THRU THE BIBLE EXPOSITION

Psalms: God's Nurture Of The Inner Man In The Life Of Faith

CIII: Praising God For His Grace Unto Us

(Psalm 103:1-22)

I. Introduction

A. Ephesians 2:7 ESV claims that in the ages of eternity to come, and because of His salvation of us through Christ, God will "show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus."

B. That theme of God's grace, His unmerited favor to us, is highlighted in Psalm 103:1-22 for our edification:

II. Praising God For His Grace Unto Us, Psalm 103:1-22.

A. The introductory remark of this psalm comprises the first part of the first verse in the Hebrew text (Kittel, Bib. Heb., p. 1063), so we stay with the English Bible's numbering system for clarity with this lesson.

B. Accordingly, we translate Psalm 103:1-22 (as follows): (1) "Bless Jahweh, O my life principle, and all that is within me; bless His holy name!" (2) "Bless Jahweh, O my life principle, and do not forget all His benefits." (3) "He pardons all of my perversities, He heals all my diseases." (4) "He redeems my earthly life from the pit (grave) and crowns me with loyal love and compassion." (5) "He satisfies my desires with wholesome things, so that my youth is renewed like the eagle's." (6) "Jahweh performs righteousness and justice for all the oppressed." (7) "He made known His ways to Moses, His deeds to the people of Israel." (8) "Jahweh is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in loyal love." (9) "He will not always accuse, nor will He harbor His anger forever;" (10) "He does not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our iniquities." (11) "Because as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is His loyal love for those who fear Him;" (12) "as far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us." (13) As a father has compassion on his children, so Jahweh has compassion on those who fear Him." (14) "Because He knows how we were formed, He remembers that we are (mere) dust." (15) "As for insignificant man ('enosh, Ibid., p. 1064; R. B. Girdlestone, Syns. of the O. T., 1973, p. 50-52), his days are like grass, he flourishes like a flower of the field;" (16) "the wind blows over it and it is gone, and its place remembers it no more." (17) "But from eternity (past) to eternity (future) Jahweh's loyal love is with those who revere Him, and His righteousness to their children's children --" (18) "with those who keep His covenant and remember to obey His precepts." (19) "Jahweh has established His throne in the heavens, and His kingdom rules over all." (20) "Bless Jahweh, you His angels, you mighty ones who do His bidding, who obey His word." (21) "Bless Jahweh, all His heavenly hosts, you His servants who do His will." (22) "Bless Jahweh, all His works everywhere in His dominion. Bless Jahweh, O my life principle!"

C. We note important observations about this psalm (as follows):

1. The introductory note credits this psalm to David who was under the Mosaic Law when believers enjoyed health and material welfare in direct proportion to their obedience to the Law, Deuteronomy 28:1-68.

2. Thus, David claimed God was to be praised for pardoning all his sins (v. 1-3a) so that God delivered him from all the effects of his sins in his diseases and the grave and crowned him with blessings of His grace in the form of material goods and good health (v. 3b-5). The psalm thus praises God for His unmerited favor.

3. God's grace in being slow to anger and compassionate (v. 8) was applicable back in Moses' time (v. 7) as in Exodus 20:6 et al., and David wonderfully described it in his era in verses 9-13.

4. The Lord is aware of our human limitations, especially as they are affected by sin and death (v. 14-16), but God's grace, His loyal love, extends from eternity past to eternity future for the godly (v. 17-18), and the sovereignty of God over the universe (v. 19) undergirds the stability of His gracious attitude toward the faithful regardless of their human limitations.

5. Thus, David called all entities to praise the Lord, be they heavenly angels or His earthly servants who did His will here (v. 20-21) together with all God's works everywhere in His dominion (v. 22).

Lesson: David acknowledged God was gracious, that He had not dealt with him according to what he deserved, but forgave and restored him, and that God's grace extended from eternity past to eternity future for all of the faithful. Thus, David praised the Lord, and called all His servants, the angels and all things in His domain, to praise Him.

Application: It is so fitting for us who are weak and sinful people to praise the Lord for His unmerited favor, His grace, for ONLY due to God's grace do we enjoy any and all earthly or eternal blessings, be they His forgiveness through Christ or the many blessings that rise out of His forgiveness.