Studies in the Psalms - Psalm 104

The life of a Christian should be marked by worship and praise to our God. Psalm 104 is a beautiful description of how wonderful our God is.

Psalm 103:1-5

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, who forgives all your iniquity, who heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit, who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy, who satisfies you with good so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.

What does it mean to bless the Lord? It means we delight God by expressing to Him that we love Him and are thankful for the many blessings He has first given us. We must not forget his benefits. He forgives our iniquities, heals our diseases, redeems us from the pit, crowns us with a love that never quits and mercy we do not deserve. Even in old age, as our physical bodies decline, we are renewed spiritually, so that we fly like eagles, but we also know that when we pass from this life to the next, we will have a new body that never ages or gets sick. Even getting old need not be feared.

Psalm 103:6-7
The LORD works righteousness and justice for all who are oppressed.  He made known his ways to Moses, his acts to the people of Israel.

Our only hope for justice is in God. But the truth is; justice for all of us would be punishment for our sins. We deserve hell.

Psalm 103:8-10
The LORD is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.  He will not always chide, nor will he keep his anger forever.  He does not deal with us according to our sins, nor repay us according to our iniquities.

When David wrote this psalm, Jesus had not yet come. But the only way to salvation is through Christ and His sacrifice on the cross. David and the Jews looked forward to the coming Christ for their salvation and it was faith in Christ that saves them as it saves us.

Psalm 103:11-13
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.  As a father shows compassion to his children, so the LORD shows compassion to those who fear him.

Verses 11-13 are a beautiful testimony to who God is. But take careful note of the last statement of this section. The Lord shows compassion to those who fear Him. This is not a universal truth to all people. For those who do not believe God and live in faith in Jesus, these words are not true. His holiness demands payment and justice for sin. But for those who fear Him, these words are gold.

Psalm 103:14
For he knows our frame; he remembers that we are dust.

God knows we are but dust. He knows even the Christian will struggle and fall.

Psalm 103:15-16
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.

Life is short.

Psalm 103:17-18
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.

God’s love is beyond description. But again, note the warning. To those who fear Him; to those who keep remember to do His commandments, they are the recipients of His love. This doesn’t mean we are saved by the keeping of His commandments, it means those who are saved will do so out of love back to God.

Psalm 103:19
The LORD has established his throne in the heavens, and his kingdom rules over all.

God is sovereign. His kingdom rules over all. Not some; all. Grasp that truth and life gets much easier to live by faith.

Psalm 103:20-22
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!

Bless the Lord is the primary command here. Let us make that our life’s mission.