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January 19th, 2025: The Lord is Active | Psalm 103:1-14

Writer's picture: Debbie Barcus & Laura NealDebbie Barcus & Laura Neal

And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places. All these are the beginning of sorrows. (Matthew 24: 6-8).


The world we live in can be pretty bad, would you agree? Political unrest, sneaky, half-truths,  tricks and sabotage, rioting, bullying, insinuations, rumors, fear, looting. Fires, tsunamis, earthquakes, ice storms, tornados, hurricanes, cicadas, fire ants, and on and on and on.  Though we cannot (nor can anyone else) predict the end of time, we can certainly relate to this “beginning of sorrows.” We feel it in our hearts and souls every day. What is a believer supposed to do? How do we find respite, security, peace, or even the truth? The lesson today is a reminder from King David of God’s faithful and trustworthy attributes. God is active in our lives every day regardless of what’s going on around us.


Bless the Lord, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name.


The author of this Psalm, believed to be King David, starts by speaking the truth to himself. In this passage David shared what he knew. God desires our praise, our lifting up and exalting who He is, and showing gratitude for all that He does. This command is not just for when things are going right or when one is in a church building. This kind of wholehearted praise is not produced on a whim but rather the result of dedication. It is determined and executed purposefully. David had a lot of reasons to bless the Lord (to praise), don’t you?  In our circumstances, making space for thankful praise centers us and aligns our perspectives with God’s. 


  • All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. (John 1:3).

  • For in him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of your own poets have said, For we are also his offspring. (Acts 17:28).

  • And he is before all things, and by him all things consist. (Colossians 1:17).


Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits:


What are the benefits of being a believer? They are too many to count!  Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning. (James 1:17). If you haven’t done so, take some time to inventory your benefits. There are so many reasons to bless the Lord and praise Him.  Family, love, forgiveness, safety, protection, mercy, the next breath you take, the eyes you see with, your ability to reason, and the ability to get wealth (Deuteronomy 8:18). However, don’t stop there! Think about all the awful things you have lost by becoming a believer - like being controlled by anger, overwhelming anxiety, debilitating stress, and worry.  Sometimes, we are so blessed we start to believe we got here all by ourselves. How arrogant and how very misplaced our thinking is! His benefits are given freely to us, they are paid at great price. God gave His only son, For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. (John 3:16).


Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases;


God no longer requires animal sacrifices to roll back the record of our sin. By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. (Hebrews 10:10).


 Jesus fulfilled the plan that allows us to come back into fellowship with God, covering our past, our present, and our future. When God sees me, He sees the payment of the blood of  His son that covers all my iniquities, all my wrongs, and all my sin. All means all. God heals all our diseases.  And said, If thou wilt diligently hearken to the voice of the Lord thy God, and wilt do that which is right in his sight, and wilt give ear to his commandments, and keep all his statutes, I will put none of these diseases upon thee, which I have brought upon the Egyptians: for I am the Lord that healeth thee. (Exodus 15:26).


God’s restrictions or “shall nots” are designed to protect us from the harmful consequences of sinning. We live in a fallen world. Disease is also a part of that fall. God hears and heals, though not always in the way that we envision. God sees the end from the beginning. He is just, and He will always do what is right. David knows this from his own experiences. It is sometimes painful and hard for us to learn.    


Who redeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies;


David must surely have thought he was finished after he sinned with Uriah and Bathsheba. Yet God redeemed him and continued to use him after he prayed for forgiveness. The loving-kindness and tender mercies of God are not to be taken lightly. God’s love is ever-present. We learn repeatedly that we have only a limited understanding of the depth that love extends. The Hebrew word used in scripture and  translated “loving-kindness” is checed, (pronounced Hess-said) literally meaning “covenant loyalty.” It is an attribute of God. 


He commits to a promise of loyalty that is unfailing and faithful. Pair that with another of God’s attributes, mercy, and you have His promise of undeserved loyal love and faithfulness. Are you grateful for His loving kindness and mercy? How often have you been undeserving of this benefit? What is your big wrong that you struggle to forgive in yourself? God can put that disappointing sin (that you try so hard to forget) in your rearview mirror and turn it into a victorious testimony. It’s a result of love. 


Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things; so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle's.


David says God is enough. He satisfies. He is the source of our strength. The world today really doesn’t seem to understand the contentment that only comes from God. Are your needs met? Contentment extends far beyond physical needs, to the spiritual and mental needs, as well. 


But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. And having food and raiment let us be therewith content (1 Timothy 6:6-8)  Isaiah adds to this thought by saying He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength. Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall: But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint. (Isaiah 40:29-31). Perspective David says.  Keep your perspectives and thinking in the right order. 


The Lord executeth righteousness and judgment for all that are oppressed.


