1. Bless the LORD
(verses 1-2).
2. Don't Forget His Benefits (verses 3-19).
a. Kindness (verses 3-5)
b. Character (verses 6-8)
c. Compassion (verses 9-13)
d. Care (verses 14-19)
3. Bless the
LORD (verses 20-22).
We are in Psalm 103, one of the most loved Psalms. I invite you to turn to Psalm 103. Let's begin by reading our text. (By the way, I'm preaching out of the ESV this morning. It is the version that I have memorized this Psalm. The phraseology is easier for me.)
Psalm 103
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,
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.
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.
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.
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.
For he knows our frame;
he remembers that we are dust.
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.
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!
Let's jump in. My first point comes from verses 1 and
2.
1. Bless the LORD
(verses 1-2).
I'm simply picking up on the three commands given in this verse. Look again at verses 1 and 2. And as I read them, look for the command repeated three times...
Psalm 103:1-2
Bless the LORD, O my soul,
and all that is within me,
bless his holy name!
Bless the LORD, O my soul, ...
Three times the command comes, "Bless the LORD." And this isn't the only place in the Psalm where this command comes. It occurs four times in the last three verses of the Psalm as well. Look down at verses 20, 21, and 22 ...
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!
This is obviously the theme of this Psalm: Bless the LORD. It's the call at the beginning of the Psalm. It's the call at the end of the Psalm. And everything in the middle gives us reason to bless the LORD. God has blessed us. And this gives us my title this morning. He has blessed us, and we should, "Bless the Blesser."
Now, this isn't the only Psalm that is like this. Look over at Psalm 104. We see the same thing. Psalm 104:1, "Bless the LORD, O my soul!" Psalm 104:35, "Bless the LORD, O my soul!" Psalm 105 is a variation on the theme. It begins with a call, "Oh give thanks to the LORD" (verse 1). It ends with the call, "Praise the LORD!" (verse 45). Psalm 106 is similar. It begins, "Praise the LORD!" (verse 1). It ends with "Praise the LORD!" (verse 48).
Now, "Praising the LORD" and "Blessing the LORD" are really the same thing. It's difficult to find any difference in meaning between the two. In fact, look at Psalm 106:48: "Blessed be the LORD, the God of Israel, From everlasting to everlasting! And let all the people say, 'Amen!' Praise the LORD!" Do you see how interchangeably these words are used? The God of Israel is to be blessed! The God of Israel is to be praised!
There are a bunch of other Psalms that do this as well. The last five Psalms in the Psalter (146-15) all begin with "Praise the LORD!" and they all end with "Praise the LORD!" This is the theme of many Psalms. This is the theme of this Psalm: "Bless the LORD."
Now, in verses 1 and 2, we find David talking to himself. He is having this inward dialogue with himself. He says, ...
Psalm 103:1-2
Bless the LORD, O my soul,
and all that is within me,
bless his holy name!
Bless the LORD, O my soul, ...
It's almost as if he's trying to convince himself to praise the LORD. "C'mon soul, praise the LORD!" Perhaps his soul isn't quite in the mood for blessing the LORD. As Derek Kidner said in his excellent commentary on the Psalms, "David was "rousing ... himself to shake off apathy or gloom." [1]
I would suspect that David wrote this in a time when it was difficult to praise the LORD. Perhaps he was on the run, like we saw a few weeks ago in Psalm 3, running from Absalom. Perhaps he's running from Saul. Perhaps he was facing a time of doubt. Circumstances in his life were pulling him toward things of the world, not thinking much of God. Perhaps he was struggling with God's forgiveness of his sins. I say this because there is much in the Psalm that deals with God's grace and His forgiveness toward us. Whatever the reason, we see David, "Using his mind and memory to kindle his emotions." [2]
Somehow, he didn't quite feel like worshiping the LORD, but he knew that it was right. He knew that it was the best thing for him. And so, he pushed himself a bit.
Psalm 103:1-2
Bless the LORD, O my soul,
and all that is within me,
bless his holy name!
Bless the LORD, O my soul, ...
He pushed himself to worship the LORD with all of his being. "All that is within me." Isn't this merely the greatest commandment? When Jesus was asked, "Which commandment is the most important of all?" he said, "The most important is, 'Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. And you shall love the Lord your god with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength'" (Mark 12:28-30). This is what David was calling himself to do. He was calling his entire inner being to worship the LORD.
