Bless the Lord, O my soul

Psalm 103

Before we proceed to the reign of Solomon, we must read two or three of David’s choicest Psalms, regretting that we have not time to read them all in our family worship. We must not however omit to study every one of them in private, for they are all more precious than fine gold. One of the sweetest and most notable is—Psalm 103.

Psalm 103:1

Soul music is the soul of music; when we praise the Lord it should be with every faculty we possess.

Psalm 103:2

Our memories are frail towards good things: let us stir them up while we bless the Lord.

Psalm 103:3-5

The sweet singer threads a few of the choicest pearls of mercy upon the string of memory, and casts them around the neck of gratitude, to glitter there while she sings the joyful praises of her God.

Psalm 103:6

No downtrodden one shall ever appeal to him in vain. Woe to those who deal tyrannically with the poor.

Psalm 103:9

He must in very love to us chasten us at times, but his hand is soon stayed.

Psalm 103:10-12

What a glorious fact: for the east is infinitely distant from the west, and so to an infinite length is sin removed; yea, it is blotted out, made an end of, and for ever forgotten.

Psalm 103:13

At their best they want his pity, for they are poor, frail things.

Psalm 103:14

We are not iron, and not even clay, but dust held together by daily miracle.

Psalm 103:15-18

Children who forsake the Lord will derive no benefit from their parentage. It will increase their condemnation, but it cannot remove their guilt; they must remember his covenant for themselves personally, or they will have no share in it.

Psalm 103:19-22

The psalmist was so full of praise that he desired the aid of all creation to assist him in glorifying the Lord; but he did not forget that still the main matter is for our own soul to adore the Lord. He concludes on his keynote, as good composers do; let it be our motto all the day, “Bless the Lord, O my soul.”

 

O bless the Lord, my soul!

Let all within me join,

And aid my tongue to bless his name,

Whose favours are divine.

 

O bless the Lord, my soul,

Nor let his mercies lie

Forgotten in unthankfulness,

And without praises die.