Ps103:1-7 Bless the LORD, O My Soul

# Bless the LORD, O My Soul
## Psalm 103:1-7
[Alberto Restifo](https://unsplash.com/photos/Ni4NgA64TFQ "caption")

>>>
+ don't always **feel** like worshipping God
+ sometimes bc sooo **busy**, to-do list
  + sometimes bc **tired** or even **depr**
+ does it make a **difference** to worship God?
+ does it really help **me**,
  + or **others** who are hurting?

---

# Why is **worship** worth it?

>>>
+ Worship is: **orienting** our hearts to face God
+ Focusing on **who** God is: **worthiness**, glory, grace
+ Reminding **self** of God's power + love
  + encouraging fellow **believers** stand firm in faith
  + bearing witness to **world**
+ The more we remember **truth** of who God is,
  + the more we are **transformed** into 
  + the **image** of God, from **glory** to glory.
+ Worship is **beholding** the Lamb

******
[1](# "ref")
Bless the Lord, O my soul, 
and all that is within me, bless his holy name!

[2](# "ref")
Bless the Lord, O my soul, 
and forget not all his benefits,

[Psalm 103:1-7 (ESV) (p.1/4)](# "ref")

******

[3](# "ref")
who forgives all your iniquity, 
who heals all your diseases,

[4](# "ref")
who redeems your life from the pit, 
who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy,

[Psalm 103:1-7 (ESV) (p.2/4)](# "ref")

******

[5](# "ref")
who satisfies you with good 
so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's.

[Psalm 103:1-7 (ESV) (p.3/4)](# "ref")

******
[6](# "ref")
The Lord works righteousness 
and justice for all who are oppressed.

[7](# "ref")
He made known his ways to Moses, 
his acts to the people of Israel.

[Psalm 103:1-7 (ESV) (p.4/4)](# "ref")

---

## Ps 103 Overview
1. God's **Conduct** with Us [(v1-7)](# "ref")
1. God's **Compassion** toward Us [(v8-14)](# "ref")
1. God's **Constancy** in Love and Might [(v15-22)](# "ref")

[Montreal, CA. Marc-Olivier Jodoin](https://unsplash.com/photos/TStNU7H4UEE "caption")

>>>
+ **[ PRAYER ]**
  + we are **hurting** + broken,
  + **weak** + easily **distracted** by world
  + not enough **strength** to lead **holy** lives
  + But **You**, O Lord, You never **change**
  + Your **conduct** toward us full of **compassion**
  + As we gaze into Your **Scriptures**
  + **unveil** our hearts and
  + **transform** us with Your Spirit
______
+ Ps103 has 3 **sections**:
+ focus today on 1st: v1-7

---

**Bless** the Lord, O my soul, 
and all that is **within me**, 
bless his holy name!

[Psalm 103:1 (ESV)](# "ref")
[Palm Springs, CA. Edwards Cisneros](https://unsplash.com/photos/jfU3_67YiwQ "caption")

>>>
+ **imperative** we give to our own soul
  + even when we don't **feel** like it
+ **Bless**: declare how **good** God is
+ Not just a perfunctory **ritual**:
  + saying **grace** before meal
+ Not just **reading** a chapter of Bible
  + **watching** hour of church videos a week
+ Tell my whole **being** to bless the Lord!
+ How? By having a good **memory**:

---

Bless the Lord, O my soul, 
and **forget** not all his **benefits**,

[Psalm 103:2 (ESV)](# "ref")
[Claudio Testa](https://unsplash.com/photos/FrlCwXwbwkk "caption")

>>>
+ benefits: not about God's **utility** to us
  + focus on **God**, not our **needs** / comfort
+ benefits: full **dealings**, totality of actions. Wean
  + can be **positive** or **negative**
+ **Actions** toward and **interactions** with us:
  + How has God **intervened** in our lives?
  + How has God **treated** us?
+ Today's passage summarises
  + 4 areas of God's **conduct** toward us
+ God is not **distant**, or blind, or uncaring
  + instead, He

---

## Bless the LORD [(Ps103)](# "ref")
1. **Heals** Us in Body and Soul [(v3)](# "ref")
1. **Lifts** Us from Pit to Glory [(v4)](# "ref")
1. **Supplies** Us with Strength and Satisfaction [(v5)](# "ref")
1. **Rescues** and Advocates for Us [(v6-7)](# "ref")

