Psalms 103:1-8
“Bless the Lord, O my soul; And all that is within me, bless His holy name! Bless the Lord, O my soul, And forget not all His benefits: Who forgives all your iniquities, Who heals all your diseases, Who redeems your life from destruction, Who crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies, Who satisfies your mouth with good things, So that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s. The Lord executes righteousness And justice for all who are oppressed. He made known His ways to Moses, His acts to the children of Israel. The Lord is merciful and gracious, Slow to anger, and abounding in mercy.”
INSIGHT
-To bless the Lord as revealed in this Psalm is to worship God in His presence, and give thanks to Him. This is a Psalm of David, and as usual he mastered the art of praise. David encountered the favor of the Lord as he grew up, and had experiential knowledge of God, and tasted His goodness. In Psalms 34:8-10, David recounts that he tastes and saw that the Lord is good. Further that; blessed is the man who trusts and fears the Lord, for even though the young lion lacks and suffers hunger, he shall not lack any good thing. We therefore bless the Lord for what He has done unto us and we do not forget any of His benefits. The Lord forgives all our iniquities as we learn from David’s encounter with Bathsheba, and Uriah her husband (2 Samuel 11-12). The Lord heals all our diseases. He redeems our life from destruction as we see from the story of David and Goliath (1 Samuel 17). God crowns us with lovingkindness and tender mercies. He satisfies our mouths with good things. He made known His ways to Moses, and delivered the children of Israel from Egypt. To bless the Lord is also to make a statement of faith, for nothing is too hard for the Lord (Jeremiah 32:27).
PRAYER
Lord You are merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in mercy, have mercy on us and on the whole world merciful Savior. We bless Your name for You have done great things in our lives, families and all the nations. Thank You for the gift of salvation. May Your revival reach all the nations of the world, and may all people know You personally dear Jesus. We count our blessings and name them one by one. We celebrate Your goodness and declare on You Lord Jesus are worthy to be worshipped and adored. As we celebrate Labor Day, we thank You for Your blessings upon our lives. Thank You for Your provision and care. Thank You for this far that You brought us and the far that You are taking us. Thank You for we have seen this new month in good health. May You heal all those who are sick and suffering among us. May You bless the work of our hands and make all our plans succeed. May You dear Jesus bring forth the wealth of the nations so that our economy may thrive. May You enlighten our minds so that we may be innovative and explore more profitable business ideas. May You reveal new opportunities unto us so that we succeed and give us the wisdom to work well; for the glory and honor of Your name. May You remember all those who are jobless that You may provide for them opportunities to prosper. May You forgive us all our iniquities and wash us with Your precious blood. Thank You dear Jesus for healing all our diseases and healing our land. Thank You for redeeming us with Your precious blood and preserving our lives from destruction. Thank You for crowning us with Your lovingkindness and tender mercies. Thank You for satisfying our mouths with every good thing. Thank You for renewing our youth like that of an eagle. Thank You for executing Your righteousness and justice for all those who are oppressed. Thank You for loving us and for choosing us. Thank You for Your abounding grace and favor upon us. We praise You and bless Your holy name, now and forever. Amen
Further reading: Psalms 103:1-22
Psalms 104:1-6
“Bless the Lord, O my soul! O Lord my God, You are very great: You are clothed with honor and majesty, Who cover Yourself with light as with a garment, Who stretch out the heavens like a curtain. He lays the beams of His upper chambers in the waters, Who makes the clouds His chariot, Who walks on the wings of the wind, Who makes His angels spirits, His ministers a flame of fire. You who laid the foundations of the earth, So that it should not be moved forever, You covered it with the deep as with a garment; The waters stood above the mountains.”
