This is a prayer of nothing but praise to God. There is no supplication, no request, no petition or plea in this prayer. It is pure unadulterated praise to God. David was awestruck with God's blessings. He realized how good God had been and how undeserving he was of all these blessings. David was singing the ancient Hebrew version of "Count your blessings." Springing up from the depths of his heart and gushing out onto his parchment came this prayer of praise, this benediction expressing his gratitude toward the Lord. These words were not dry and stale when David sang them. They were full of life and energy. They were part of his worship. David sang it with joy and with a deep desire to let God and all else who could hear know just how much he really wanted God to receive praise and glory.
Life in relationship with God is whole and healthy (v. 3)
As David writes under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit he understands that God forgives our sins. But he also sees believers as people who have been made whole because of their relationship with God. God is the great physician to whom we can take all of our physical needs and petitions. He made us and has the power to save us. He is talking to his soul, telling it that God heals all the diseases of the soul, sin being chief among them. Does the soul have diseases? Indeed it does. Fear, doubt, depression, anger, lust, hate jealously, pride, greed . . . the list goes on and on. These soul diseases can all be traced back to our fallen nature and the effects of sin. But God can give permanent healing to the soul.
Life in relationship with God is meaningful (vv. 4-5)
God gives His people purpose in living. He gives us meaning. He keeps our lives from going to waste. Our lives are lived with eternal purpose. All lives not lived in Christ are only a shell of what they are intended to be. This is one of the benefits of knowing God, our lives count; they are not lived in vain. They have eternal significance. This is one of the things David is praising the Lord for. Because He forgives our sins, because He gives us relationship, because He heals our souls diseases, then we see that life is meaningful. He gives us satisfaction in our old age. Remember he is speaking to his soul, he is saying that one of the benefits of being God's people is that when we are old we will not have to look back upon our lives with regret. Regardless of your age, or of how many years you have walked upon the earth, God will give you satisfaction.
Psalm 103:1-5
By David.
ברכי נפשי את־יהוה וכל־קרבי את־שם קדשו׃
Bless the LORD, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name.
ברכי נפשי את־יהוה ואל־תשכחי כל־גמוליו׃
Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits:
הסלח לכל־עונכי הרפא לכל־תחלאיכי׃
Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases;
הגואל משחת חייכי המעטרכי חסד ורחמים׃
Who redeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies;
המשביע בטוב עדיך תתחדש כנשר נעוריכי׃
Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things; so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle'.
A psalm is a song. All the psalms were in fact sung by the Hebrews.
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