>>>
+ in each area, let us refresh our **memories**
+ Each of us has a **testimony** to share
  + of God's direct **intervention** in our lives
  + despite our often **fickle** faith in Him

---

who **forgives** all your iniquity, 
who **heals** all your diseases,

[Psalm 103:3 (ESV)](# "ref")
["Christ Healing the Mother of Simon Peter’s Wife" John Bridges, 1839](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File%3AChrist_Healing_the_Mother_of_Simon_Peter%E2%80%99s_Wife_by_John_Bridges.jpg "caption")

>>>
+ Throughout Scripture, strong **connection**
  + between **forgiveness** + physical **healing**
+ E.g., **paralytic** lowered through roof 
  + for Jesus to heal:

---

Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, 
‘Your sins are **forgiven**’;

or to say, 
‘**Get up**, and pick up your pallet and **walk**’?

[Mark 2:9 (ESV)](# "ref")
[Nikolay Svishchev-Paola, "Beggar with a Lyra", 1900](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Beggar_with_a_Lyra,_by_Svishchev-Paola_1900s.jpg "caption")

>>>
+ next vs: **heal** ⇒ show **auth** to forgive
+ **Creator** has auth over our bodies: **kill** + **heal**
  + so has auth over our **souls**:
  + to **judge** + show **mercy** / forgive
+ Not that **illness** is God's **punish** for indiv sin --
  + not nearly **enough** to pay 
  + for our **rebellion** against God!
+ illness, cancer, COVID: from **broken** world
  + Broken bc mankind refused to **follow** Creator
+ Again in **James**:

---

And the prayer of **faith** 
will **save** the one who is sick, 
and the Lord will **raise** him up. 
And if he has committed **sins**, 
he will be **forgiven**.

[James 5:15 (ESV)](# "ref")
[Dozen](https://unsplash.com/photos/8wUVsR-w994 "caption")

>>>
+ Each is 1 **integral** being: body, mind, heart, soul
  + Christ's **healing** is for the whole person
+ When **soul** ill, med. need most is **forgiveness**
+ Keenly **aware** I've said + done **terrible** things
  + often **replay** like video in mind
  + in moments when I least **expect** it
+ Try to **cope** by (1) **comparing** w/others:
  + "**Others** have committed worse sins"
+ Or (2) **anger** at God: "You **ask** too much of me!"
+ But the **healing** I need is to hear God say:
  + "Yes, your sin was **inexcusable**"
  + "But it's been **paid** for on the cross"
  + "You are **forgiven**"

---

# How has God **healed** us, body and soul?

>>>
+ Doctors take a patient's **medical history**:
  + **past** illnesses impact 
  + **future** diagnosis + treatment
+ What's the history of your **heart**?
  + trauma, disappointment, resentment, addiction
+ How is Christ **healing** you?
  + (perhaps still in **progress**)

---

## Bless the LORD [(Ps103)](# "ref")
1. Heals Us in Body and Soul [(v3)](# "ref")
1. **Lifts Us from Pit to Glory** [(v4)](# "ref")
1. Supplies Us with Strength and Satisfaction [(v5)](# "ref")
1. Rescues and Advocates for Us [(v6-7)](# "ref")

>>>
+ Jesus is the Great **Physician**
  + heals our illnesses and offers us **forgiveness**
+ He's also our **pride** and **glory**:

---

who **redeems** your life from the **pit**

[Psalm 103:4a (ESV)](# "ref")
[Iswanto Arif](https://unsplash.com/photos/KXtMGheovdw "caption")

>>>
+ pit: depth, **despair**, trapped, surrounded
  + even used to refer to **death** / the grave
+ Finality: no more **fight** left in you, no **options**
+ OT **prophets** familar w/this feeling:
  + **Jeremiah** spoke God's Word to people of **Jeru**
  + not to **rebel** against God's discipline
+ They called Jeremiah a **traitor** and
  + left him to **die** in a deep well:

---

And there was no water in the **cistern**, 
but only mud, and Jeremiah **sank** in the mud.

[Jeremiah 38:6b (ESV)](# "ref")
[Hagars Well in the Desert of Beersheba. Archibald Forder, 1863](https://www.flickr.com/photos/internetarchivebookimages/14767208571 "caption")

>>>
+ But God the **Redeemer** had a **plan**
  + not only to **rescue** Jer from pit
+ But reveal God's own **glory** 
  + bestow on Jer dignity + **courage** in trust of God
+ Proclaim **boldly** to King Zedekiah that if he
  + refused to **surrender** to Babylon
  + and God's **chastisement**, that his

---

Your trusted friends have **deceived** you 
and prevailed against you; 
now that your feet are **sunk** in the mud, 
they turn away from you.

