Message

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PRAISE THE LORD, O MY SOUL

(FORGET NOT HIS BENEFITS)

Psalm 103:1-22

Key Verse: 2

“Praise the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits.”

Have you ever thought about what praise is?  Well you may or may not know, but Scripture contains an abundance of thanksgiving and praise!  As we dive into Psalm 103 this morning let’s go through what God’s word reveals concerning praise and the reasons for it.

Our passage Psalm 103 opens with the words: “Praise the Lord, O my soul; and all that is within me, praise His holy name!”    Immediately, we notice the Psalmist’s command to praise!  Can you believe it?  So emphatic the Psalmist was about this that he says it three times in the beginning and concludes it four times more at the end.  Contrary to what we’re used to, praise is more than just an overwhelming spontaneous outpour of one’s feelings.  God’s word shows that praise is an imperative!  More than just expression–it is also as much a command and a decision.

Where does one’s praise come from?  How is praise different from a compliment?  “Praise the Lord, O my soul; all that is within me, praise His holy name!”  To refer to one’s soul is to refer to one’s whole being and all that is within me, without reservation.  Consider for instance the expression, “My soul is bared before you!”  It means nothing is hidden or withheld.  Often, it is easier to give one’s soul fully to matters of business, work, finance, studying for exams, family, children, spouse..than it is to give all of one’s self to praising the Lord.  Nowadays it’s even easier to hide behind our screens and do ‘praise and worship’ online.  We can even have avatars now that do the praising for us. Fully giving of one’s self is a matter of one’s heart desire.  Praise comes from the overflowing of love in one’s heart.  That said, we can sing until we’re blue in the face.  But if it’s not from our heart—it’s not praise.

And who should be the object of our praise?  It is the Lord!  We do not ‘compliment’ the Lord; we praise Him!  This is very important to get right because it is very easy to confuse self-expression with praise.  Try to think of it this way: talking about how one feels towards their spouse is very different from proclaiming all the wonderful qualities that their spouse has.  Can you tell the difference?  The object of the first is themselves–it’s about how they feel; while the object of the latter is their spouse.  The affinity between praise and worship is something we should not underestimate.  God’s word is clear that God created man for worship and praise: “the people I formed for Myself that they may proclaim My praise.” (Isaiah 43:21)

So how can we sing hymns and offer our songs of worship and praise to the Lord while making sure that the Lord is really the object of our praise?  Verse 2 gives us a wonderful direction for that:  “Praise the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits:”  We think about the Lord!  Praise comes when we think happy thoughts about the Lord!  (Not how the Lord makes me happy).  So we really need to know Who the Lord is before we can praise Him.  How can we know who the Lord is?  Scripture reveals to us who the Lord is.  Moreover, God’s word is full of the revelation of Christ.  It testifies of all His good works, the abundance of His love; and all the wonderful gifts and promises that the Lord wants to give to His children.  This is precisely the reason why Satan really doesn’t want people reading the Bible— it is so that we miss out on all the wonderful promises that God wants to give us.  But the more we know of the Lord– the richer our praise grows.

1.  Personal Benefits

Each year, thanksgiving day comes around with the tradition of ‘saying grace’--- an opportunity to give ‘praise’, usually undertaken before one partakes in a very big meal.  Often, we give thanks for all the blessings, for family, the roof above our heads, for jobs maybe or for God blessing us in our accomplishments that year…for health and for the delicious food we’re about to eat.  Now, while it’s good to thank the Lord for these things, let’s look into Scripture together and check out the reasons it gives for thanking and praising the Lord.   “Praise the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits:  Who forgives all your sins, and heals your diseases.” (v.2-3)  Sin is the biggest problem of man.  Consider how it’s possible to have almost everything in the world–family, love, children, spouse, good friends, career, beauty, even health and for everything else, there’s visa/mastercard.  But if one’s sin problem is not solved, these things are worth nothing.  We will have to give an accounting of our life one day to the Lord.  Our life is not our own, it is created in the image of God.  Sin is our unresolved debt towards the Lord that results in the wages of death.  Jesus told of a parable of the foolish rich man who spent his days on earth figuring out how to build and increase his wealth.  Yet while the rich man seemed to be successful, the Lord said to him, “You fool!  Tonight your life will be demanded from you.  Then who will get what you’ve prepared for yourself?” 

Sin is so serious that even people who seem to have ‘everything’ end up killing themselves.  Similar to an incurable disease, sin destroys and takes a person’s life and of those around him.  Maybe we'll find a cure for cancer one day.  Or Alzheimer’s.  Or reverse the effects of cardiovascular disease.  But there is no cure for sin or its effects on a person’s life.  Sin is what makes man’s life pitiful and meaningless.

