Bless the LORD

Psalm 103

A psalm of David.

1) Let all that I am praise the Lord; with my whole heart,

I will praise his holy name.

2) Let all that I am praise the Lord;

may I never forget the good things he does for me.

3) He forgives all my sins and heals all my diseases.

4) He redeems me from death and crowns me

with love and tender mercies.

5) He fills my life with good things.

My youth is renewed like the eagle’s!
6) The Lord gives righteousness and justice

to all who are treated unfairly.
7) He revealed his character to Moses and

his deeds to the people of Israel.

8) The Lord is compassionate and merciful,

slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love.

9) He will not constantly accuse us, nor remain angry forever.

10) He does not punish us for all our sins;

he does not deal harshly with us, as we deserve.

11) For his unfailing love toward those who fear him

is as great as the height of the heavens above the earth.

12) He has removed our sins as far from us as the east is from the west.

13) The Lord is like a father to his children,

tender and compassionate to those who fear him.

14) For he knows how weak we are; he remembers we are only dust.

15) Our days on earth are like grass; like wildflowers, we bloom and die.

16) The wind blows, and we are gone—as though we had never been here.

17) But the love of the Lord remains forever with those who fear him.

His salvation extends to the children’s children

18) of those who are faithful to his covenant,

of those who obey his commandments!
19) The Lord has made the heavens his throne;

from there he rules over everything.
20) Praise the Lord, you angels, you mighty ones who carry out his plans,

listening for each of his commands.

21) Yes, praise the Lord, you armies of angels who serve him and do his will!

22) Praise the Lord, everything he has created,

everything in all his kingdom.
Let all that I am praise the Lord.
Psalm 103:1-22, NLT

The word “bless” is a transliteration of the Hebrew word “barak” which means to kneel. Psalm 103:1 could be read this way, “Kneel to Yahweh, O my soul”. Worshipping the LORD involves the bowing down of our hearts, minds, and bodies in reverence to Him.

Spend time today meditating over this Psalm. Read through it several times. Begin committing it to memory. Kneel before Him in spirit and body. Really think with your heart and in your mind through how King David describes the LORD. What are the earthly benefits the LORD bestows on all those who believe in Him? What has the LORD done for the sinner? How great is the LORD’S mercy toward us? How long will the LORD’S mercy last for those who fear Him?

Praise the LORD, Beloved, because He Is.