They aren’t sitting around griping about how things should be better. They are making it better.”
–Louis L’Amour (Comstock Lode)
“Better is a little with righteousness, than vast revenues without justice.”
“Better is a little with righteousness, than vast revenues without justice.”
–Proverbs 16:8 (NKJV)
—————————————
The distress and woe of Psalm 102 is past and now we are in the praise and wonderful remembrance of God is Psalm 103. Many, if not most, of our troubles, despair, depression, and anxiety come from either a false view of God or an incomplete view of God and that most often comes from a neglect on our part to get to know Him better. We need to praise Him all the time. Our mind and focus should continually turn to Him. “Be not afraid to saying too much in the praises of God; all the danger is of saying too little.” (Matthew Henry)
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. (NKJV)
What is it you most like to do? Don’t just blurt out anything, but think carefully. I recall a story told by a missionary to Brazil. He asked a newly converted native that same question. He expected an answer such as “hunting” or “fishing” or “canoeing,” but was amazed when the man answered, “Being occupied with God.” We hear often today that Christianity isn’t a religion, but a relationship, but is it really? A person has to know God to have a relationship, for God already knows you.
Steven Lawson wrote, and I want you to contemplate this: “Worship is not about keeping up an outward façade of rituals, rules, or religion. It is about an inward reality of a living relationship with God through His Son, Jesus Christ. Worship is the soul’s encounter with the supreme majesty of God and the risen Christ on high. Worship is ex-periencing God in one’s innermost being–all that I am responding to all that He is. This is every believer’s glorious occupation.” Praise the Lord for this opportunity, but to do this we must focus on Him and what He has done for us.
As we saw in Psalm 102 the time of despair, we see now in Psalm 103 the deep healing that comes from the Lord to match the hurt. What a minute, what about verse 3, “who heals all your diseases.” Don’t you know of people that God did not heal? Step back, look at the bigger picture. It is not trite to think of the perfect healing of the Lord. In the realm of glory there is no sickness, all is healing. Notice the repeat in verse 1 and 2–this is important. The Psalmist just came out of the doldrums, the slough of despond and for the sake of emphasis he makes sure that it is known that it is the Lord that did it. In the midst of an emotional tailspin we must not forget all His benefits (Lawson).
God forgives all our sins, in other words, He heals the life-threatening disease that has spread to the soul–the deadly plague of sin and gives abundant life (Lawson). As God was with Moses in the wilderness; a wilderness of confusion and wandering and trials, He made His ways known to Moses. God will do the same for you and for me. To do so, turn your eyes upon Jesus. Develop that relationship and delve deep into the Bible for then, and only then can a true relationship be developed.
“O praise ye the Lord! Thanksgiving and song
To Him be outpoured all ages along;
For love in creation, for heaven restored,
For grace of salvation, O praise ye the Lord!”
–Henry W. Baker
The distress and woe of Psalm 102 is past and now we are in the praise and wonderful remembrance of God is Psalm 103. Many, if not most, of our troubles, despair, depression, and anxiety come from either a false view of God or an incomplete view of God and that most often comes from a neglect on our part to get to know Him better. We need to praise Him all the time. Our mind and focus should continually turn to Him. “Be not afraid to saying too much in the praises of God; all the danger is of saying too little.” (Matthew Henry)
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. (NKJV)
What is it you most like to do? Don’t just blurt out anything, but think carefully. I recall a story told by a missionary to Brazil. He asked a newly converted native that same question. He expected an answer such as “hunting” or “fishing” or “canoeing,” but was amazed when the man answered, “Being occupied with God.” We hear often today that Christianity isn’t a religion, but a relationship, but is it really? A person has to know God to have a relationship, for God already knows you.
Steven Lawson wrote, and I want you to contemplate this: “Worship is not about keeping up an outward façade of rituals, rules, or religion. It is about an inward reality of a living relationship with God through His Son, Jesus Christ. Worship is the soul’s encounter with the supreme majesty of God and the risen Christ on high. Worship is ex-periencing God in one’s innermost being–all that I am responding to all that He is. This is every believer’s glorious occupation.” Praise the Lord for this opportunity, but to do this we must focus on Him and what He has done for us.
As we saw in Psalm 102 the time of despair, we see now in Psalm 103 the deep healing that comes from the Lord to match the hurt. What a minute, what about verse 3, “who heals all your diseases.” Don’t you know of people that God did not heal? Step back, look at the bigger picture. It is not trite to think of the perfect healing of the Lord. In the realm of glory there is no sickness, all is healing. Notice the repeat in verse 1 and 2–this is important. The Psalmist just came out of the doldrums, the slough of despond and for the sake of emphasis he makes sure that it is known that it is the Lord that did it. In the midst of an emotional tailspin we must not forget all His benefits (Lawson).
God forgives all our sins, in other words, He heals the life-threatening disease that has spread to the soul–the deadly plague of sin and gives abundant life (Lawson). As God was with Moses in the wilderness; a wilderness of confusion and wandering and trials, He made His ways known to Moses. God will do the same for you and for me. To do so, turn your eyes upon Jesus. Develop that relationship and delve deep into the Bible for then, and only then can a true relationship be developed.
“O praise ye the Lord! Thanksgiving and song
To Him be outpoured all ages along;
For love in creation, for heaven restored,
For grace of salvation, O praise ye the Lord!”
–Henry W. Baker