The state of man is such that he’s eternally severed from God due to sin.  Until the forgiveness of sins comes, sinful man cannot even come to God.  Sin makes man unacceptable to God and deserving of destruction and His wrath.  The problem with forgiveness however is its cost–it’s too high.  If there’s no cost involved, then there’s nothing to forgive.  God purchased our forgiveness by offering His Son Jesus to die on the cross as payment for the debt of our sins.  The Lord is He “who forgives all your sins and heals your diseases”  (v. 3)   Not just a few of your sins, or the ones you’ve managed to know and confess– but all your sins!  Jesus’ life is the only currency valid to pay the debt in full and the only cure.  Through this transaction, the requirements of justice have been fully met and grace has been offered to the offender.  Praise the Lord, O my soul!  The forgiveness of my sins is my first and foremost thanksgiving topic to the Lord who forgave us of all my offences toward Him.  To this day, He continues to heal me with His Gospel.  Has the Lord forgiven all your sins?

Let’s look at verse 4.  The Lord is He “who redeems your life from the pit…”  Has your life ever been in a pit?  A pit is a situation that one cannot get out of, wherein barring getting out, things could ended really badly, usually in death.   These days, the spirit of the world really advocates for the power of one’s strength in overcoming a bad situation.  (ie. “I am braver than I was because I have lost all; and he who has nothing to lose can afford to take risks.” or “That which doesn’t kill you only makes you stronger.”)  Quotes like these are everywhere and offered up for consumption.  All these things do however, only serve the pride for one’s life in pure godlessness.  Pits can refer to that time when you really sobbed and no one could hear you; that time when you had no friend or no one to count on; or that moment when your life and future hung by a thread whether you knew it or not.  It could be those instances wherein you had a close shave with death– a vehicle that could’ve ended your life, or an accident that could’ve cost you your arm or eye.  A pit could be exactly what you deserved as a result of your decision and deeds.  Finally, the ultimate pit that awaits sinful man is hell.  Considered in this light, hell is not something that we worry about after we die; rather, it is a reality that is closely linked to one’s present; just as our salvation is closely linked to our present.  There is no way out of this eternal pit.  Jesus came to be “the way, the truth and the life” for man.  No man can come  to the Father except through Christ alone.  (John 14:6)  Our status in hell is something no one can redeem us from except the Redeemer.  Life is so fragile.  It’s full of pits—big and small; every day and eternally.  Have you been in a pit?  Is there an eternal pit that awaits you in the end?  The Lord is He “who redeems your life from the pit, and crowns you with love and compassion.”  

My life was once in a pit.  I had all these plans for myself–but they had nothing to do with God.  Nothing about honouring Him.  They were just goals I would like to see accomplished for my life.  The goals I had weren’t ‘bad’; they’re just full of pride for one’s life and diseased with the fulfilment of worldly desires.  Not knowing at that time, that I was actually planning to live a life of godlessness; spiritually speaking, something akin to building your own tomb and laying in it.  The things I would work so hard for and give my life to–cannot give me eternal life.  The Lord took pity on me and sent a Redeemer to redeem me from this pit.  My ears came to hear the Gospel and I came to know the Lord through bible study.  The Lord crowned me with His love and compassion.  In his pity, He replaced my diseased life with the life of His Son— so that His life may be in me. 

Let’s look at v. 5.  The Lord wants us to know that it is He “Who satisfies your desires with good things.”   Occasionally my six year old would ask me whether she can eat something her heart desires.  She has a particular affinity for ice cream, chocolate, toys, various types of bread and staying up later than her appointed bedtime.  But every time I say no to something she asks for I’m in effect also saying to her, ‘I love you.’  Because let’s be honest—not every heart desire of a six-year old is going to be good to her.  I want to fill her desires with good things, not with junk.  So that she can grow up healthy, strong and beautiful and wise.  The Lord wants us to know that about Him:  He satisfies your desires with good things, so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s. (v.5)  James 1:17 tells us that “Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.”  We like to think that good things from this world can be bought.  But good things that cannot be found such as love, joy, peace, truth, wisdom, among many numerous others– are the good things that God gives to satisfy those who are His.

When we consider all these things about the Lord, not giving Him proper thanks becomes a serious issue, and unthankfulness becomes an offence of great magnitude–a sin, toward Him.  We all know this—because just as you would not want to offend someone without properly rendering thanks for a favour given, what more of the Lord who does all these things?  When Jesus healed ten lepers because they cried out for Him to have mercy on them, only one came back to thank Him. Jesus asked, “Were not all ten cleansed?  Where are the other nine?  Has no one returned to give praise to God except this foreigner?” (Luke 17:17-18)  Unthankfulness is a serious sin against the Lord especially when we consider how Adam and Eve treated God though He’s gifted them with paradise.  These days man yearns for paradise.  Lack of paradise is hardly the issue— but our lack of proper thanksgiving to Him is.