The application here is clear for us all. First of all, as the greatest commandment, this applies to all of us. We are all called to worship the LORD with every fiber of our being. Anything less is sin.
I don't care if you are a Christian or not. This is God's call upon every single one of us. He has created us for His glory (Isaiah 43:7). He has created us to worship Him. He has created us to bless Him.
And if you are anything like me, then you know clearly how you fall short in following such a high calling. The pull of the flesh and the world is great in our lives. The invisible is not always evident before us. But, you know what's true. And you know that you believe. You just don't always feel it. You don't always feel like worshiping the LORD.
If that's you, then David's practice here is good counsel. Talk to yourself. Persuade your feelings to catch up with what you know is right in your mind. Say to yourself, ...
Psalm 103:1-2
Bless the LORD, O my soul,
and all that is within me,
bless his holy name!
Bless the LORD, O my soul, ...
And walk in obedience, watching and waiting for your emotions to catch up with what you know to be right.
Now, I love how Psalm 103 sets before us some great motivations for why we should bless the LORD. Look again at verse 2, ...
Psalm 103:2
Bless the LORD, O my soul,
and forget not all his benefits,
This is the key to blessing the LORD: ...
2. Don't Forget His Benefits (verses 3-19).
How easy it is to forget about the LORD's benefits toward us. It's true of all of life. We get used to our surroundings. You go into a dark room and can't see anything. But after a few moments, your eyes dilate and you can see pretty well inside the room. Then, you go outside, and things are so bright, that you are blinded. But after a few moments, your eyes adjust and you can begin to see clearly.
What happens with our eyes happens with our lives. We get used to what we have, and we forget the good things we already have. We wish that we could have a better job, forgetting the fact that we have a job. We wish that we could have more money, forgetting the fact that the LORD has always provided for us. We wish that we could have a bigger house, forgetting the fact that our home is totally sufficient for us. We wish that we could lose some weight, overlooking the blessing we have on an abundance of food! We wish that we could have a better marriage, forgetting the fact that we have a marriage. We wish that we could have some more friends, forgetting the fact that we have some faithful friends already. We are often no different than our children, who want more toys to play with, forgetting the closet that is full of toys.
There is coveting in our hearts that keeps us unsatisfied with the world around us. What is true in the physical realm is especially true in the spiritual realm. We have so many blessings in Christ that it is easy to forget.
This is the story of the people of God. When Israel was redeemed out of slavery, God performed 10 miraculous plagues. And all of the people saw them and witnessed them. They were freed from slavery!!! And yet, in their early days of wandering in the wilderness, it seems as if they forgot the mighty power of the LORD. Instead, fear gripped them, and they grumbled and complained. "The water is bitter" (Exodus 15). "We have nothing to eat" (Exodus 16). "We have nothing to drink" (Exodus 17). Soon, they were worshiping a golden calf, which they, themselves, had made! (Exodus 32). Why? They had forgotten the benefits of the LORD.
Forty years later, when Israel was to enter the land, Moses warned them not to forget the good things that the LORD had done for them. On several occasions, Moses warned them. I'll give you but two small examples.
Deuteronomy 4:9
Only take care, and keep your soul diligently, lest you forget the things that your eyes have seen, and lest they depart from your heart all the days of your life.
Deuteronomy 6:10-13
And when the Lord your God brings you into the land that he swore to your fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give you—with great and good cities that you did not build, and houses full of all good things that you did not fill, and cisterns that you did not dig, and vineyards and olive trees that you did not plant—and when you eat and are full, then take care lest you forget the Lord, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery. It is the Lord your God you shall fear. Him you shall serve and by his name you shall swear.
And what did Israel do? They forgot the LORD. They forgot His blessings. And this isn't only an Old-Testament phenomenon. It happened to the disciples of Jesus as well. Do you remember the road to Emmaus? The events surrounding the passion week had taken place. Jesus was betrayed and condemned to death. He was crucified upon a Roman cross. But the tomb was empty. And the disciples were bewildered! To these disciples, Jesus said, ...