INSIGHT
-The Psalmist praises the Lord who is the Maker and Sustainer, and takes notice of His divine attributes, and the wonder of His creation. The Psalmist worships the Lord from the innermost parts, that is his soul, and calls us to worship in spirit and in truth (John 4:24). The God of Israel is clothed with honor and majesty but all the other gods of other nations are idols, and often described as powerless, crude and shameful. The Lord is clothed with light as with a garment, and His presence reflects His radiant being, like during the transfiguration, where Jesus’ face shone like the sun, and His clothes became as white as the light (Matthew 17:2). The Lord dwells in unapproachable light, in the glory of His presence (1 Timothy 6:16). God created the angels who are spirit in form and serve Him in His presence. The Lord created the earth’s foundations which will never be moved until He Himself moves them. He built the strongest foundations imaginable; which is a stupendous work of Divine power and wisdom, yet the earth is His footstool, and heaven His throne (Isaiah 66:1).
PRAYER
Bless the Lord, O my soul. O Lord my God, You are very great. You are clothed with honor and majesty. The earth is Your footstool and heaven Your throne, we worship You Lord in Your glory and splendor. We magnify Your holy name and exult You Abba Father, our Father and Friend. May You teach us Holy Spirit to worship You in spirit and in truth. You cover Yourself with light as with a garment. You are the Light of the world and You radiate Your presence onto those You desire. You have created us to be the salt and the light of the earth so that we may represent You in Your likeness. We need You Holy Spirit to live and move in us, our homes, families, businesses, work places, schools, ministries, and our nation, and do Your will on earth as it is in heaven. We surrender all to You dear Jesus may You take over. Take over our hearts and mend all the broken situations. Take over minds and renew us to be more like You as ambassadors that we may operate in Christlikeness. May You take over our lives during both good and adverse situations. Be present always merciful Savior. We desire more of You. Take over Holy Spirit and fill us afresh. May You fill us with Your gifts and fruit, and anoint us afresh. May You wash us with Your precious blood. Only You are the One true God, and all the other gods are idols. Only You are worthy to be worshipped honored and praised dear Jesus. May You allow all people and languages to access Your eternal life merciful Savior. May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with us now, and forever more. Amen
Further reading: Genesis 1:1-31, 2:1-2, Matthew 5:13-16
Psalms 134:1-3
“Behold, bless the Lord, All you servants of the Lord, Who by night stand in the house of the Lord! Lift up your hands in the sanctuary, And bless the Lord. The Lord who made heaven and earth Bless you from Zion!”
INSIGHT
-The priests and Levites had a special duty of serving God in the temple. The psalmist discloses how they watched at night in the house of the Lord. 1 Chronicles 9:33 reveals that, some Levites had the responsibility of singing in the temple, and were freed from all other duties. They lodged in the chambers and worked in the temple during the day and at night. We draw an image of worshipping the Lord during the day and at night, for our bodies are the temples of the Holy Spirit. When we are awake our bodies worship the Lord. When we are asleep, our spirits remain awake to glorify God our Father. To bless the Lord is therefore to offer our bodies as living sacrifices holy and acceptable to God in true worship. God also calls us to be transformed by the renewing of our minds that we may realize His good, pleasing and perfect will (Romans 12:1-2).
PRAYER
Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth. Worship the Lord with gladness; come before Him with joyful songs. Know that the Lord is God. It is He Who made us, and we are His; we are His people, the sheep of His pasture. Enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise; give thanks to Him and praise His Name. For the Lord is good and His love endures forever. His faithfulness continues through all generations. We worship and praise You Almighty God all day long. You created the heavens and the earth and all that is in them. The earth and the heavens belong to You. We worship You always and Your praises will always be on our lips. May You wash us with Your precious blood dear Jesus. May You sanctify us completely, body, soul and spirit and perfect us with Your love. Teach us Holy Spirit to worship You in spirit and in truth. May You protect us from all the schemes of the enemy. No weapon fashioned against us shall prosper and no tongue raised against us shall prevail. We are more than conquerors in You dear Jesus. We shall prosper and be fruitful in all our plans and hearts desires; for we belong to You. All glory, honor, power, praise, wealth and blessings belong to You Jesus now and forever. Amen
Further reading: 1 Corinthians 6:18-20, 2 Corinthians 2:15-17
Psalms 34:1-4
“I will bless the Lord at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth. My soul shall make its boast in the Lord; The humble shall hear of it and be glad. Oh, magnify the Lord with me, And let us exalt His name together. I sought the Lord, and He heard me, And delivered me from all my fears.”
