Bless the Lord, O My Soul

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Summary

Psalm 103 begins, bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget none of His benefits. The lesson asks what it means to bless God, and how anyone can bless the One who is the source of all blessing. Acts 17 shows the self-sufficient God, who needs nothing from His creatures and gives to all life and breath. We bless Him not by adding to Him but by remembering Him, since forgetfulness is one of the most common sins, a sin of omission.

Deuteronomy 8 warns Israel not to forget the Lord when they are full and prosperous, and commands them to remember that they were slaves in Egypt. So believers are called to remember their former condition, dead in trespasses and sins, and to declare His mighty deeds: He pardons all our iniquities, redeems our life from the pit, and has compassion on us as a father has on his children.

Essential truths

  1. God is self-sufficient and needs nothing from His creatures.
  2. We bless the Lord by remembering His benefits and declaring His deeds.
  3. Forgetting God in times of plenty is a sin His people must guard against.
  4. The Lord pardons, redeems and has a father's compassion on those who fear Him.

Encouragement and challenge

Name the Lord's benefits to you today, beginning with the forgiveness of your sins. Let remembering Him turn into thanks and into telling others what He has done.

Reference verses

  • Psalm 103:1-12
  • Acts 17:24-28
  • Deuteronomy 8:10-20
  • Ephesians 2:1-7
  • Psalm 96:1-13
  • Psalm 103:13-14

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