Luke 24:25-26
O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer these things and enter into his glory."
Jesus had told His disciples on several occasions that these things would take place (see Mark 8:31; 9:31; 10:33-34) . But, they didn't understand. They didn't believe. They didn't remember. And how easy is it for Christians to forget the wonderful things that God has done for our souls.
Why is it that many new Christians are so excited about their new-found faith? Why is it that they will share the gospel they have found with anybody who is living and breathing? Because it is new and wonderful to them. They can't believe that they are forgiven of their sin, simply by looking to Jesus and confessing their sin and believing in Christ. They can't help but to share it with others, because it is so wonderful.
Why is it that many seasoned Christians so rarely ever share the gospel with others? Because their souls have become accustomed to everything that they have in Christ. Hearing of the grace of forgiveness is no longer as thrilling as it once was to them, because they have heard it so much. Streets of gold and gates of pearl aren't so fascinating to them anymore. Now, it's not that they don't believe these things, it's just that the edge is gone.
As the hymn-writer says in "Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing," we are, "Prone to wander, Lord, I feel it. Prone to leave the God I love." I believe that if we really grasped all that the LORD has done for us, our lives would be different!
Isn't that the whole point of Ephesians 1? Paul says, ...
Ephesians 1:3-14
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love he predestined us for adoption as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved.
In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth.
In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will, so that we who were the first to hope in Christ might be to the praise of his glory. In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory.
And then Paul writes, ...
Ephesians 1:16-17
I do not cease to give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers, that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him,
In other words, Paul prays that they would really grasp the treasures of their inheritance in Christ! He prays that all of the blessings that God has given them would be on the forefront of their minds. That they would remember and that they would never forget.
Psalm 103 is the Old Testament version of Ephesians 1. Blessing after blessing after blessing after blessing. Benefit after benefit after benefit after benefit. They come in upon each other like waves upon the seashore. One finishes and the next one comes. Before that one can get out, another one comes in quick upon the heels of the other.
Now, as we work through the heart of Psalm 103, we will move quickly. It's not because these words aren't important. But, I want to flood your soul this morning with the kindnesses of God. I want for you to come out the other side blessing the LORD.
I have four words that highlight the truths of these verses.
a. Kindness (verses 3-5)
b. Character (verses 6-8)
c. Compassion (verses 9-13)
d. Care (verses 14-19)
Let's begin with verses 3-5.
Psalm 103:3-5
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.
These verses speak of God's ...
a. Kindness (verses 3-5) to us.
When we sin and need forgiveness, He is ready to grant it. When we are sick, He is ready to bring the healing. When our lives are a mess, He is ready to bring us out of the muck. When our sins deserve eternal punishment, God is the one who saves us from the terrors of hell. When we walk through this world, God pours out His lavish grace upon us. He is the giver of all good gifts. He grants us contentment with His goodness to us. When we are weak and needing strength, God is ready to give it, that metaphorically, we might fly with eagle's strength!
Such is the kindness of God toward those who believe in Him. They speak of our down times--facing our sin, our sickness, our death, when we need help--and God gives the help in whatever shape or form is required. Our sin needs forgiving. He's the One who forgives. Our bodies need healing. He's the One who heals. Our life needs saving. He's the One who redeems. Our soul needs strength. He's the one who gives it. Behold, the kindness of God!
Please realize this: you aren't going to find forgiveness except in God. You aren't going to find healing, except in God. You aren't going to escape the terrors of hell, except in God. You aren't going to live a satisfied life, except in God.
As Peter said in Acts 4:12, "There is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved." Of course, he's talking about the name of Jesus. His sacrifice upon the cross brought us healing. Both in this life and in the life to come. Isaiah 53:5 says, "He was pierced for our transgressions; He was crushed for our iniquities; Upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, And with his wounds we are healed."
And realize this: God wasn't obligated in any way to do these things. He could have let us go in our sin. But, because of His kindness, He sent Jesus to us. So let us turn from our sins and trust in Him. Remember, it is the kindness of God that leads you to repentance (Romans 2:4). Let's move on from God's kindness in verses 3-5 to God's ...
b. Character (verses 6-8).
Psalm 103:6-8
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.
The LORD is merciful and gracious,
slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.
