Joy Reading: Psalm 103

I recently read Psalm 103 and felt like it was really wonderful.

It speaks to our situation a bit right now. COVID-19 shutdowns have us feeling a little stir crazy. The walls, the same ones we’ve looked at without change for over a month, seem to be closing in on us.

Yet, we know God is here with us pushing those same walls back into place. They will not crush us because God is our strength and source of hope. Our oppressors – be they disease, anxiety, or loss of wages – don’t win when God is in the equation. Verses 3-5 remind us that He is the God who forgives, heals, redeems, crowns, satisfies, and renews.

The Lord’s reign will last forever (v. 19). COVID-19 will not. Will you praise Him in this time? He’s worthy of all your praise.

Read Psalm 103 and note how many different ways God cares for us in these verses:

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.