Praise God
There is so much to praise God for. David appears almost to be speaking to himself and urging himself on: ‘O my soul, bless God, from head to toe, I’ll bless his holy name! O my soul, bless God, don’t forget a single blessing!’ (vv.1–2, MSG).
David had faced many troubles in his life: sin, disease, and ‘the pit’ (vv.3–4). Yet he, like the apostle Paul (2 Corinthians 1:3), begins with praise for so many of God’s benefits.
1. Forgiveness
God forgives all your sins (Psalm 103:3): ‘he does not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our iniquities’ (v.10); ‘as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us’ (v.12).
2. Healing
God ‘heals all your diseases’. One day we will be completely healed. We see signs of this now when God heals us directly and supernaturally. In addition, God has put in our bodies the immune system, antibodies, and the mending process.
3. Redemption
God ‘redeems your life from the pit’ (v.4a). There is no pit so deep that God’s redemption cannot reach.
4. Love
He ‘crowns you with love and compassion’ (v.4b): ‘for as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his love for those who fear him’ (v.11).
5. Satisfaction
He ‘satisfies your desires with good things’ (v.5a)
