Find out in this wonderful article about the psalm 103 explanation and the call to praise God, his goodness in difficult times.
psalm 103 explanation
In order to contextualize Psalm 103, we go back to the book of Numbers 10:11-33 where we observe how the Lord cared for the people of Israel once freed from slavery in Egypt, through the cloud of fire.
Through the cloud of fire, the Lord guided which direction they should go to reach the land of Canaan; at night the cloud illuminated the camp, gave them warmth, illuminated the path and guided them on the way.
During dawn, manna descended from heaven (Exodus 16: 4-9; Nehemiah 9:21; Deuteronomy 29:5) and the Lord fed them so that the people never lacked for anything. Indeed, it was God who kept the enemies of God's chosen people out of the way of the Israelites. His clothes never wore out in the desert. As they advanced, the people of Israel worshiped and praised the Lord. Let's read the biblical passage
Numbers 10: 33-36
33 So they departed from the mount of the Lord three days' journey; and the ark of the covenant of the LORD went before them three days' journey, seeking a place of rest for them.
34 And the cloud of the Lord was over them by day, from the time they left the camp.
35 When the ark moved, Moses said: Arise, O LORD, and let your enemies be scattered, and let those who hate you flee from your presence.
36 And when she stopped, she said: Return, O Jehovah, to the thousands of thousands of Israel.
However, in chapter 11:1-35 of the Book of Numbers, we can see an Israelite people complaining just like the foreigners, who said they were unhappy about eating only manna from heaven. They missed the food provided in Egypt, not remembering that it was payment for their slavery.
When reading this biblical passage, we can realize that God grants them the meat they asked for, but in his condition of an Almighty, Omniscient and Omnipresent God, he knew that what their hearts kept was a rebellion against God and then he extended his hand and sent them a plague.
In this context we must be careful with our requests to God, because the Lord can grant us what we ask for, but with the consequences that those requests will bring to our lives. We must make sure that our requests are according to the heart and will of God.
This fact contrasts with the events that preceded in chapter 10 where we appreciate a united Israelite people, in the same spirit and the same feeling worshiping and praising God. David, through psalm 103 explanation It clarifies for us what led the people of Israel to rebel against God.
Also, this biblical story contrasts with that of Luke 17:11-19. We see how the Lord healed ten lepers who approached Him. It highlights the fact that only the Samaritan returned to bless God in contrast to the ingratitude of the Israelites.
Luke 17: 11-19
11 As Jesus went to Jerusalem, he passed between Samaria and Galilee.
12 And as he entered a village, ten men with leprosy met him, who stood at a distance
13 and they raised their voices, saying: Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!
14 When he saw them, he said to them: Go, show yourselves to the priests. And it happened that as they were going they were cleaned.
15 Then one of them, seeing that he had been healed, returned, glorifying God with a loud voice,
16 and he prostrated himself with his face on the ground at his feet, giving him thanks; and this one was a Samaritan.
17 Answering Jesus, he said: Are not ten those who were cleansed? And the nine, where are they?
18 Was there no one who returned and gave glory to God but this foreigner?
19 And he said to him: Get up, go; your faith has saved you.
The blessing of God refers to the fact that He in His Sovereignty provides us with what we need, whether spiritual or material, but it comes with the purpose of fulfilling the will of God in us, hence the importance of intimacy with God to know His will. .
Psalm 103 explanation teaches us to bless and praise God for all his benefits. In this psalm David teaches us to bless God for caring for him.
bless god
Blessing is an expression of gratitude to a God who is everything to us, who comes from our hearts and who comes out of our mouths blessing, giving thanks and honoring him.
When we refer to the term bless God, we are referring to thanks for spiritual and/or material favors, which a person enjoys and which have been given by the grace of God. Blessing God at all times, reveals to us that we have a grateful heart towards God, let us remember what the following biblical passage says
Lucas 6: 45
The good man, from the good treasure of his heart brings out the good; and the evil man, out of the evil treasure of his heart brings forth evil; Because of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.
Everything that God has done for us is by grace, nothing that he has done we can pay for, therefore what remains for us is to honor them and thank him for his benefits and for this reason we serve him.