There is a lot of talk today about justice: social justice for the poor, equal justice for all. God is the one who works and acts justly in all His ways. You never need to fear bringing a case before the LORD, and worry that you will be treated unjustly. Our God is a righteous judge.
Verse 7 brings us back to Moses. The story of the redemption is a great picture of God's righteousness in action. The Israelites were poorly treated. They were subjected to the cruelties of slavery. They cried out to the LORD. And God redeemed them out of their bondage.
In the midst of the Exodus account, there is a great exchange between Moses and God upon Mount Sinai. Moses was on the mountain, pleading for God to be merciful to the people of Israel. And then he prayed, "Now therefore, if I have found favor in your sight, please show me now your ways, that I may know you" (Exodus 33:13). Moses had this desire to know the ways of the LORD. And God answered His request. He said, "This very thing that you have spoken I will do, for you have found favor in my sight, and I know you by name" (Exodus 33:17). To which Moses responded, "Please show me your glory" (Exodus 33:18).
And God said, "I will make all my goodness pass before you and will proclaim before you my name 'The LORD.' And I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will show mercy on whom I will show mercy" (Exodus 33:19). Remember, then, how God hid Moses in the cleft of the rock and let him see His back side? Shortly afterwards, the LORDpassed before Moses and proclaimed, "The LORD, the LORD, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness," (Exodus 34:6).
That scene in Exodus is the seed of David's words here in Psalm 103.
Psalm 103:8
The LORD is merciful and gracious,
slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.
Such is the character of our God. Many people think that the Old Testament reveals God as a God of wrath, while the New Testament reveals God as a God of love. In some ways that's true. God certainly revealed His wrath in the Old Testament. This was surely intentional, as you can't understand the cross until you understand the wrath of God. But, in many ways this statement about the Old Testament revealing God's wrath, while the New Testament reveals God's love is simply not so cut and dry.
Simply look at verse 8. It describes God's character. He is a merciful God. He is a gracious God. He is a patient God. He is a God abounding in faithful love to His people. And this is the Old Testament! One on occasion, Peter spoke of the prophets, how they preached forgiveness through Jesus (Acts 10:43), while at the same time proclaiming that Jesus is coming to judge (Acts 10:42). Furthermore, Paul preached often of the coming judgment upon those who fail to believe (see Acts 13:46; 17:30-31; 2 Thessalonians 1:8-9).
So, don't forget His character. When you fully embrace the LORD, then, you will bless the LORD.
We have seen God's kindness in verses 3-5. His character in verses 6-8. And now, we see His ...
c. Compassion (verses 9-13)
Psalm 103:9-13
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.
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.
Over and over and over again in these verses, you see the same message. God is a compassionate God. David said it well in Psalm 30:5, "His anger is but for a moment, and his favor is for a lifetime."
Yes, God is angry with sin. But, his anger isn't forever (verse 9). In fact, for those who repent of their sin, and call upon the LORD, they know His grace (verse 10). How wonderful it is that God doesn't deal with us according to our sins. How wonderful it is that God doesn't repay us according to our iniquities. Romans 6:23 says that the wages of sin is death. If God dealt with us according to our sins, we would be dead. But, God is merciful and compassionate.
And in verses 11-13, we see three expressions of God's compassion toward us. Each of them involve a comparison. Verse 11 is a comparison of height. Verse 12 is a comparison of breadth. Verse 13 is a comparison of human love.
Psalm 103:11
For as high as the heavens are above the earth,
so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him;
And the heavens are far, far, far above the earth. David knew that the stars were beyond reach. But with our technology today, we know far better how far beyond us they are.
Almost 40 years ago, NASA sent Voyager 1 into the outer reaches of space. It's travelling at 10,000 miles per second. As of last month, it is almost 12,000,000,000 (12 billion) miles from planet earth, just at the outer reaches of our solar system. To put that in perspective, that's about 0.2% of a light year. The nearest star is four light-years away. So, at this rate, the Voyager 1 (if it were aimed this way), would reach the nearest star in about 20,000 years. That's just the nearest star.