[Jeremiah 38:22 (ESV)](# "ref")
[Piha Beach, NZ. Tim Marshall](https://unsplash.com/photos/Wa-gS5R58gA "caption")

>>>
+ and God **turned** the snares of Jer's enemies
  + **back** on themselves

---

who **crowns** you with **steadfast love** and mercy

[Psalm 103:4b (ESV)](# "ref")
[Gdynia, Poland](https://unsplash.com/photos/urfVdTSFKfo "caption")

>>>
+ steadfast love: God's unbreak covenant **promise**
  + rooted not in **performance** / worthiness
  + but in **who** He is
+ crown: **surround**, protect:
  + When we look all around us, in every direction
+ it's not **hopelessness** or fear we see
  + It's God's **covenant** of love toward us
+ Ps3:

---

But you, O Lord, are a **shield** about me, 
my **glory**, and the **lifter** of my head.

[Psalm 3:3 (ESV)](# "ref")
[Paul Morris](https://unsplash.com/photos/1Z2niiBPg5A "caption")

>>>
+ When I feel **beat down**, disgraced, ashamed
  + don't need to **defend** own pride
+ **glory** not from **asserting** my credentials
  + **proving** how capable or hard-working I am
+ my glory is the **Lord**: and my **shield**,
  + and the One who **lifts** my head up with dignity
+ **Honour** is not something **earned** for myself,
  + it is **imparted** to me by my Creator

---

# When have I been in the **pit**? 
# How has God **lifted** me?

---

## Bless the LORD [(Ps103)](# "ref")
1. Heals Us in Body and Soul [(v3)](# "ref")
1. Lifts Us from Pit to Glory [(v4)](# "ref")
1. **Supplies Us with** **Strength and Satisfaction** [(v5)](# "ref")
1. Rescues and Advocates for Us [(v6-7)](# "ref")

>>>
+ Jesus **forgives** + heals us
+ **Surrounds** us w/His **covenant** love
+ **Supplies** us abundantly w/more than we need:

---

who **satisfies** you with **good**

[Psalm 103:5a (ESV)](# "ref")
[Banff, AB. Kalen Emsley](https://unsplash.com/photos/UqyHjOgYxYY "caption")

>>>
+ satisfy: eat til full, enough: **adorns**
  + not that God's goal is to make us **happy**
+ e.g., **I** might not feel satisfied until I
  + finish **degree**, more **stable** in career,
  + get **married**, have **children**, etc.
+ God doesn't promise to satisfy all we **long** for
+ but the **gifts** He gives us are **good**:
  + reflect His goodness + unchanging **love**
+ If I have **Jesus**,
  + though I **lose** all else in this life,
+ I have **enough**: content, don't need more: **satisfied**

---

Every **good gift** and every **perfect gift** 
is from above,

[James 1:17 (ESV) (p.1/2)](# "ref")
[Avenue of the Giants, CA. John Towner](https://unsplash.com/photos/3Kv48NS4WUU "caption")

---

coming down from the **Father of lights**,

with whom there is no **variation** 
or shadow due to **change**.

[James 1:17 (ESV) (p.2/2)](# "ref")

>>>
+ does not **tempt** us to sin
  + does not **delight** in watching us **suffer**
+ good **Father**, with unchanging **love**
+ He **equips** us with everything we need 
  + to **do** His will

---

so that your **youth** is renewed 
like the **eagle**'s.

[Psalm 103:5b (ESV)](# "ref")
[Woodbine, NJ. Ray Hennessy](https://unsplash.com/photos/OjE4RtaibFc "caption")

>>>
+ eagle: noted for **power**, speed, soaring height
  + can soar for **hours** w/o flapping wings
  + by staying **close** to the air currents / thermals
+ e.g., patience w/family often **shallow**:
  + when wife going thru **hard time**
+ Want to be **good hubby**: listen, comfort, gentle
  + seems to **work**, but she's still **struggling**
+ Patience **runs out**: "did **my part**"
+ Best of **intentions** to help, but made things **worse**
+ **Deep** patience comes from staying **close** to Jesus
  + not trying harder to **gen** more patience
  + but continually being **resupplied** by God
+ **Resting** in His goodness + provid: content, satis

---

# What **good** and perfect **gifts** has God given to me?

>>>
+ Am I staying **close** to the Source of Life
  + to be continually **resupplied** by HS
  + to be **empowered** to be a blessing to others?

