RTW May 14
God Is
Let all that I am praise the LORD;…
Psalm 103:1a
My Takeaways
Something Old
Let all that I am praise the LORD; with my whole heart, I will praise his holy name. Let all that I am praise the LORD; may I never forget the good things he does for me. Psalm 103:1-2
WOW! Just WOW!
Something New
- God is righteous. (Psalm 103:6)
- God is justice. (Psalm 103:6)
- God is gracious. (Psalm 103:8-10)
- God is forgiveness. (Psalm 103:11-12)
- God is sympathetic. (Psalm 103:13-14)
- God is great. (Psalm 103:15-18)
Something to Do
I love reading God’s Word out loud – I do it every morning here in RTW!!
Psalm 103 is so rich … today the standout for me was found in vv 2 and 5 – the words “good things”. Other versions use “benefits” and I looked up the word on Blue Letter Bible and it means “recompense” – which is a repayment or reward. So what are the rewards that I need to not forget and praise the LORD for? He forgives my sins, heals my diseases, redeems me from death, crowns me with love and tender mercies, fill my life with good things (there’s that word again…later on that) and renews my youth. Isn’t it wonderful that God doesn’t repay us as we deserve but according to His mercy, love and compassion?
The second “good things” (it only says “good” in the ESV) means … “good, pleasant, agreeable” and “a good thing, benefit, welfare” … but before that it says “He fills my life with …” I don’t believe this means the things of the world – but the Good Thing – the only One who IS good – which is the LORD. And the things that HE determines are good, not what I determine is good!
And WHY does He fill my life with good things? Because He is compassionate, merciful, slow to anger, filled with unfailing love. He is my Father…
Psalm 109 – David’s response to what his enemies are doing to him is to pray for them!!! Yikes – this is not typically my first response (or even my second if I’m honest here). I love what Spurgeon said on this: “He did nothing else but pray. He became prayer as they became malice. This was his answer to his enemies, he appealed from men and their injustice to the Judge of all the earth, who must do right”
TO DO: Ummmmmm…. here it is again for me – a reminder to PRAY!!!
And finally, Psalm 124:1. Thank you Lord that you are on my side! I am nothing without You!
-The verses Wendy asked us to read aloud are so rich and such an opportunity to worship and praise the Lord. Two others I noted in today’s reading are:
Ps 108:5 Be exalted, O God, above the highest heavens. May your glory shine over all the earth.
Ps 122:1 I was glad when they said to me, “Let us go to the house of the LORD.”
-Some things I noted about God from today’s reading:
Ps 103:8 The LORD is compassionate, merciful, slow to anger and filled with unfailing love.
Ps 103:12 He has removed our sins as far as the east is from the west.
Ps 108:4 For your u failing love is higher than the heavens. Your faithfulness reaches to the clouds.
As I was reading Psam 103 I felt I too needed to write my own Psalm of praise to the LORD. So many times I focus on what God does for me and I felt I should instead focus on who He is. I want to praise Him with all I am. I liked the reminderHuman help is useless with God’s help we will do mighty things. I need to remember to lean on His help. A reminder to pray for the peace and prosperity of Jerusalem. I loved Psalm 122 where it says The trap is broken , and we are free. I thank Jesus for breaking that trap.