Page 23 - Living light - The Psalms

THIS WEEK’S BIBLE INSIGHTS ARE BY:
Helena Wilkinson and are based on Psalm 103 (NIV)
IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO READ MORE ON THIS WEEK’S MAJOR THEME:
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
1 Praise the LORD, my soul; all my inmost being, praise his holy name. 2 Praise the LORD, my soul, and forget not all his benefits – 3 who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases, 4 who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion, 5 who satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.
6 The LORD works righteousness and justice for all the oppressed. 7 He made known his ways to Moses, his deeds to the people of Israel: 8 the LORD is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love. 9 He will not
always accuse, nor will he harbour his anger for ever; 10 he does not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our iniquities. 11 For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his love for those who fear him; 12 as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us. 13 As a father has compassion on his children, so the LORD has compassion on those who fear him; 14 for he knows how we are formed, he remembers that we are dust...
Sunday June 23 - Clear call to praise
Praise the Lord, my soul; all my inmost being, praise his holy name. Praise
the Lord, my soul, and forget not his benefits... Psalm 103:1-2
Psalm 103 stands out powerfully because it opens and closes with a clear call to praise. The Hebrew word for praise is barakh, closely related to berakh (kneel). When the psalmist says that he will barakh (praise) Yahweh (God), the word barakh suggests that he will kneel in homage to Yahweh, demonstrating his reverence as an expression of praise. The psalm was written by David, as a means of expressing his gratitude to the Lord for all his benefits.
This superlative song praises God for his personal blessings in these first few verses. Tomorrow we will see that the psalm goes on to praise God for his national blessings. It is cherished by many people, Jews and Christians alike, because it so beautifully articulates gratitude and praise to God for his love, mercy, and forgiveness. David acknowledges God’s goodness and faithfulness, and he encourages others to do the same.
Verses 3-4 are well known to many of us, reminding us that Yahweh is a God who ‘forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion’. The sages (Jewish scholars) speak of the restoration of the whole person.
Spend a little time now, praising God for who he is and thanking him for ways in which he has provided for you, protected you and restored you.
Father, thank you that you are a personal God who pours out your goodness and blessings on me. Amen.
PRAYER FOR TODAY
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