Don Wyrtzen, concerning Psalm 103 says: “David’s artistic soul erupts in uninhibited praise. From the core of his being, from the focal point of his soul, he praises the holy name of God. And he has good reason to celebrate!” (# 47)
At the beginning of 2022, do you sense that you also have good reason to celebrate? No matter what your answer, this Psalm is still for you.
How about making time to spend meditating on Psalm 103 before 2022 moves on any further?
Let me give you three options (or do them all). Firstly, read/pray this amazing poem of worship, praise and thanksgiving, or secondly, listen to it being read on the first link below or thirdly, listen to one of the music versions on the second and third link below. Next time, we will consider in more depths the wonders of this Psalm.
Of David.
1 Praise the Lord, my soul;
all my inmost being, praise his holy name.
2 Praise the Lord, my soul,
and forget not all his benefits—
3 who forgives all your sins
and heals all your diseases,
4 who redeems your life from the pit
and crowns you with love and compassion,
5 who satisfies your desires with good things
so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.
6 The Lord works righteousness
and justice for all the oppressed.
7 He made known his ways to Moses,
his deeds to the people of Israel:
8 The Lord is compassionate and gracious,
slow to anger, abounding in love.
9 He will not always accuse,
nor will he harbor his anger forever;
10 he does not treat us as our sins deserve
or repay us according to our iniquities.
11 For as high as the heavens are above the earth,
so great is his love for 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 him;
14 for he knows how we are formed,
he remembers that we are dust.
15 The life of mortals is like grass,
they flourish like a flower of the field;
16 the wind blows over it and it is gone,
and its place remembers it no more.
17 But from everlasting to everlasting
the Lord’s love is with those who fear him,
and his righteousness with their children’s children—
18 with those who keep his covenant
and remember to obey his precepts.
19 The Lord has established his throne in heaven,
and his kingdom rules over all.
20 Praise the Lord, you his angels,
you mighty ones who do his bidding,
who obey his word.
21 Praise the Lord, all his heavenly hosts,
you his servants who do his will.
22 Praise the Lord, all his works
everywhere in his dominion.
Praise the Lord, my soul. (NIV)
Bible reading: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=whygOwiYbZk
Sons of Korah song: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DxyuxN57its
Well known hymn by Henry Lyte published in 1834 drawing on the words of Psalm 103. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6-W74SzQZe0
And may you have a truly blessed 2022.
Tehilim (Psalms) - "songs of praise". 