INSIGHT
-David narrated this Psalm when he was In danger. King Saul pursued him and threatened his life with death. David crossed over to Gath and pretended to be insane, and the Lord saved his life from danger (1 Samuel 21:12-14). David worshipped in every situation, whether he was threatened with death, or secure in victory. David trusted in God; in all circumstances and boasted of His goodness. Like king David, the Lord desires that we bless His name and give thanks to Him always. God calls us to rejoice in Him always (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18).
PRAYER
Blessed is the man who trusts in You Lord, who depends on You in all circumstances. All our hope and trust is in You Oh Lord our God. The righteous cry out and You Lord hear their cry, may You hear and prayers and supplications Abba Father, and deliver us out of all our troubles. Lord You are near those who have a broken heart, and You save those who have a contrite spirit. We call on You dear Jesus save us from the snares of the enemy and cover us with Your precious blood. Lead us not into temptations Holy Spirit and deliver us from all evil. May You heal our hearts and minds from all anxiety, and secure us in Your arms merciful Savior. We cast all our burdens and cares unto You Jesus for You care for us. May You heal us physically, emotionally, financially, economically, and move us from glory to glory. May You respond to the needs of those who are sick, weak, hopeless and struggling. May You hear the cry of all orphans, widows, fatherless and street families. May You respond to all our needs and hearts desires loving Father. We love You Lord and bless Your name. We give thanks to You always and exult You, now and forever. Amen
Further reading: Psalms 34:1-22, Philippians 4:4-7
1 Peter 1:3-5
“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.”
INSIGHT
-The Lord grants the gift of salvation through His merciful love for He is the Door to eternal life (John 10:9). He requires that we have faith in Him for He has won victory for us. The Lord is therefore the God of our salvation, and we bless His name.
SUMMARY
God is infinitely greater than man, and man cannot really bless God. The theme bless the Lord, first delivers the message of giving God all the praise. Psalms 103:1-8 reiterates this that blessing the Lord is to exult Him and magnifies Him in His presence. Secondly, to bless the Lord means to trust in the Lord in all circumstances. Thirdly, blessing the Lord exposes the idea of honoring God for He is worthy of all worship, and all creation to praise Him. We bless the Lord also for we have been created for this purpose. Forth, we bless the Lord for He formed us, and created all the heavens and the earth, and everything that is in it. Fifth, we bless the Lord for His sacrifice on the cross for our sins and infirmities, and for the precious gift of salvation.
PRAYER
The Heavens praise Your wonders, Lord. Your faithfulness in the assembly of the Holy ones. Who in the skies above can compare with the Lord. Who is like the Lord among the Heavenly beings and on the earth. In the council of the Holy ones only You Lord God are greatly feared, and greatly to be praised. God You are more awesome than all who surround You. Who is like You, Lord God Almighty. Only You Lord are mighty, and Your faithfulness surrounds You. Righteousness and justice are the foundation of Your throne, love and faithfulness go before You. Blessed are those who have learned to acclaim You, who walk in the light of Your presence, Lord. They rejoice in Your Name all day long; they celebrate Your righteousness. For You are their glory and strength, and by Your favor You exalt our horn. Indeed, our shield belongs to You Lord, our King to the Holy One of Israel. Praise be to the Lord forever. May You grant salvation unto our family members, friends, and our leaders dear Jesus. May You bless us and keep us Lord. May You make Your face to shine upon us and be gracious unto us. May You turn Your countenance upon us and grant us peace. In Jesus Name we pray, Amen
Further reading: Psalms 68:19-20