1A Psalm of David. Bless the Lord, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name.2Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits:3Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases;4Who redeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies;5Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things; so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle’s.6The Lord executeth righteousness and judgment for all that are oppressed.7He made known his ways unto Moses, his acts unto the children of Israel.8The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy.9He will not always chide: neither will he keep his anger for ever.10He hath not dealt with us after our sins; nor rewarded us according to our iniquities.11For as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is his mercy toward them that fear him.12As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us.13Like as a father pitieth his children, so the Lord pitieth them that fear him.14For he knoweth our frame; he remembereth that we are dust.15As for man, his days are as grass: as a flower of the field, so he flourisheth.16For the wind passeth over it, and it is gone; and the place thereof shall know it no more.17But the mercy of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting upon them that fear him, and his righteousness unto children’s children;18To such as keep his covenant, and to those that remember his commandments to do them.19The Lord hath prepared his throne in the heavens; and his kingdom ruleth over all.20Bless the Lord, ye his angels, that excel in strength, that do his commandments, hearkening unto the voice of his word.21Bless ye the Lord, all ye his hosts; ye ministers of his, that do his pleasure.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.