THOUGHTS FROM PSALMS 103

INTRODUCTION:
1. About this Psalm.
2. A Hymn of David who created and likely directed the great choirs of Israel. .
3. Gratitude to the God of grace and mercy shines through in every line of this Hymn!
4. “Bless the LORD, O my soul; And all that is within me, bless His holy name”!
a) Mark 12:30 Jesus paraphrased Deuteronomy 10:12; 30:6
b) Love God with all your heart, soul mind and strength!
I. PERSONAL BENEFITS THAT RESULT FROM BELONGING TO GOD:
A. Bless the LORD, O my soul, And forget not all His benefits:
1) Who forgives all your iniquities (Col 1:13-14).
2) Who heals all your diseases (James 5:15) “And the prayer of faith will save the sick, and
the Lord will raise him up”.
3) Who redeems your life from destruction (1 Peter 1:18 “knowing that you were not
redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received
by tradition from your fathers”)
4) Who crowns you with loving kindness and tender mercies. (Eph 2:4-6 But God, who is
rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, 5 even when we were
dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved),
5) Who satisfies your mouth with good things (James 1:17),
6) So that your youth is renewed like the eagle's (Isa 40:31 “But those who wait on the
LORD; Shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings like eagles,They shall
run and not be weary, They shall walk and not faint”).
B. Wayward Family; Gentle Father: Even in the face of ingratitude!
1) The LORD executes righteousness and justice for all who are oppressed.
2) He made known His ways to Moses, His acts to the children of Israel.
3) The LORD is merciful and gracious, Slow to anger, and abounding in mercy.
4) He will not always strive with us, Nor will He keep His anger forever.
5) He has not dealt with us according to our sins, Nor punished us according to our iniquities.
6) For as the heavens are high above the earth, So great is His mercy toward those who fear
Him;
7) As far as the east is from the west, So far has He removed our transgressions from us.
a. His mercy and grace is far-reaching.
b. As far as from horizon to horizon.
8) As a father pities his children, So the LORD pities those who fear Him.
a. Yet as close as a Father.
b. God is so big and far-reaching we sometimes fail to think of Him as a Father.

9) For He knows our frame; He remembers that we are dust.
a. No one knows us as well as God!
b. He has not forgotten that we are dust, frail sinful humans!

C. Fading Life, Eternal Love:
1) As for man, his days are like grass; As a flower of the field, so he flourishes.
2) For the wind passes over it, and it is gone, And its place remembers it no more.
3) But the mercy of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting On those who fear Him
(Proverbs 1:7 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge”)
4) And His righteousness to children's children, To such as keep His covenant,
(Matthew 7:21-23).
5) And to those who remember His commandments to do them (John 14;15; 15:14).
II. PRAISE FROM ALL CREATION:
A. The LORD has established His throne in heaven, And His kingdom rules over all.
B. Bless the LORD, you His angels, Who excel in strength, who do His word, Heeding the
voice of His word.
C. Bless the LORD, all you His hosts, You ministers (servants) of His, who do His pleasure.
D. Bless the LORD, all His works, in all places of His dominion.
E. Bless the LORD, O my soul!