1Of David. Bless the LORD, O my soul; all that is within me, bless His holy name.2Bless the LORD, O my soul, and do not forget all His kind deeds—3He who forgives all your iniquities and heals all your diseases,4who redeems your life from the Pit and crowns you with loving devotion and compassion,5who satisfies you with good things, so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.6The LORD executes righteousness and justice for all the oppressed.7He made known His ways to Moses, His deeds to the people of Israel.8The LORD is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in loving devotion.9He will not always accuse us, nor harbor His anger forever.10He has not dealt with us according to our sins or repaid us according to our iniquities.11For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is His loving devotion for those who fear Him.12As far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us.13As a father has compassion on his children, so the LORD has compassion on those who fear Him.14For He knows our frame; He is mindful that we are dust.15As for man, his days are like grass— he blooms like a flower of the field;16when the wind passes over, it vanishes, and its place remembers it no more.17But from everlasting to everlasting the loving devotion of the LORD extends to those who fear Him, and His righteousness to their children’s children—18to those who keep His covenant and remember to obey His precepts.19The LORD has established His throne in heaven, and His kingdom rules over all.20Bless the LORD, all His angels mighty in strength who carry out His word, who hearken to the voice of His command.21Bless the LORD, all His hosts, you servants who do His will.22Bless the LORD, all His works in all places of His dominion. Bless the LORD, O my soul!
What’s happening. A psalm of David. He is not asking for anything here. He is talking to himself, calling his own soul to praise.
What it means. “Forget not all his benefits” is the heart of it. David lists what God does: he forgives, heals, redeems from the pit, crowns with love and mercy, and renews. Praise often begins as a choice to remember God’s goodness, especially when we are tempted to forget.
What’s happening. Continuing Psalm 103, David reflects on how God treats people who have sinned against him.
What it means. God does not deal with us as our sins deserve. His love is as high as the heavens, and he removes our sins as far as the east is from the west, a distance that never ends. Like a father, he is tender with his children, because he knows we are fragile, made from dust.