Psalm 103

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 do not forget all his benefits—
3   who forgives all your iniquity,
    who heals all your diseases,
4   who redeems your life from the Pit,
    who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy,
5   who satisfies you with good as long as you live
    so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.
6      The LORD works vindication
    and justice for all who are oppressed.
7   He made known his ways to Moses,
    his acts to the people of Israel.
8   The LORD is merciful and gracious,
    slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.
9   He will not always accuse,
    nor will he keep his anger forever.
10   He does not deal with us according to our sins,
    nor repay us according to our iniquities.
11   For as the heavens are high above the earth,
    so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him;
12   as far as the east is from the west,
    so far he removes our transgressions from us.
13   As a father has compassion for his children,
    so the LORD has compassion for those who fear him.
14   For he knows how we were made;
    he remembers that we are dust.
15      As for mortals, their days are like grass;
    they flourish like a flower of the field;
16   for the wind passes over it, and it is gone,
    and its place knows it no more.
17   But the steadfast love of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting
    on those who fear him,
    and his righteousness to children’s children,
18   to those who keep his covenant
    and remember to do his commandments.
19      The LORD has established his throne in the heavens,
    and his kingdom rules over all.
20   Bless the LORD, O you his angels,
    you mighty ones who do his bidding,
    obedient to his spoken word.
21   Bless the LORD, all his hosts,
    his ministers that do his will.
22   Bless the LORD, all his works,
    in all places of his dominion.
  Bless the LORD, O my soul.

Daily Prayer (based on Psalm 103:1)

Sometimes I need a wake up call, Lord, a jolt to my system, a call that reminds me to bless You. Like the Psalmist, I need to say to myself, "Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless his holy name."

My soul can get wrapped up in itself, its needs and concerns, its hopes and fears. I can turn inward to such an extent that I forget to bless You. Yet when I stop to praise You, I find my rightful place in the universe. Moreover, I find peace and perspective that never comes when my consciousness is bored in upon itself.

Postscript

Generally, the Psalms are addressed to God or to people, presumably those gathered in God's name. Yet Psalm 103 begins with a surprising call to oneself to bless or praise the Lord. There is a time when we need to exhort ourselves to righteousness, when "self-talk" helps us to focus on God and his worship.

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Except for the Scripture text, all material of The Daily Psalm Copyright © 2006 by Mark D. Roberts

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The Scripture text used in The Daily Psalm is from the New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved