Remembering All His Benefits
A Reflection for a Peaceful Week
This Week’s Text
(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.
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!
Welcome to Weekly Peace
As we enter Holy Week and set our hearts toward the cross and resurrection of Christ, Psalm 103 provides a deeply pastoral and comforting meditation. It leads us not only to personal peace but to worship - a call to the soul to remember and rejoice in the goodness and mercy of God.
David begins not with a request, but with a resolve: “Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me.” This is a deliberate act of praise, rooted in remembrance. In a world that constantly draws our attention to what we lack or fear, this psalm draws our gaze upward - to the One who forgives, heals, redeems, crowns, and satisfies. This is the peace of the believer: not a life free of suffering, but a life saturated in God’s benefits.
Steadfast Love and Gracious Compassion
As David rehearses the attributes of the Lord - his mercy, his grace, his patience, and his steadfast love - he invites us to ground our confidence not in what we’ve done, but in who God is. “He does not deal with us according to our sins.” What a timely word as we begin Holy Week, a journey that will culminate in the ultimate expression of God’s mercy at the cross.
John Stott once wrote, “The cross is the blazing fire at which the flame of our love is kindled, but we have to get near enough for its sparks to fall on us.” In Psalm 103, we’re brought near. The Lord’s compassion isn’t abstract – it’s like that of a father to his children. He knows our frailty. He doesn’t ask for strength we don’t possess. He remembers that we’re dust, and yet he covers us in everlasting love.
Peace Rooted in God’s Character
There’s peace in knowing that our sins are forgiven and that our past is no longer held against us. “As far as the east is from the west, so far does he remove our transgressions from us.” This isn’t only a theological truth – it’s a balm to the anxious heart. When guilt lingers or shame whispers, we remember: the Lord has removed our sins. Fully. Finally. Forever.
And this peace is generational. “His righteousness to children’s children.” His covenant love extends far beyond the horizon of our own lives. For those who walk in his ways, the Lord’s promises endure. In the words of Richard Baxter, “Christ leads none to heaven but whom he sanctifies on the earth.” The journey of holiness is not one of self-striving but of daily surrender to his mercy and strength.
The Majesty of a Ruling God
As the psalm closes, it lifts our eyes once again from our daily concerns to the greater, eternal reality: “The Lord has established his throne in the heavens, and his kingdom rules over all.” In this truth we rest. In this sovereignty we find peace.
This Palm Sunday, as we remember our Savior riding humbly into Jerusalem, we do so with hearts that both bless and trust the Lord. He reigns in majesty, and he draws near in compassion. In his rule, we’re secure. In his mercy, we’re restored.
Prayer
Gracious and merciful Father, I bless your holy name. Thank you for all your benefits - forgiveness, healing, redemption, love, and satisfaction. You are slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love, and I praise you for the peace that flows from your unchanging character.
As I enter this sacred week, help me remember your compassion and trust in your care. Let me walk through the days ahead with eyes fixed on the cross and heart anchored in the hope of resurrection. Teach me to bless you in all things, to trust you in every moment, and to rest in the peace that only you can give. In the name of Jesus, my Redeemer, I pray. Amen.
A Final Word
This Weekly Peace devotional, grounded in Psalm 103, invites us to a posture of worship and rest as we enter Holy Week. The psalm calls us to bless the Lord - not with vague sentiment, but in full remembrance of his mercy and grace. We’re reminded of his compassion, his forgiveness, and his sovereignty.
As you begin this sacred week, let your soul be still in the truth that you are fully known, deeply loved, and eternally secured in Christ. The cross and empty tomb bear witness to his love and power. Bless the Lord, O your soul - and walk forward in his peace.
May the peace of Christ be with you this Holy Week.
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PEACE ROOTED IN GOD’s CHARACTER is a section with soothing words. Knowing you can let go of your past and sins, strengthens your faith in doing the right thing each day.
Always one of my favorite Psalms. Thank you,