Do you ever talk to yourself? It is said that this is not a good sign, but I guess it depends on what you say! Here David is talking to himself, but in order to rouse and stir himself to praise God – “Praise the Lord, O my soul; all my inmost being, praise his holy name” (v 1.)
But what is praise? “To glorify and magnify God” is how the dictionary defines it, which can be done in song (Psalm 9 v 11); as well as with the help of musical instruments (Psalm 33 v 2.) Praise is also to be perpetual and not dependent on mood, feelings or circumstances (Hebrews 13 v 15); as well as being a mark of the people of God (1 Peter 2 v 9.)
How are we to praise? Not half heartedly, but with our body, mind, soul and spirit (Luke 10 v 27.)
Who are we to praise? The God who is holy; distinct from his creation and morally perfect (Isaiah 6 v 1- 8.)
So David glorifies and magnifies this holy God with every fibre of his being, only to be overcome by a sense of dissatisfaction with individual praise. So, come the end of the Psalm (v 20 -22), he is calling for universal praise from the angels, the heavenly host and indeed all of creation to join in choral praise, because praise is usually best when rendered from within the congregation.
But what is God to be praised for? The rest of the Psalm primes the pump of praise by focusing on the reasons for praising God. But such reasons revolve around the ability to remember – “Praise the Lord, O my soul, and FORGET NOT all his benefits” a recurring Biblical theme (Deuteronomy 8 v 11 & Luke 22 v 19.) We are not to be forgetful and absent minded when it comes to
remembering all that God has done; instead we are to praise him that he is:-
1 – The God who forgives sin (v 3 & 12.) Not just some sin, but all sin (1 John 1 v 9.)
2 – The God who heals diseases (v 3.) Who does not want to afflict, but desires to heal the disease of rebellion (Exodus 15 v 26.)
3 – The God who redeems from the pit (v 4.) The pit of trouble and distress (Psalm 40 v 1 – 2); as well as the pit of death (Psalm 16 v 19 – 11.)
4 – The God who satisfies and renews (v 5.) Who enables our desires to be his desires and who imparts vigour and strength (Isaiah 40 v 31.)
5 – The God who is righteous and just (v 6 – 10.) As seen in his dealings with his Old Testament people and in his self revelation to Moses (Exodus 34 v 6.)
6 – The God who is loving and compassionate (v 4, 11, 13 – 14 & 15 – 18.) He has the covenant love of a Father, who knows the frailty of his children (Matthew 6 v 28 – 30.)
7 – The God who rules over all (v 19.) Who has taken kingly power over the totality of all things, especially in Jesus (Zechariah 9 v 10.)
Challenge – Will you remember all these benefits allowing them to prime the pump of praise in your inmost being?
Service Details
Theme: “Don’t forget to remember!”
Reading: Psalm 103
Preacher: Chris Hughes
Led by: Richard Sills