His Mercies and Presence Give us Rest

Psalms 103:1-22
A Psalm of David.

1 Bless the LORD, O my soul;
And all that is within me, bless His holy name!
2 Bless the LORD, O my soul,
And forget not all His benefits:

3 Who forgives all your iniquities,
Who heals all your diseases,
4 Who redeems your life from destruction,
Who crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies,
5 Who satisfies your mouth with good things,
So that your youth is renewed like the eagle's.

6 The LORD executes righteousness
And justice for all who are oppressed.
7 He made known His ways to Moses,
His acts to the children of Israel.

8 The LORD is merciful and gracious,
Slow to anger, and abounding in mercy.
9 He will not always strive with us,
Nor will He keep His anger forever.

10 He has not dealt with us according to our sins,
Nor punished us according to our iniquities.
11 For as the heavens are high above the earth,
So great is His mercy toward 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 pities his children,
So the LORD pities those who fear Him.

14 For He knows our frame;
He remembers that we are dust.
15 As for man, his days are like grass;
As a flower of the field, so he flourishes.
16 For the wind passes over it, and it is gone,
And its place remembers it no more.

17 But the mercy of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting
On those who fear Him,
And His righteousness to children's children,
18 To such as keep His covenant,
And to those who remember His commandments to do them.

19 The LORD has established His throne in heaven,
And His kingdom rules over all.

20 Bless the LORD, you His angels,
Who excel in strength, who do His word,
Heeding the voice of His word.

21 Bless the LORD, all you His hosts,
You ministers of His, who do His pleasure.
22 Bless the LORD, all His works,
In all places of His dominion.

Bless the LORD, O my soul!

What a psalm of praise!  Praise for God who shows His people great mercy and whose presence gives us rest in life’s adversities.  May my entire life find a way to bless Him who blesses me so much more than I deserve or expect!  Yes, May I bless His holy name with all that is within me, never forgetting all His benefits given unearned by His marvelous grace.  He has forgiven my sin and does continue to forgive my sins, keeping me from eternal destruction and sometimes healing me according to His word and will.  He keeps me as precious in His sight.  God’s love and mercy are as a crown of sovereign rule over my life, and I am satisfied and strengthened by His Spirit and good providence (Ephesians 3:16, Romans 8:28).  My satisfaction is in Him who keeps my heart young as the outward man fades away (2 Corinthians 4:16-18), causing me to soar high as a majestic bird (Isaiah 40:31).  God’s righteousness and justice fall down like a mighty waterfall upon His people, and we shout glory!  Just as He showed His way to Moses in Exodus 33:13-14, we also are promised His Presence to lead and guide us in His rest of grace in Christ (Hebrews 4:3, 9-10).  We consider all His great works on behalf of His people and are left in trusting awe of wrath taken away and mercy bandaging the wounds of our souls.  Such mercy did not judge and justly punish us according to our sins, but gave heavenly forgiveness which took our sins and threw them as far away in the opposite direction as possible, which is infinite distance in God’s sight.  Our fear and trembling of His might and holiness are honored in His grace towards us because He pities our frail nature, unable to save ourselves or earn forgiveness.  This we rely on, yet as Job 24:23 reminds us, His eyes are still on our ways afterwards for heavenly rewards.  We are transitory in this life, easily blown away as grass or fading flowers in the wind, yet He considers us in love to redeem in mercy according to a new covenant kept entirely on His side, impossible for us to break because it is in His work and not ours.  We are not held to the old covenant as the psalmist mentioned here to earn God’s mercy and keep each commandment to the letter - Christ has done that for us (Galatians 3:23-24, Matthew 5:17).  Because God has established His sovereign throne in Heaven to rule all creation, because the holy angels worship Him forever there, and because we who minister and serve Him here do His will as we hear and heed His word, He is blessed by us.  We do His pleasure as we serve Him, whether with on talent or ten, just as all others throughout His realm.  His mercies and presence give us rest, therefore we echo the psalmist to say, “Bless the LORD, O my soul!”