2.  Benefits to His People

The Lord doesn’t just reveal Himself to us personally.  He also reveals who He is to His people.  This world is an unjust world; which means no matter how hard we may try, no justice can be found in it. There are so many things wrong that are  too great even for social justice to fix.  But the Lord wants us to know something about Him.  Let’s look at v.6: “The Lord works righteousness and justice for all who are oppressed.”  The Lord will repay to each person according to what they have sought and done. 2 Corinthians 5:10 tells us: “For we must all appear before the judgement seat of Christ, that each one may receive what is due Him for the things done while in the body whether good or bad.”  Now if you’re the oppressed, there is tremendous hope for you because of who the Lord is!   But are you the oppressed?  Or are you really the oppressor?  If you’ve ever oppressed someone—you’re definitely an oppressor.  So which one are you?  I think we’re both. We’re also the oppressors because we’re sinners.  This is why the world is so messed up.  We seek justice because we’ve been oppressed, but we’re also guilty ourselves as judged.  No one is innocent before the Lord.

How has the Lord dealt with this?  “He made known His ways to Moses, His deeds to the people of Israel.”  Just as slaves only know how to live as a slave; sinners only know how to live as sinners.  But God made His ways known to sinful man that they may have not a sinful way of life, but live a godly life.  God’s righteous judgement will bring peace to those who’ve been oppressed.  But the Lord’s compassion brings peace to those who are sorry for their criminality before Him.  Consider verses 8-10:  The Lord is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in mercy.  He will not always accuse, Nor will He keep His anger forever.  He does not treat us as our sins deserve, or repay us according to our iniquities.” (v.8-10)  These two extremes are only completely fulfilled at the cross of Jesus Christ when He was crucified for our sins.   At the cross of Jesus, God poured the righteous judgement for all the wrongs that were done; all the wrongs you and I have done.   Jesus bore this judgement of God for us, and as a result we came to know the Lord’s compassion.

You see, there cannot be love unless the Lord judges.  Because wrongs have been committed.  Yet without judgement, there is only indifference.  Our ears do not like to hear the command how we must ‘fear the Lord!’.  It’s not akin to our tastes.  But fear of the Lord is the right regard toward Him because He is the Lord; He is not as one of us.  Just as the chair is in the right relationship with you if you sit on the chair and not the other way around.  Yet do you know how the Lord regards those who fear Him?  Let’s look at the next set of verses: “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. “(v.11-12)  Verse 12 in particular describes how deep and wide His love is. And this love is expressed in His forgiveness of our transgressions—removing them completely.  Because of the greatness of the Lord's love poured out on them, those who fear the Lord actually love Him.

There is no better way to illustrate this than what goes on in a loving father’s relationship with his children.  Let me tell you something: parents can get mad.  And really good parents can get really mad.  Because they care for their children.  They are not indifferent.  And when children know and respect this, love becomes palpable.  Another word to describe this love appropriate to the illustration of this relationship between the Lord and those who fear Him, is compassion.   “As a father has compassion on his children, so the Lord has compassion on those who fear Him.”  (v. 14)  Why? “For He knows how we are formed; He remembers that we are dust.”  You know it’s really quite amazing.  As you may know, I’m a parent to a six-year old and one of the things I learned about myself as a mom is how I can still remember how little my daughter once was.  How I can still feel the smallness of her frame held against me during the times I carried her.  And how I can still see the ‘baby’ in her face even though it’s already changed so much.  And these impressions, so unique only to me as her mom, are still there even when I’m angry with her because I remember how she was when she was newly born.   The Lord knows how we are formed.  He remembers that we are dust.  He was the one who knitted us together in our mother’s womb.  And He has compassion on those who fear Him, as a father has compassion on His children.  The Lord knows how fragile we are and how small the number of our days.  (v.15-16) But what the Lord really wants to do is pour out His love eternally on man. “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.”  (v.17-18)  Thus, the Lord’s benefits are not for me alone, but poured out to His people, to their children’s children and grandchildren–to those who obey and keep His covenant fulfilled in Christ.

3.  Exhortations

Simply put, we praise the Lord because He is the Lord. (v.20) His kingdom has dominion over all.  Verse 20 reveals the Lord is King.  King David wrote this Psalm and he testified of the Lord’s kingship above all.  This fallen world rejects Jesus’ kingship and the Lord’s rule over them.  But those who love the Lord honour His kingship over their lives and worship Him even in such a world.  Like Daniel– who was not thwarted to pray to the Lord even though the king’s law threatened to feed him to the lion’s den.  (see Jesus reference: “My kingdom is not of this world” / see Daniel)  Hebrews 12:28

28 Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe,”

Psalm 103 concludes with the following exhortations:  (v.20-22) Through these verses, we see the progression of praise extend to the angels who do His bidding; to the heights of all heavenly hosts, His servants, who do His will,  finally extending to all His creation in praise of the Lord.   How amazing it is that the magnitude of this praise begins with one person in obedience and love of God, commanding his soul to praise the Lord.  Praise the Lord, O my soul indeed—and forget not His benefits!  Let us thank and worship Him who loved us so much with all our hearts.

One Word:  Praise the Lord, O my soul!

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