INVITATION TO GIVE THANKS

 

INVITATION TO GIVE THANKS

 

“Bless the Lord, O my soul; and all that is within me, bless His holy name!

2 Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits—

3 who forgiveth all thine iniquities, who healeth all thy diseases,

4 who redeemeth thy life from destruction, who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies,

5 who satisfieth thy mouth with good things, so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle’s.” (21^st Century New King James Versio)

 

In Psalm 103, David praises the Lord for His abundant mercies. In this Psalm David speaks to himself saying “bless the Lord O my soul.” He repeats this soliloquy of praise six times (verses 1, 2, 20, 21, 22). “Bless the Lord O, my soul and forget not all his benefits” (Psalm 103:2).

Then he lists the good things that God bestows upon His people. The benefits they received and will continue to receive which they should not forget.

David stirs up his heart, soul, which he describes as “all that is within” him (Psalm 103:1) to “forget not the (Lord’s) benefits.” The original Hebrew verb translated “forget” means “to lose memory or remembrance of,” but it can also mean “ignore” or “cease to care about.”

The Lord’s “benefits” represent all the good things the Lord provides.

If we get in the regular habit of giving thanks to the Lord for His blessings, we won’t forget them. If we do not give thanks, if we fail to praise the Lord, if we fail to be thankful for His benefits or, worse, cease to care about them, we are sure to forget them.

What are these benefits? David enumerates them: “He forgives all my sins and heals all my diseases. He redeems me from death and crowns me with love and tender mercies. He fills my life with good things. My youth is renewed like the eagle’s! The LORD gives righteousness and justice to all who are treated unfairly” (Psalm 103:3–6, NLT). David goes on to praise the Lord’s compassion, mercy, and patience (Psalm 103:8). He recalls how God revealed His character to Moses and His mighty deeds to the children of Israel (Psalm 103:7).

In His mercy, the Lord holds back the punishment we deserve and pours out His unfailing love (Psalm 103:10–11). “The LORD is like a father to his children, tender and compassionate to those who fear him. For he knows how weak we are; he remembers we are only dust” (Psalm 103:13–14, NLT).

We have so much to be thankful for as God’s children. May we never forget His forgiveness: “For he has rescued us from the kingdom of darkness and transferred us into the Kingdom of his dear Son, who purchased our freedom and forgave our sins” (Colossians 1:13–14, NLT). May we always remember that He heals us from the sin that infects us: “But he was pierced for our rebellion, crushed for our sins. He was beaten so we could be whole. He was whipped so we could be healed” (Isaiah 53:5, NLT).

May we forget not His benefits, including redemption from death: “Because God’s children are human beings—made of flesh and blood—the Son also became flesh and blood. For only as a human being could he die, and only by dying could he break the power of the devil, who had the power of death. Only in this way could he set free all who have lived their lives as slaves to the fear of dying” (Hebrews 2:14–15, NLT).

May we never ignore or cease to care about His lovingkindness and tender mercy: “Because your steadfast love is better than life, my lips will praise you. So I will bless you as long as I live” (Psalm 63:3–4, ESV).

A genuinely grateful heart remembers always to praise the Lord for His goodness. In Deuteronomy, Moses warned the people: “Only be careful, and watch yourselves closely so that you do not forget the things your eyes have seen or let them fade from your heart as long as you live. Teach them to your children and to their children after them. . . . Be careful not to forget the covenant of the LORD your God that he made with you” (Deuteronomy 4:9, 23).

Bless the Lord O my soul and all that is within me, Bless his Holy Name Amen.