Don’t Ever Forget
Psalm 103:1-22
A. A Profile of Personal Praise (vs. 1, 2a)
PERSONAL “Bless the Lord, oh my soul” Worship is first and foremost an individual response to God. No one can praise God for you.
David also teaches us that our praise should be FERVENT - “and all that is within me.” Meaningful praise doesn’t just come from our lips but from our lives - not from our minds but from our hearts.
“Worship is responding to all God is with all we are.”
-Ray Ortlund
Third, our praise should be FOCUSED on God. “Bless the Lord…Bless His Holy Name.” Worship is about God, not us. It’s not about getting something from God but giving something to God. If we forget that, worship becomes nothing more than another activity for selfish gratification.
Fourth, our praise should be INTENTIONAL - “Bless the Lord, oh my soul and forget not all of his benefits…” Worship should be conscious and deliberate. It involves remembering and rehearsing the benefits of our relationship with God.
The Word “Benefits” comes from the Hebrew word that could be translated treatments or dealings.
B. Some Primary Motivations for Praise (vs. 3-18)
- First, for God’s Benefits (vs. 3-5) “who continually FORGIVES all of your iniquities (sins)” The word is actually PARDONS. When a prison is pardoned, his punishment is adverted and he is allowed to go free. This is different from being paroled. When a prisoner is paroled, he is still on probation. When God pardoned us, we are not on probation. We are forgiven and free.
”Who continually HEALS all of your diseases.” -He is the Great Physician.
”Who continually REDEEMS your life from the pit.” - Redeem means to buy back. By purchase and power the Lord redeems us from the spiritual death into which we had fallen.
”Who continually CROWNS you with steadfast love and mercy.” In addition to cleansing, healing and redeeming, God continues to crown us with loving-kindness and compassion.
”Who continually SATISFIES you with good.” - The Lord bestows really good things - not everything but good things.
Taking God and His blessings for granted is one of the most dangerous traps we can fall into. An ungrateful heart robs us of joy, strength, perspective, vision, and contentment.
- God’s Character (vs. 6-19)
When we look back and remember all God has been and is to us and what he has done, is doing and will do for us, then grateful praise becomes a natural response.
Psalm 103 is David’s Song of Praise
C. A Prescription for Corporate Praise (vs. 19-22)
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!*
Psalm 103:19-22