We only know what righteousness is because God is righteous. It is everything that we are not. God’s word sets the standard and shows us there are “none good” except God. God is perfect, whole, and without flaw, and humans cannot possess righteousness on their own. 


David points out that the Lord will execute righteousness and judgment. As believers, we possess the righteousness of God through our faith and acceptance of Jesus Christ and his payment for our sins on the Cross. God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God” (2 Corinthians 5:21). In other words, when God sees a Christian, He sees the righteousness of His perfect Son. 


He made known his ways unto Moses, his acts unto the children of Israel. The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy. He will not always chide: neither will he keep his anger for ever. He hath not dealt with us after our sins; nor rewarded us according to our iniquities.


God, through His Holy Spirit, inspired men to write down His acts, His words, His laws, His statutes, and His commandments. Even in doing so, God knew that we would not be able to keep perfectly all His ordinances. Why then? Humans were pretty bold in the Garden of Eden, don’t you think? Satan raised doubt and suspicion about the goodness of God. After the serpent sowed seeds of doubt about the character of God, Adam and Eve started to feel that God was holding out on them, keeping them from something bigger and better. Isn’t that sort of what the world is saying today?  I can do this on my own. Why do I need God?  Consider that the rules God recorded were to show Israel and us that we are not able to live perfectly, to draw us by His spirit to submit ourselves to His Son. God is the standard. He is perfect. We certainly are not.


Israel saw that God was gracious, slow to anger, and full of mercy.  He protected them when they believed and called on Him. There were consequences for sin, but He did not dismiss them or forget about them because of their sin, even the sin that was premeditated. How thankful we should be for the benefit of a long-suffering, loyal God that doesn’t change his promises just because we deserve His anger. Instead, His works are done for our good, and Christ’s sacrifice given on our behalf! Above when he said, Sacrifice and offering and burnt offerings and offering for sin thou wouldest not, neither hadst pleasure therein; which are offered by the law; Then said he, Lo, I come to do thy will, O God. He taketh away the first, that he may establish the second. By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. (Hebrews 10:8-10).


For as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is his mercy toward them that fear him. As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us.


How far is the heaven above the earth? First of all, Heaven is a real place. Real believers go there. We know Paul references being caught up (raptured), whether in spirit or body, he didn’t know, into paradise. The Bible is full of references to this place called Heaven. Scientists can’t reach it, though the newest James Webb Space Telescope has sent back images far beyond what mankind has been able to see in the past. Still no pictures of Heaven. How far is the east from the west? Interestingly, if you travel north on our globe at some point you hit the north pole.  Then you have to change direction and start heading south. There is no north or south east or west in the universe at large. No matter how far you travel east, you will never reach a place where you have to stop to travel west. God has shared marvelous truths here. Mercy is so much more than we can imagine (undeserving loyal love). Sins, once confessed, are removed to a place away from us that can never be reached!  How glorious is that! Just to add one more heavenly tidbit,  In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also. And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know. Thomas saith unto him, Lord, we know not whither thou goest; and how can we know the way? Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. (John 14:2-6). We may not know the exact location of heaven, but, we do know the Way! Jesus.


Like as a father pitieth his children, so the Lord pitieth them that fear him. For he knoweth our frame; he remembereth that we are dust.


One of the best ways to think of God is as a Father; a loving, strict, tender, protector, dependable, and right. Jesus taught us to pray to Our Father, in heaven.  Everything Jesus did was in obedience to the Father. What a personal relationship this is! Though earthly fathers are not all good, the heavenly Father is absolutely perfect.  He has pity and tenderness for those who fear Him and call on His name. How does he know our frame?  He created us. He knew us before we were born.  More importantly, He sent His son to take on our frame; to feel what its like to be human. To live in, learn, and overcome from our perspective.  He was born and tempted the same every man and woman are.  For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. (Hebrews 4: 15).


David’s song is a reminder to look for and speak to yourself about the goodness of God. Consider your benefits, the attributes of your God, and adjust your perspective. Praise. Praise wholeheartedly, confidently, fully, and faithfully. Our God is still very much in control and very active in our lives. Our ultimate home is heaven. Our heavenly Father is the perfect parent. He sent His son, to pay our debts, because He loves us.  It is easy to lose sight of the foundations of our faith in the midst of political, personal, and social turmoil.  Yet, His strength is made perfect in our weakness.  Our salvation rests always in the character of our Savior. Our praise blesses the heart of God and keeps us centered on the Way, the Truth, and the Life. 


Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need. (Hebrews 4:16).

Additional Verses:

  • Abundant Life -The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.( John 10:10)

  • Joy - These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full. (John 15:11).

  • Peace -These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.(John 16:14)

  • Strength -That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man; (Ephesians 3:16).

  • Forgiveness - For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: (Matthew 6:14).


Thank you for studying with us! God bless!

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