---

## Bless the LORD [(Ps103)](# "ref")
1. Heals Us in Body and Soul [(v3)](# "ref")
1. Lifts Us from Pit to Glory [(v4)](# "ref")
1. Supplies Us with Strength and Satisfaction [(v5)](# "ref")
1. **Rescues and Advocates for Us** [(v6-7)](# "ref")

>>>
+ Christ's **conduct** toward us

---

The Lord works **righteousness** 
and **justice** for all who are **oppressed**.

[Psalm 103:6 (ESV)](# "ref")
[Bad Pyrmont, Germany.  Sebastian Unrau](https://unsplash.com/photos/sp-p7uuT0tw "caption")

>>>
+ oppressed: suffer **violence**, abuse of power
  + could be **ourselves**, or **others** around us
+ God is not **passive**: 
  + just good **intentions**, **wishful** thinking
+ He **works**: action, perform
+ God has **seen** the injustice, 
  + has **heard** cries of poor --
+ and already **started** His plan of action!

---

And will not God give **justice** to his elect, 
who **cry** to him day and night? 
Will he **delay** long over them?

[Luke 18:7 (ESV)](# "ref")
[R. Dr. Manoel Miranda, Brazil. Samuel Martins](https://unsplash.com/photos/3U7HcqkIbb4 "caption")

>>>
+ **God** is the one who brings about justice, but
  + He chooses to involve **us** in His plan
+ To speak up on behalf of the **poor** + oppressed
  + to seek His **righteousness** + justice
+ Justice is not defined by democratic **vote**
  + or by **intensity** of conviction,
  + whoever **shouts** loudest
+ Justice is defined by the **Creator** God
  + And His ways are not **vague** or unknowable, bc

---

He **made known** his ways to Moses, 
his acts to the **people** of Israel.

[Psalm 103:7 (ESV)](# "ref")
[Aaron Burden](https://unsplash.com/photos/1EbsMYrAu-s "caption")

>>>
+ not the **unknown** God
  + but **revealed**: ways and acts
+ **Near** to us, that we may **seek** Him + find

---

# Do I believe God works **justice** for His people?

>>>
+ in our **lives**, in our **communities**
+ even when we don't **see** His **promises** fulfilled
+ sometimes it's bc we have a short **memory**
  + sometimes bc we're not **home** yet
+ **Remind** ourselves that God is **just**
  + He **sees** the oppressed
+ He **knows** us, and has revealed Himself
  + that we may come to **know** Him
+ Worship is to remind **ourselves** of this,
  + to encourage **one another** in the faith,
  + and to bear witness to the **world**

---

[1](# "ref")
Bless the Lord, O my soul, 
and all that is within me, bless his holy name!

[2](# "ref")
Bless the Lord, O my soul, 
and forget not all his benefits,

[Psalm 103:1-7 (ESV) (p.1/4)](# "ref")

---

[3](# "ref")
who forgives all your iniquity, 
who heals all your diseases,

[4](# "ref")
who redeems your life from the pit, 
who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy,

[Psalm 103:1-7 (ESV) (p.2/4)](# "ref")

---

[5](# "ref")
who satisfies you with good 
so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's.

[Psalm 103:1-7 (ESV) (p.3/4)](# "ref")

---

[6](# "ref")
The Lord works righteousness 
and justice for all who are oppressed.

[7](# "ref")
He made known his ways to Moses, 
his acts to the people of Israel.

[Psalm 103:1-7 (ESV) (p.4/4)](# "ref")

>>>
**[ CLOSING PRAYER ]**

---

>>>
+ It is **good** to bless Your Name, O Lord, good 
  + that we **remind** selves of your **conduct** to us
+ that You **forgive** our sins, **heal** our illnesses,
+ **lift** us from pit, **crown** us w/covenant love,
+ **supply** us abundantly with good blessings
  + **resupply** strength to do good to others.
+ You deliver **justice** + vindication 
  + to Your oppressed **sons + daughters**.
+ We have **seen** Your goodness 
  + in our **lives** in this broken world
+ And we will **proclaim** this testimony to all