When we are feeling a bit overwhelmed with the things and events that are happening all around us, there are few things that can provide us with comfort and encouragement in the way that the Psalms can. In Psalm 103, David is not talking to other people, like the righteous, sinners, the gentile nations, or other groups. In Psalm 103, David is talking to himself, actually to his spirit and speaking out all the blessings of his relationship with God. James Montgomery Boyce writes, “Roy Clements, the pastor of Eden Baptist Church in Cambridge, England, explains: “He is cataloging the goodness of God; enumerating his blessings, lest, in a moment of depression or backsliding, he should forget the source of his prosperity and take God’s grace for granted.”[1]
“Do you take God’s grace for granted? Others may murmur against God and complain about him. They did in David’s day. Many still do today. David wanted his words to be praise. John Stott wrote of this psalm, “We have here the authentic utterance of a redeemed child of God, who piles up words to express his gratitude to the God of grace.””[2]
“In these verses David is rousing himself to remember God’s benefits, and he does not want to do it superficially. He wants to do it with all his heart, with all his soul, and with all his strength (cf. Deut. 6:5). “[3]
Why don’t you take a couple of minutes and just read and reflect on these verses out loud to yourself, and notice how you feel your spirit being uplifted, as it hears these wonderful words of faith and healing. There is something in this Psalm for every situation that we may find ourselves in, so you will find yourself being drawn to different sections of it as your circumstances change from day to day or even hour to hour.
Psalm 103 (NKJV)
Praise for the Lord’s Mercies
A Psalm of David.
1 Bless the Lord, O my soul;
And all that is within me, bless His holy name!
2 Bless the Lord, O my soul,
And forget not all His benefits:
3 Who forgives all your iniquities,
Who heals all your diseases,
4 Who redeems your life from destruction,
Who crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies,
5 Who satisfies your mouth with good things,
So that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.
6 The Lord executes righteousness
And justice for all who are oppressed.
7 He made known His ways to Moses,
His acts to the children of Israel.
8 The Lord is merciful and gracious,
Slow to anger, and abounding in mercy.
9 He will not always strive with us,
Nor will He keep His anger forever.
10 He has not dealt with us according to our sins,
Nor punished us according to our iniquities.
11 For as the heavens are high above the earth,
So great is His mercy toward those who fear Him;
12 As far as the east is from the west,
So far has He removed our transgressions from us.
13 As a father pities his children,
So the Lord pities those who fear Him.
14 For He knows our frame;
He remembers that we are dust.
15 As for man, his days are like grass;
As a flower of the field, so he flourishes.
16 For the wind passes over it, and it is gone,
And its place remembers it no more.
17 But the mercy of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting
On those who fear Him,
And His righteousness to children’s children,
18 To such as keep His covenant,
And to those who remember His commandments to do them.
19 The Lord has established His throne in heaven,
And His kingdom rules over all.
20 Bless the Lord, you His angels,
Who excel in strength, who do His word,
Heeding the voice of His word.
21 Bless the Lord, all you His hosts,
You ministers of His, who do His pleasure.
22 Bless the Lord, all His works,
In all places of His dominion.
Bless the Lord, O my soul!
The Last Word from Bob Gass
Listen to these words: “Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; Who healeth all thy diseases; Who redeemeth thy life from destruction; Who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies; Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things” (Psalms 103:2–5).
Look what you brought to the table; iniquity, disease, and destruction! Now look what He brought; healing, for all your diseases. The Bible says, “He healed them all” (Matthew 8:7). Rejoice, child of God, what He was, He still is, and what He did, He still does! Forgiveness, for all your iniquities. Love without measure; grace without limit! What an arrangement! Redemption. Deliverance from all your destructive ways and habits. Sometimes He delivers you instantly, other times He does it “day by day!” Lovingkindness and tender mercy; He’s above—watching over you, beneath—upholding you, around—embracing you, and inside—filling the emptiness in your life. Satisfaction that doesn’t depend on what you wear, what you drive, what you have in the bank, or on which side of the tracks you live. (See Psalms 16:11.) He saves! He keeps! He satisfies!
Notice, everything He brings to the table is for your benefit. You don’t have to earn it, and you can’t deserve it!
Now why in the world would you want to focus on what you brought when you can focus on what He brought?[4]
[1] James Montgomery Boice, Psalms 42–106: An Expositional Commentary (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books, 2005), 832.
[2] Ibid.
[3] Ibid, 833.
[4] Bob Gass, A Fresh Word For Today : 365 Insights For Daily Living (Alachua, FL: Bridge-Logos Publishers, 1998), 301–302.