[:en]SCRIPTURE: PSALM 103
“Praise the Lord, O my soul; all my inmost being, praise his holy name” (Psalm 103:1)
“The Lord is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love” (Psalm 103:8)
“For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his love for those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us. As a father has compassion on his children, so the Lord has compassion on those who fear him” (Psalm 103:11-13)
“As for man, his days are like grass, he flourishes like a flower of the field; the wind blows over it and it is gone, and its place remembers it no more” (Psalm 103:15-16)
“But from everlasting to everlasting, the Lord’s love is with those who fear him, and his righteousness with their children’s children – with those who keep his covenant and remember to obey his precepts” (Psalm 103:17-18)
REASONS WHY WE HAVE TO PRAISE THE LORD:
- He forgives all our sins and heals all our diseases (v. 3)
- He redeems our lives from the pit (v. 4a)
- He crowns us with love and compassion (v. 4b)
- He satisfies our desires with good things (v. 5)
- He works righteousness and justice for all the oppressed (v. 6)
- He made known his ways and His deeds to His people (v. 7)
- He is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love (v. 8)
- He has compassion on those who fear Him (v. 13)
- He loves those who fear Him and keep His commands and His righteousness is with their children’s children (vs. 17-18)
- He has established His throne in heaven to rule over all kingdoms (v. 19)
- He made known His works everywhere in His dominion (v. 23)
WHAT GOD DOES NOT DO TO US:
- He does not always accuse nor harbor His anger forever (v. 9)
- He does not treat as as our sins deserve or repay us according to our iniquities(v. 10a)
On the basis of the cross, the blood of Jesus had cleansed all our iniquities. Through His grace and mercy, our sins have been forgiven. As we are made out of dust, our days are like grass, like a flower of the field. When the wind blows over it, it is gone. However, we have a trustworthy God that has established a throne in heaven. He has also heavenly angels who obey His word and armies of heavenly hosts who do His will.
The Psalmist used “PRAISE THE LORD” six times in this chapter. Let us PRAISE THE LORD with all our soul, with our inmost being and with all our hearts![:]