Praise His Holy Name

Read Psalm 103, 104, 113, 114,
 
Psalms 103:1-5 Let all that I am praise the Lord; with my whole heart, I will praise his holy name. 2 Let all that I am praise the Lord; may I never forget the good things he does for me. 3 He forgives all my sins and heals all my diseases. 4 He redeems me from death and crowns me with love and tender mercies. 5 He fills my life with good things. My youth is renewed like the eagle’s!
 
OTHER versions of the Bible may state Psalm 103:1 Bless the LORD oh my soul and all that is within me bless his holy name. This changes the meaning a bit as it points to the psalmist’s desire to bless God. How is it possible to bless God? If we understand blessing as adding to God, it is not possible for us to bless God. But to bless another can also be to live in a way that pleases them. If we live for God with all of our soul, heart and mind, faithfully abiding in his commands, we will bless him. This is the Father being pleased with you in the same way you would tell a child, “You bless me with your obedience and love.” Praise God in your worship, and you will bless him. This is a song of joy, encouragement and praise to the God who grants his wondrous power to his creation.
   Then David expressed six ways God blesses – adds to – our lives. He forgives all my sins. He heals all my diseases. He redeems me from death. He crowns me with love and tender mercies. He fills my life with good things. My youth is renewed like the eagle’s!
   But we may doubt, “He heals all diseases.” We know our diseases are not always healed. Some of us deal with years of physical issues God allows in our bodies. The apostle Paul prayed for his own healing and others, and God did not answer, “Yes.” to all his prayers. David prayed earnestly for his first son with Bathsheba, and the boy died. Examples, of course, are endless.
   But there are two things to know here. Frist, this is a praise that God can heal all diseases. And he proves throughout Scripture he heals many different ailments, even death! Also, sin was – and should still be – considered a disease. God’s redemptive power certainly heals all sin.
   Healing our sins points to the other five ways God blesses us. Healing sin, God redeems us, crowns us with love and mercy, fills us with good things and renews your heart, mind, soul and strength each day as you seek him.
   This is a psalm of worship for each day, and it also points to eternal life. Jesus fulfilled all promises in the psalm. Faithfully trusting in Jesus, we will bless the LORD and praise him forever.