Week 9: For the Season of Suffering (Psalm 103) Memory Verse Bless the LORD, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless his holy name. Psalm 103 [1] 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 forgives all your iniquity, who heals all your diseases, [4] who redeems your life from the pit, who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy, [5] who satisfies you with good so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's. [6] The LORD works righteousness and justice for all who are oppressed. [7] He made known his ways to Moses, his acts to the people of Israel. [8] The LORD is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. [9] He will not always chide, nor will he keep his anger forever. [10] He does not deal with us according to our sins, nor repay us according to our iniquities. [11] For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him; [12] as far as the east is from the west, so far does he remove our transgressions from us. [13] As a father shows compassion to his children, so the LORD shows compassion to those who fear him. 106
[14] For he knows our frame; he remembers that we are dust. [15] As for man, his days are like grass; he flourishes like a flower of the field; [16] for the wind passes over it, and it is gone, and its place knows it no more. [17] But the steadfast love of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear him, and his righteousness to children's children, [18] to those who keep his covenant and remember to do his commandments. [19] The LORD has established his throne in the heavens, and his kingdom rules over all. [20] Bless the LORD, O you his angels, you mighty ones who do his word, obeying the voice of his word! [21] Bless the LORD, all his hosts, his ministers, who do his will! [22] Bless the LORD, all his works, in all places of his dominion. Bless the LORD, O my soul! Sermon Notes 107
Monday Psalm 103 begins and ends with the same exhortation. David used a common Hebraic literary device called inclusion, which creates a frame by placing similar material at the beginning and end of the Psalm. In this case: Bless the Lord, O my soul. As Matthew Henry says, David stirs up himself to the duty of praise, three times in verse 1 and implores all of creation to worship Yahweh four times in the last three verses (20-22). For the first scripture of this week, reflect on the words of Jesus when questioned by a Pharisee on which commandment was the greatest. When we bless the Lord it is one of the main ways that we love Him. Matthew 22:36-38 Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law? And he said to him, You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. 108
Notes & Prayers Rejoice - How does the text lead you to thank God? Repent How does the text lead you back to God? Request How does the text lead you to ask for God s help? 109
Tuesday The theme of Psalm 103 paints a beautiful picture of God s loving- kindness by listing some of the benefits of belonging to God. David provided himself and the reader with an abundant list, which begins with forgiveness of sin. This is highlighted in verse 3 and then again in verses 10-12. Our minds can hardly keep from running straight to the gospel. Our sin separated us from a Holy God. But our Holy God is committed to separating us from our sins. Faith in Jesus Christ to forgive our sins brings us into fellowship with the Lord God Almighty and the promise of living in Heaven with Him one day. How can we keep from joining David in praising this amazing God? How can we keep from joining this woman in pouring out our love for the incredible gift of Jesus? Luke 7:44-47 Then turning toward the woman he said to Simon, Do you see this woman? I entered your house; you gave me no water for my feet, but she has wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. You gave me no kiss, but from the time I came in she has not ceased to kiss my feet. You did not anoint my head with oil, but she has anointed my feet with ointment. Therefore I tell you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven for she loved much. But he who is forgiven little, loves little. 110
Notes & Prayers Rejoice - How does the text lead you to thank God? Repent How does the text lead you back to God? Request How does the text lead you to ask for God s help? 111
Wednesday In Psalm 103:3-6, David acknowledges that life is hard and includes much suffering but that it is the Lord who heals, redeems, crowns, satisfies and renews. In that same spirit, Jesus preached a realistic but comforting sermon to his disciples in John 13-16. In John 16:33, He summarizes by saying I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world. For today s reading, meditate on these encouraging words from one of the men who were present for that sermon from Jesus. 1 Peter 5:6-11 Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you. Be sober- minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world. And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you. To him be the dominion forever and ever. Amen. 112
Notes & Prayers Rejoice - How does the text lead you to thank God? Repent How does the text lead you back to God? Request How does the text lead you to ask for God s help? 113
Thursday David mentions how God showed Israel His goodness in the Exodus (Ps. 103:6-7). Under the leadership of Moses Israel was brought out of bondage. Moses also appears in the New Testament on the Mount of Transfiguration. Most English Bibles say he and Elijah spoke with Jesus about his departure (Luke 9:31). It is striking to learn that the Greek word literally means, Exodus. They spoke with Jesus about His Exodus that He was getting ready to lead through the cross and resurrection. Read today s passage and reflect on the glory of Jesus and His work. Luke 9:28-36 Now about eight days after these sayings he took with him Peter and John and James and went up on the mountain to pray. And as he was praying, the appearance of his face was altered, and his clothing became dazzling white. And behold, two men were talking with him, Moses and Elijah, who appeared in glory and spoke of his departure, which he was about to accomplish at Jerusalem. Now Peter and those who were with him were heavy with sleep, but when they became fully awake they saw his glory and the two men who stood with him. And as the men were parting from him, Peter said to Jesus, Master, it is good that we are here. Let us make three tents, one for you and one for Moses and one for Elijah not knowing what he said. As he was saying these things, a cloud came and overshadowed them, and they were afraid as they entered the cloud. And a voice came out of the cloud, saying, This is my Son, my Chosen One; listen to him! And when the voice had spoken, Jesus was found alone. And they kept silent and told no one in those days anything of what they had seen. 114
Notes & Prayers Rejoice - How does the text lead you to thank God? Repent How does the text lead you back to God? Request How does the text lead you to ask for God s help? 115
Friday In Psalm 103:13-18, David compares God s compassion to that of a faithful dad. With that in mind he says our God knows us. While the best earthly father takes time to know his children, our Heavenly Father knows us as our Sovereign Creator. Likewise, we can say we also know Him, because the Spirit of His Son makes this relationship real to us. There is something tremendously comforting in being known by God and knowing Him. We go off track when we forget this beautiful truth and look to have this need fulfilled by someone or something in the world. As you read today s scripture invite the Lord to make this relationship more and more of a reality to you. Galatians 4:4-9 But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons. And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, Abba! Father! So you are no longer a slave, but a son, and if a son, then an heir through God. Formerly, when you did not know God, you were enslaved to those that by nature are not gods. But now that you have come to know God, or rather to be known by God, how can you turn back again to the weak and worthless elementary principles of the world, whose slaves you want to be once more? 116
Notes & Prayers Rejoice - How does the text lead you to thank God? Repent How does the text lead you back to God? Request How does the text lead you to ask for God s help? 117