In psalm 103 explanation, we can see three ways to bless God: a personal way (in verses 1 to 5), a communal way (in verses 6 to 18) and a universal way (in verses 19 to 22). ).
Analysis of Psalm 103 explanation: The personal blessing
At the beginning of psalm 103 explanation, we can read how David asks his soul to bless God, this reveals to us that in our sinful condition we often forget to thank God and bless them for the favors and care that He gives us out of love. David recognizes that we are selfish beings and therefore reminds himself to bless God.
Refusing to bless God for what he gives us is the product of the arrogance of believing that we deserve more than what we have received, just as the people of Israel did in the desert. God guards and cares for his children and usually we don't see that on a daily basis because we unconsciously believe that we deserve them. Well, let me tell you no.
God watches over us, protects and blesses us out of love and grace. We must keep in mind and value the gift of salvation, we must not get lost in the things of the world, but put our eyes on Jesus. (Proverbs 3:5-8, Hebrews 12:1-2; Deuteronomy 8:11-20)
It is important that in this context of psalm 103 explanation we remember that the flesh forgets the things of the spirit, therefore we must tear down our own opinions, strengths, arguments that are raised against God. Let us keep in mind as Christians that God fills us with favors and therefore we must bless him (2 Corinthians 10:3-5; Nahum 1:3; Psalm 103:8; Numbers 14:18)
According to psalm 103 explanation, there is an order to bless God. The first thing we must do as Christians is to recognize him as our Lord and therefore bless him.
Then we must remember all the favors and benefits that the Lord has given us starting with salvation. Our thanks and blessings will deepen as we become more aware of the unmerited favor that Jesus did for us on Calvary's cross (Habakkuk 3:17).
Salvation is a favor from God, a gift that we do not deserve, but has been given to us by the grace of God. That is why, as Christians, we must remember what the grace of God is. For clarification on this topic read the following titled link
Now, we must bless God, because when the Lord enters our lives, he restores us from the illness of the spirit as a consequence of sin and even physical. From the wounds that our life in the desert caused us, from sin and rebellion against God. He restores our lives, lifts us up, cleanses us, makes us new creatures (Psalms 37:25; 1 John 6:1-10; John 1:7; 2 Corinthians 5:17)
In verse 5 we can understand that every time we eat the Bread of Life, which is provided by the Word of God to find the Son (John 6:44-51; 4:14) we rejuvenate ourselves, we quench our spiritual thirst and hunger. However, God knows all our needs beforehand (Matthew 6:8; John 14:13; Deuteronomy 28:1-68; Deuteronomy 30:1-20; Matthew 21:22)
Psalm 103: 1-5
Bless, my soul, Jehovah,
And bless all my being his holy name.2 Bless, my soul, Jehovah,
And don't forget any of its benefits.3 He is the one who forgives all your iniquities,
The one who heals all your ailments;4 The one who rescues your life from the hole,
The one who crowns you with favors and mercies;5 The one that satisfies your mouth with good
So that you rejuvenate yourself like the eagle.
The Community Blessing
Let's continue to delve into psalm 103 explanation, but now to bless God from a community perspective. This type of blessing and giving thanks to God must come from a heart willing to bless him in the church, alongside our brothers in the Church.
Blessing God in the church represents the gratitude of the people of God for the crown of favors received. God's mercy is so sublime that it is renewed every morning (Lamentations 3:22-23), it shows us the way we should walk (Psalms 32:8), it rescues us from our falls in our Christian life.
God recognizes our human condition. Humanity must understand that this sinful condition makes us totally dependent on God, since without Him we are lost. From that guilt, God has rescued us on the cross, and out of love for his children he rescues us.
As the psalm 103 explanation reveals, He showed Moses His ways of mercy and justice (Exodus 33:13-19; 34:1-7; Romans 12:19), mercy that we have found in the cross and justice about sin.
In other words, the Lord showed him the Messiah and his Glory. Therefore, become aware as the body of Christ let us adore, praise and bless God, since it is on the cross where we find justice in the face of the violence and destruction of sin.