To travel across our galaxy would take another 20,000,000,000 (20 billion) years to travel across our galaxy. At which point, it would take another 400,000,000,000 (400 billion) years to reach the next closest galaxy, if it were aimed in that direction. And there are hundreds of billions of galaxies beyond that! That's how long it would take to reach the heavens above the earth, traveling at 10,000 miles per second. God's steadfast love toward us is that great!
God is a compassionate God, far greater than we can know or comprehend!
Verse 12 is a comparison of breadth.
Psalm 103:12
as far as the east is from the west,
so far does he remove our transgressions from us.
The east and the west never come together. The west is one way, and the east is the other way, and never the two will meet. So far has God cast our sin from us. Isaiah 38:17 says that God has thrown our sin behind his back. Micah 7:19 says that God has cast our sin into the depths of the sea. Colossians 2:14 says that they have been nailed to the cross of Christ, fully dealt with and never to be brought up again!
Such is the compassion of God! Forgiven sin is wholly forgiven!
One of the things that devastates relationships (especially marriages), is when parties never forget the wrongs done to one another. Whenever ammunition is needed, there's always a past supply of sin to bring up. But, God is not that way. He is compassionate.
And David wants us to know this. Just like Paul in Ephesians 3:18-19, "[that you] ... may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge." God's compassion to us is really beyond all comprehension. We can get a glimpse if we look at family relationships upon the earth.
Verse 13 teaches of God's compassion by way of a comparative relationship upon the earth.
Psalm 103:13
As a father shows compassion to his children,
so the LORD shows compassion to those who fear him.
Now, we understand this. Parents are fully devoted to their children. Good parents abound in their compassion and care for their children. The story of the prodigal son is a perfect picture of this (told in Luke 15). The son goes away and squanders half of his father's estate. And yet, when the son returns, the father runs after him, embraces him, kisses him, throws a feast for him in celebration of his return, and brings him back into full standing in the family.
That's the perfect earthly father. That's a picture of our heavenly father. He is compassionate toward us!
But, note, to whom this compassion is aimed. It's not toward everyone. It's toward "those who fear him" (verse 11 and verse 13). Do you fear the LORD? Then you will experience his compassion.
Finally, let's look at God's, ...
d. Care (verses 14-19)
Psalm 103:14-19
For he knows our frame;
he remembers that we are dust.
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.
God understands our weaknesses. He understands that we came from dust and will return to dust. The longer you live on the earth, the more clearly you see this. Death overtakes us all. All you need to do is look at the obituaries, and you will see how many pass through this life and onto the next. In this past month, several families here at church experienced the death of loved ones. My sister-in-law's mother passed away a week and a half ago. Last week, I heard about a high-school classmate who died. And God knows that our lives are temporary. But, God's steadfast love toward us is not temporary. It continues and continues and continues on through eternity (verse 17).
But, please note again upon whom this love is set. It is set "on those who fear him" (verse 17). It is set upon "those who keep his covenant" (verse 18). It is set upon those who "remember to do his commandments" (verse 18).
This is talking about those who have placed their faith in Christ and have followed Him in paths of obedience. John told us that "this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments; and His commandments are not burdensome" (1 John 5:3). Followers of Christ will long to obey Him. His ways are pleasant and sweet to them. It's when we are disobedient that our soul is troubled (read Romans 7:14-25).
Is that where you are? Is that where your heart is? The kindness (verses 3-5), the character (verses 6-8), the compassion (verses 9-13), and the care (verses 14-19) of God comes only upon those who have trusted in Him and trusted in His Son, Jesus Christ. Those who trust in Christ will follow His ways, not perfectly, of course, but willingly. God's covenant and commandments will be their delight (verse 18).
So, I call you today to submit your heart to the Lord Jesus Christ. Turn from your sin and trust in the sovereign ruler of the world. As verse 19 says, ...
Psalm 103:19
The LORD has established his throne in the heavens,
and his kingdom rules over all.
And once again, we simply return to, ...
3. Bless the LORD (verses 20-22).
Note the progression. It goes from angels to hosts to all his works (this is mirrored in Psalm 148). That includes you. You are one of, "His works."
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!
This sermon was delivered to Rock Valley Bible Church
on August 3, 2014 by Steve Brandon.
For more information see www.rvbc.cc.
[1] Kidner, Tyndale Old Testament Commentaries, Psalms 73-150, p. 365.