Bless the Lord, Oh My Soul

Today’s Reading: Psalm 103

 

Psalm 103: 1- 5

Bless the Lord, O my soul,

    and all that is within me,

    bless his holy name!

Bless the Lord, O my soul,

    and forget not all his benefits,

who forgives all your iniquity,

    who heals all your diseases,

who redeems your life from the pit,

    who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy,

who satisfies you with good

    so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s

A brief outline of David’s life: 

  • The youngest of six brothers
  • He was placed in complete isolation from the family as a shepherd.
  • Serving his brothers in the midst of war and not being able to fight.
  • Defeated a giant.
  • Becoming a musician to the king.
  • Becoming best friends with the prince.
  • Becoming the son-in-law to the king.
  • Running for your life from the king.
  • Committing adultery.
  • Committing murder.
  • Losing your child as a baby.
  • Losing another child.
  • Running away from your son trying to murder you.
  • Having a kingdom.
  • Loving God.

This is just a brief outline of the life of David, the king of Israel. Throughout his life he experienced so many lows and highs. Some of the lows and highs that he experienced gives us a glimpse into his heart and his devotion to God. By no means, did David have an easy life. The majority of David’s life he was running for his life, literally. He did have some peace, but many times in his life he was being tripped and tried and trapped by the “fowler”. He did not have true peace that he was able to give himself. The only peace that he could get was from God. It may be because of all of his tribulations that is why he loved God so much and was able to truly understand God.

The 103rd psalms is a reflection of his true devotion and his love for God for everything that he had experienced through his life. We can have days, weeks, months, and years of tribulation and hardship and sometimes we question how this is working for God. When we think of David and look at this song we have to be encouraged that we will endure many things. Hopefully we won’t have to endure the same trials and David did, but we will have our own trials and tribulations that we will be faced with. We have to understand that it is not through our own peace and understanding that we are able to get through these hard times, but it’s only through God’s love that is within us.