Thanksgiving 2025
Good morning,
Psalm 103 is such an encouragement to me.
Bless the LORD, O My Soul
Psalm 103 is a heartfelt reminder of our fleeting existence, yet also a comfort in its emphasis on God’s eternal, unfailing love and mercy. It encourages us to live a life of praise and gratitude, keeping God’s commandments and recognizing His divine authority over all creation. (https://biblehub.com/chaptersummaries/psalms/103.htm)
Psalm 103
1. God’s Blessings and Forgiveness (Verses 1-5)
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 forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases;4 Who redeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies;5 Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things; so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle’s.
The psalm begins with a call to Bless the LORD, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless His holy name (Psalm 103:1). This is an invitation to wholehearted worship, engaging every part of our being in praise.
David begins this Psalm by urging his soul to bless the Lord and not to forget His benefits. God forgives all our iniquities, heals our diseases, redeems our life from the pit, crowns us with steadfast love and mercy, and satisfies us with good so that our youth is renewed like the eagle’s.
David lists the benefits of God’s goodness, including forgiveness, healing, redemption, love, and compassion (Psalm 103:2-5). These are not just past acts but ongoing realities in the life of a believer. (https://biblehub.com/chaptersummaries/psalms/103.htm)
2. God’s Righteousness and Justice (Verses 6-10)
6 The Lord executeth righteousness and judgment for all that are oppressed.7 He made known his ways unto Moses, his acts unto the children of Israel.8 The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy.9 He will not always chide: neither will he keep his anger for ever. He hath not dealt with us after our sins; nor rewarded us according to our iniquities.
David describes God as the one who works vindication and justice for all who are oppressed. God made His ways known to Moses and His acts to the people of Israel. The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. He will not always chide, nor will he keep his anger forever. He does not deal with us according to our sins, nor repay us according to our iniquities.
The psalm highlights God’s righteousness and justice for the oppressed (Psalm 103:6), reminding us of His commitment to righting wrongs and defending the vulnerable. (https://biblehub.com/chaptersummaries/psalms/103.htm)
3. God’s Boundless Mercy (Verses 11-14)
11 For as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is his mercy toward them that fear him.12 As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us.13 Like as a father pitieth his children, so the Lord pitieth them that fear him.14 For he knoweth our frame; he remembereth that we are dust.
David praises God’s mercy by comparing it to the height of the heavens above the earth. As far as the east is from the west, so far does He remove our transgressions from us. As a father shows compassion to his children, so the Lord shows compassion to those who fear Him. He knows our frame; He remembers that we are dust. (https://biblehub.com/chaptersummaries/psalms/103.htm)
Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001 chaplain@alaskaseniors.com
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