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 iniquity,
who heals all your diseases, 4 who redeems your life from the pit,
who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy, 5 who satisfies you with good
so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.
6 The Lord works righteousness
and justice for all who are oppressed. 7 He made known his ways to Moses,
his acts to the people of Israel. 8 The Lord is merciful and gracious,
slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. 9 He will not always chide,
nor will he keep his anger forever. 10 He does not deal with us according to our sins,
nor repay us according to our iniquities. 11 For as high as the heavens are above the earth,
so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him; 12 as far as the east is from the west,
so far does he remove our transgressions from us. 13 As a father shows compassion to his children,
so the Lord shows compassion to 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;
he flourishes like a flower of the field; 16 for the wind passes over it, and it is gone,
and its place knows it no more. 17 But the steadfast love of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear him,
and his righteousness to children’s children, 18 to those who keep his covenant
and remember to do his commandments. 19 The Lord has established his throne in the heavens,
and his kingdom rules over all.
20 Bless the Lord, O you his angels,
you mighty ones who do his word,
obeying the voice of his word! 21 Bless the Lord, all his hosts,
his ministers, who do his will! 22 Bless the Lord, all his works,
in all places of his dominion.
Bless the Lord, O my soul!
REFLECTION:
This psalm is perhaps the best-known and best-loved of all the hymns. David called on himself to bless the LORD wholeheartedly because of all His many blessings. To “bless the LORD” means to thank Him because He is the source of all blessings.
David set down a list of God’s blessings: God forgives our sins and heals our diseases. (v3) He preserves our lives and crowns us with love and compassion. (v4) He satisfies our desires with good things. (v5) He works justice for the oppressed. (v6) He made known His ways to Moses and revealed Himself in mighty acts. (v7) He is compassionate and slow to anger. (v8) He does not treat us as our sins deserve. (v10)
And still there is more. Far too much to record in this brief meditation.
But if life ever seems hard and the future so bleak that you can see nothing but darkness ahead, turn to this psalm and read it to be reminded of God’s goodness and faithfulness to you.
Read this psalm again slowly and allow yourself to be immersed in God’s love and goodness to you. Continue a conversation with God about what you are feeling right now.
PRAYER:
Stay with God for a little longer. Continue to converse with God and listen to what He wants to tell you. Then write down any thought and/or prayer in your spiritual journal.
A Prayer of one afflicted, when he is faint and pours out his complaint before the Lord.
1 Hear my prayer, O Lord;
let my cry come to you! 2 Do not hide your face from me
in the day of my distress!
Incline your ear to me;
answer me speedily in the day when I call!
3 For my days pass away like smoke,
and my bones burn like a furnace. 4 My heart is struck down like grass and has withered;
I forget to eat my bread. 5 Because of my loud groaning
my bones cling to my flesh. 6 I am like a desert owl of the wilderness,
like an owl of the waste places; 7 I lie awake;
I am like a lonely sparrow on the housetop. 8 All the day my enemies taunt me;
those who deride me use my name for a curse. 9 For I eat ashes like bread
and mingle tears with my drink, 10 because of your indignation and anger;
for you have taken me up and thrown me down. 11 My days are like an evening shadow;
I wither away like grass.
12 But you, O Lord, are enthroned forever;
you are remembered throughout all generations. 13 You will arise and have pity on Zion;
it is the time to favor her;
the appointed time has come. 14 For your servants hold her stones dear
and have pity on her dust. 15 Nations will fear the name of the Lord,
and all the kings of the earth will fear your glory. 16 For the Lord builds up Zion;
he appears in his glory; 17 he regards the prayer of the destitute
and does not despise their prayer.
18 Let this be recorded for a generation to come,
so that a people yet to be created may praise the Lord: 19 that he looked down from his holy height;
from heaven the Lord looked at the earth, 20 to hear the groans of the prisoners,
to set free those who were doomed to die, 21 that they may declare in Zion the name of the Lord,
and in Jerusalem his praise, 22 when peoples gather together,
and kingdoms, to worship the Lord.
23 He has broken my strength in midcourse;
he has shortened my days. 24 “O my God,” I say, “take me not away
in the midst of my days—
you whose years endure
throughout all generations!”
25 Of old you laid the foundation of the earth,
and the heavens are the work of your hands. 26 They will perish, but you will remain;
they will all wear out like a garment.
You will change them like a robe, and they will pass away, 27 but you are the same, and your years have no end. 28 The children of your servants shall dwell secure;
their offspring shall be established before you.
REFLECTION:
Grief is an experience of deep sorrow over a significant loss. Whether it is the loss of a loved one, a job, our health or our home, the physical, emotional and spiritual suffering is intense. This psalm speaks our anguish to God in times of grief.
The psalmist felt a desperate need for the Lord’s immediate intervention in his painful situation. His sorrow had made his bones ache; his emotional state was affecting his physical condition. His enemies ridiculed him continually. He believed his life was ending and felt as if God was shortening his life. (v23)
Yet, in contrast to his own sorrow, he showed confidence that God will rebuild Zion even in the midst of tragedy. Israel will see the fulfillment of its dearest hopes that even the nations will gather in Zion to worship and obey God. The God who is “enthroned forever” and outlasts heaven and earth will see to it. Such faith builds hope when disaster would tear us down. (vv12-22, 25-28)
Express your feelings of grief to God and pray for others you know who are grieving.
PRAYER:
Stay with God for a little longer. Continue to converse with God and listen to what He wants to tell you. Then write down any thought and/or prayer in your spiritual journal.
1 I will sing of steadfast love and justice;
to you, O Lord, I will make music. 2 I will ponder the way that is blameless.
Oh when will you come to me?
I will walk with integrity of heart
within my house; 3 I will not set before my eyes
anything that is worthless.
I hate the work of those who fall away;
it shall not cling to me. 4 A perverse heart shall be far from me;
I will know nothing of evil.
5 Whoever slanders his neighbor secretly
I will destroy.
Whoever has a haughty look and an arrogant heart
I will not endure.
6 I will look with favor on the faithful in the land,
that they may dwell with me;
he who walks in the way that is blameless
shall minister to me.
7 No one who practices deceit
shall dwell in my house;
no one who utters lies
shall continue before my eyes.
8 Morning by morning I will destroy
all the wicked in the land,
cutting off all the evildoers
from the city of the Lord.
REFLECTION:
This is a prayer of David’s resolution to walk a blameless path. David is committed to live in a way that pleased God. He may have written this psalm early in his reign as king as he set down the standards he wanted to follow. David knew that, to lead a blameless life, he would need God’s help. (v2)
We can lead blameless lives if we avoid (1) looking at wickedness (v3), (2) evil thoughts (v4), (3) slander (v5), and (4) pride (v5). While avoiding these wrongs, we must also let God’s Word show us the standards by which to live.
Where in your thoughts and deeds do you need to change?
David said that he would keep his “eye on the godly.” In other words, he would choose as models and as friends those who were godly and truthful. Our friends and associates can have a profound influence on our lives. Make sure to keep your eyes on those who are faithful to God and His Word.
Who are the faithful and godly that you “will look with favour on”? (v6) How would they have a positive influence on your life?
PRAYER:
Stay with God for a little longer. Continue to converse with God and listen to what He wants to tell you. Then write down any thought and/or prayer in your spiritual journal.
