This is why we praise the Lord in all things, because we recognize His mercy and grace that has brought us out of the miry clay. It is for this reason also that we bless the Lord with all our soul -- and with all that is within us, we bless His Holy Name.
As the scripture saith, bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits: who forgives all thine iniquities; who heals all thy diseases; who redeems thy life from destruction; who crowns thee with loving kindness and tender mercies; who satisfies thy mouth with good things; so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle’s. (Psalm 103:1-5)
Moreover, the Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy. And even though, as the psalmist David points out, He will not always chide: neither will He keep His anger for ever, and rightly so, He hath not dealt with us after our sins; nor rewarded us according to our iniquities.
But the mercy of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting upon them that fear Him, and His righteousness unto children’s children; to such as keep His covenant, and to those that remember His commandments to do them. The Lord hath prepared His throne in the heavens; and His kingdom rules over all.
Bless the Lord, ye His angels, that excel in strength, that do His commandments, hearkening unto the voice of His Word. Bless ye the Lord, all ye His hosts; ye ministers of His, that do His pleasure. Bless the Lord, all His works in all places of His dominion: bless the Lord, O my soul. (Psalm 103:1-22)
"For as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is His mercy toward them that fear Him. As far as the east is from the west, so far hath He removed our transgressions from us. Like as a father pities his children, so the Lord pities them that fear Him. For He knows our frame; He remembers that we are dust. As for man, his days are as grass: as a flower of the field, so he flourishes. For the wind passes over it, and it is gone; and the place thereof shall know it no more.
But the mercy of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting upon them that fear Him, and His righteousness unto children’s children; to such as keep His covenant, and to those that remember His commandments to do them. The Lord hath prepared His throne in the heavens; and His kingdom rules over all.
Bless the Lord, ye His angels, that excel in strength, that do His commandments, hearkening unto the voice of His Word. Bless ye the Lord, all ye His hosts; ye ministers of His, that do His pleasure. Bless the Lord, all His works in all places of His dominion: bless the Lord, O my soul. (Psalm 103:1-22)
And who is the Word that we are to hearken unto? JESUS -- the Word made flesh and dwelt among us. And His commandments? To love Him -- the Lord God our Saviour Jesus the Christ with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength, and from His abundant love filling our very essence -- flowing through His love to one another.
Hearken unto His voice this day. Bless the Lord in all things, because of His mercy that is from everlasting to everlasting. And forget not all His benefits, or He who forgives all thine iniquities, who heals all thy diseases and desires so much so to redeem our lives from destruction.
As Jesus said, "I AM the Way, the Truth and the Life. No man comes unto the Father but by Me!" (John 14:6)
And when we come to Him in humbleness of heart, He crowns us with His loving kindness and tender mercies, and satisfies our mouth with good things -- so that our youth is renewed like the eagle's. This is His promise to those who turn their repentant hearts to Him in faith. Taking His instruction one step further (as an answer of a good conscience toward God) we discover that when we are subsequently water baptized in the precious, holy Name of the Lord Jesus Christ -- for the remission of sins, we become clothed in His righteousness, filled with the Holy Ghost. (Acts 2:36-41)
And then you too can stand and sing -- bless the Lord O my soul and all that is within me.
Stand in the offering plate.
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