Oh, My Soul, Bless God

Jeanette Stark
Oct 13, 2023
3 min read

Updated: Oct 4

My desk-calendar Bible reading for Wednesday this week was so beautiful:

“God is sheer mercy and grace; not easily angered, he’s rich in love….He doesn’t treat us as our sins deserve, nor pay us back in full for our wrongs. As high as heaven is over the earth, so strong is his love to those who fear him. And as far as sunrise is from sunset, he has separated us from our sins.” Psalm 103:8, 10-12 MSG

Does this not focus on God's goodness and compassion? Does it also not show the immense benefits of having a relationship with Him?

Psalm 103 begins with

“O my soul, bless God. From head to toe, I’ll bless his holy name! O my soul, bless God, don’t forget a single blessing! He forgives your sins—every one. He heals your diseases—every one. He redeems you from hell—saves your life! He crowns you with love and mercy—a paradise crown. He wraps you in goodness—beauty eternal. He renews your youth—you’re always young in his presence. God makes everything come out right; he puts victims back on their feet.” Psalm 103:1-6 MSG

David had an intimate knowledge of the goodness of God. He knew first hand of His compassion, mercy, and love, and he found such poetic ways to express God's profound, boundless love, compassion, and grace.

Psalm 103 kicks off with an overflow of praise and gratitude: "O my soul, bless God. From head to toe, I'll bless His holy name!"

The joy is contagious!

I am leading praise music at church this weekend and I plan to sing 10,000 Reasons and I plan to read Psalm 103 to my church family.

This chapter is a celebration of Divine goodness. It is also a direct conversation with God. Our spiritual journey can be personal and relatable. In fact my friend, that is exactly what Jesus wants. He wants a personal and relatable relationship with you.

At its very center Psalm 103 is about God's incredible compassion and love.

"As far as the east is from the west, so far does he remove our transgressions from us." Psalm 103:12 ESV

I love this imagery! David too marvels at God "getting rid of our sins," saying they're banished "as far as the east is from the west."

I have a laser pointer at home. It was purchased for my two cats; they could care less. The one that cares much is my dog. He goes wild over that laser pointer.

Now think about this. If I point that red laser beam in a straight-line due west out into space and tell that red laser beam to keep going, it will go to infinity and beyond. Then I turn with a second laser pointer and face east and do the same. Will the end of those two laser beams ever touch? No. And that my friend is how far our sins are removed from us when we ask our heavenly Father for forgiveness.

Psalm 103 emphasizes the relational side of faith. It doesn't depict God as an aloof, stern judge but as compassionate and caring. "God is sheer mercy and grace; not easily angered; He's rich in love."

God is loving and patient, characteristics that are crucial in our personal connection with the Divine.

It's also a call to gratitude. David urges us to remember the benefits of having faith in God, including healing, redemption, and renewal.

Most of all, in a world that often feels turbulent, Psalm 103 reassures us of God's unwavering love and the promise of redemption. It beautifully captures the idea of God's eternal love: "His love has no limits, His grace has no measure."

Does that not assure you that God's love is not constrained by time or conditions?

Psalm 103 serves as a reminder of the enduring relationship between humanity and Heaven. It should offer an overflowing source of hope and gratitude, especially in turbulent times.

It invites us to experience the profound beauty of a personal and loving connection with our Heavenly Abba.