Psalm 103

Of David. Bless the Lord, O my Soul! A praise psalm. An ode of God’s love and compassion to his people. The length of the psalm is determined by the number of letters in the Hebrew alphabet (22 verses).

David calls on himself and others to praise the Lord for his many blessings.

Praise the Lord
v.1-2 Call to praise. Praise the Lord, O my soul. (v.1a, NIV)
Forget not all his benefits. (v.2b)

Reasons for praise
v.3-5 Great acts of God worthy of praise
• who forgives all your iniquity
• who heals all your diseases
• who redeems your life from the pit (a metaphor for the grave)
• who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy
• who satisfies you with good (things)
• so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s
v.6 The Lord works righteousness and justice.
v.7 The Lord made known his acts to the people of Israel.
v.8 Praise of 4 attributes of God: mercy, grace, slow to anger, abounding in steadfast love. (See Ex 34:6)
v.9-10 Praise of 4 acts of God: he does not always chide, he does not remain angry forever, he does not deal with us according to our sins, he does not repay us according to our iniquities.
v.11-13 Praise of God’s attributes (3 similes): great is his love, he removes our sin, he has compassion on those who fear him.
v.14-16 Man is but dust and few are his days.
v.17-18 But God's love is permanent (to those who obey).
v.19 The Lord rules over all. (See Rom 8:28)

Commands to praise
v.20-22 Four doxologies:

20 Bless the Lord, O you his angels,
you mighty ones who do his word,
obeying the voice of his word!
21 Bless the Lord, all his hosts,
his ministers, who do his will!
22 Bless the Lord, all his works,
in all places of his dominion.
Bless the Lord, O my soul!

We have many reasons to praise God, let's not forget any of them. God alone is to be praised.

Read Psalm 103