TEXT: Psalm 103:1- 22 (CSB) – “My soul, bless the Lord, and all that is within me, bless his
holy name.
2 My soul, bless the Lord, and do not forget all his benefits.
2 My soul, bless the Lord, and do not forget all his benefits.
3 He forgives all your iniquity; he heals all your diseases.
4 He redeems your life from the Pit; he crowns you with faithful love and compassion.
5 He satisfies you with good things; your youth is renewed like the eagle.
4 He redeems your life from the Pit; he crowns you with faithful love and compassion.
5 He satisfies you with good things; your youth is renewed like the eagle.
6 The Lord executes acts of righteousness and justice for all the oppressed.
7 He revealed his ways to Moses, his deeds to the people of Israel.
8 The Lord is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in faithful love.
9 He will not always accuse us or be angry forever.
10 He has not dealt with us as our sins deserve or repaid us according to our iniquities.
7 He revealed his ways to Moses, his deeds to the people of Israel.
8 The Lord is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in faithful love.
9 He will not always accuse us or be angry forever.
10 He has not dealt with us as our sins deserve or repaid us according to our iniquities.
11 For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his faithful love 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 has compassion on his children, so the Lord has compassion on those who fear
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 what we are made of, remembering that we are dust.
14 For he knows what we are made of, remembering that we are dust.
15 As for man, his days are like grass— he blooms like a flower of the field;
16 when the wind passes over it, it vanishes, and its place is no longer known.
17 But from eternity to eternity the Lord’s faithful love is toward those who fear him, and his
16 when the wind passes over it, it vanishes, and its place is no longer known.
17 But from eternity to eternity the Lord’s faithful love is toward those who fear him, and his
righteousness toward the grandchildren
18 of those who keep his covenant, who remember to observe his precepts.
19 The Lord has established his throne in heaven, and his kingdom rules over all.
18 of those who keep his covenant, who remember to observe his precepts.
19 The Lord has established his throne in heaven, and his kingdom rules over all.
20 Bless the Lord, all his angels of great strength, who do his word, obedient to his command.
21 Bless the Lord, all his armies, his servants who do his will.
22 Bless the Lord, all his works in all the places where he rules. My soul, bless the Lord!”
21 Bless the Lord, all his armies, his servants who do his will.
22 Bless the Lord, all his works in all the places where he rules. My soul, bless the Lord!”
We have been challenged by Paul in the area of remembering those we are a part of the Body of Christ with. Today, we are going to be challenged to focus on Prayers of Thanksgiving.
I read a story about 3-year old Marie Paule Thielle of Metz, France. She received a Bronze Medal for “an act of courage and dangerous sacrifice.” However, the one she rescued does not like her. So, what’s the story? A playmate fell into the pool who was only 2 years old. Marie grabbed by the hair and held head above water until screams brought help. When asked how her rescued friend felt, Marie said: “He doesn’t like me now because it hurt when I pulled his hair.”
Or, how about this story – A man writing at the Post Office Desk when an elderly gentleman approaches. He asks the first man, “Would he address a postcard?” “Would he write a message on it?” Finally, he asked “Would he add a P.S.? – Please excuse the handwriting.
How quick we are to ask and receive – how slow we are to speak the magic word – thanks.
One final story – about two angels. They were sent to earth to gather the prayers of men. Orders were for the One to fill his basket with petitions – the other to fill his basket with thanks. When they return to Father -- One basket full and running over with petitions, while the other basket was almost empty – the angel sad and heavy-hearted after a diligent search for prayers of thanks.
As we think of Paul’s letter of thanks to the Philippian saints – he challenges us with his prayer of thanksgiving to also give prayers of thanks. He, being a devout Jew was very familiar with the Psalms. I am sure he may have had the prayers of King David in his mind and heart.
The Psalmist David gives us a list of things to be thankful to God for. We can find these in Psalm 103. In verses 1 and 2 above, we read of a Call to Prayer. The Hebrew word – Barak – means to kneel, to praise, to offer thanks. It is translated as “Bless.”
The key or theme of this Psalm is to thank the Lord for all the wonderful things he had received. He calls for us to do this with all our soul. The word soul speaks of our mind, our will, and our emotions.
How do we do this? With “all that is within me….” We are challenged to “Forget not all His benefits….”
In other words – “Count Your Blessings, Name them one by one….”
Over the next couple of days, we will look at this catalog of Thanksgiving Prayers David (and Paul) challenges us to go through.
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