One of the features of this mercy is the patience of God. It is worth asking, what would become of us if the Lord had not been patient? The Lord gives us his Son to pay for the greater violence that can be produced than by sin (Romans 6:23; 2 Peter 3: 9)
The way back to the House of God, to the house of the living, to the Kingdom of God is through the cross. Therefore, we invite you to read the following link entitled Passion death and resurrection of Jesus It describes the sufferings of Jesus on the cross.
Now, to know what our life in the Kingdom of Heaven is about, we leave you these articles regarding John 14:6,What is the holy gospel of Jesus?, What is the Kingdom of God?
Psalm 103: 6-18
6 Jehovah is the one who does justice
And right to all those who suffer violence.7 His ways notified Moses,
And to the children of Israel their works.8 Merciful and gracious is Jehovah;
Slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy.9 He will not contend forever,
He will not keep his anger forever.10 He has not dealt with us according to our iniquities,
Nor has He repaid us according to our sins.11 Because as the height of the heavens above the earth,
He magnified his mercy on those who fear him.12 How far is the east from the west,
He has removed our rebellions from us.13 As the father pities the children,
Jehovah pities those who fear him.14 Because he knows our condition;
He remembers that we are dust.15 The man, as the grass are his days;
It blooms like the flower of the field,16 That the wind passed through her, and perished,
And her place will know her no more.17 But the mercy of the Lord is from eternity and to eternity on those who fear him,
And his justice on the sons of the sons;18 On those who keep his covenant,
And those who remember his commandments to put them into action.
By fully reading this section of Psalm 103 explanation, we point out that God's mercy for his children is renewed every morning, and keeps sin away from us, since He recognizes our condition as man.
This verse is one of hope because although it is true that humanity is like the grass that perishes, in our eternal life we will find the greatest grace that God has been able to give us. Fear God because the fear and trembling felt by God keeps us from sin. His mercy for those of us who fear him is from eternity to eternity, unmerited grace.
That everyone in the same spirit and in the same feeling give thanks to God for everything praising with songs of thanks as in the following audiovisual material.
the universal blessing
The universal blessing that David exposes us in psalm 103 explanation reminds us of the Sovereignty of God established from heaven. Therefore, all creation, visible and invisible must bless God from anywhere and for everything we must give thanks (Psalms 34:1-4: 1 Thessalonians 5:18).
Let us remember that according to the Word of God, the Lord is the one who establishes the authorities, therefore they must also bless Jehovah.
Psalms 103:19-22
19 The LORD has established his throne in heaven,
And his kingdom rules over all.20 Bless the Lord, you his angels,
Mighty in strength, who execute his word,
Obeying the voice of his precept.21 Bless the Lord, all you his armies,
His ministers, who do his will.22 Bless the Lord, you all his works,
In all the places of his lordship.
Bless, my soul, Jehovah.
Final Thoughts
Christians must take into account that everything, good and bad, is allowed by God and that in the context of our Christian life all things are for the good (Romans 8:18).
There are many actions that God does in our lives that our senses cannot capture, that is why we must always be grateful for those things that we are aware of and those that we do not see.
Let us not be like King Hezekiah who forgot the favor he had received (Deuteronomy 8:7-18) .
2 Chronicles 32:25
25 But Hezekiah did not return the good that had been done him, but his heart was lifted up, and wrath came against him, and against Judah and Jerusalem.
Rather, let us keep in our minds and hearts to remember our thanksgiving to God for his blessings and benefits, for the mercy he has shown us on the cross and for the justice over sin that freed us from the death of sin in Christ Jesus .
Philippians 4: 6-7
6 Do not be anxious about anything, but let your petitions be made known to God in all prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving.
7 And the peace of God, which passes all understanding, will guard your hearts and your thoughts in Christ Jesus.
Col. 3: 16
16 The word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs.
1 thessalonians 5:18
18 Give thanks in everything, because this is the will of God to you in Christ Jesus.
The best way to conclude this article is giving thanks and blessing to God
Thank you very much for the message. Challenge to have a grateful heart….Blessings.
Atte,
Artur Salirrosas