-7
The LORD executes righteousness And justice for all who are oppressed. He made known His ways to Moses, His acts to the children of Israel.

The holiness of God is demanding. To be in the presence of God requires righteousness, something alone we do not possess.  

Psalm 103:8-10
The LORD is merciful and gracious, Slow to anger, and abounding in mercy. He will not always strive with us, Nor will He keep His anger forever. He has not dealt with us according to our sins, Nor punished us according to our iniquities.

Imagine if the consequence of sin was immediate. Suppose we were paid for our sin immediately as Romans 6:23 declares, “For the wages of sin is death”. But God didn’t not stop there He adds this to that verse, “but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

Psalm 103:11-12
For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west, so far does he remove our transgressions from us.

If you travel north eventually you will end up going south. But if you travel east you will never stop going east. God’s forgiveness never ends and He doesn’t just forgive, He forgets our sins.

Psalm 103:13-14
As a father shows compassion to his children, so the LORD shows compassion to those who fear him. For he knows our frame; he remembers that we are dust.

We will mess up. Jesus came down to earth and faced the same temptations we do. He understands we are not perfect and that we are going to mess up. He made us. He knows us and He knows our nature.

Psalm 103:15-18
As for man, his days are like grass; he flourishes like a flower of the field; for the wind passes over it, and it is gone, and its place knows it no more. But the steadfast love of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear him, and his righteousness to children's children, to those who keep his covenant and remember to do his commandments.

In this life we soon learn things don’t last forever. Often we learn that as children when our first pet dies and we are heartbroken. We struggle to understand the eternal nature of God thus we often struggle to understand the everlasting love He has for us. God’s love has no end to those who accept Christ and what He did on the cross.

Psalm 103:19-22
The LORD has established his throne in the heavens, and his kingdom rules over all. Bless the LORD, O you his angels, you mighty ones who do his word, obeying the voice of his word! Bless the LORD, all his hosts, his ministers, who do his will! Bless the LORD, all his works, in all places of his dominion. Bless the LORD, O my soul!

Psalm 103 ends as it begins. Bless the Lord, O my soul. Take time each day to walk with God. Don’t leave Church on Sunday mornings and then forget what Jesus told you to remember. Psalm 103 is a great reminder of how God has blessed us. Sing this psalm to God and let your soul bring blessings to our God in heaven.
Amen

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