Psalm 103. Bless God.

1-2 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!

3-5 He forgives your sins—every one.
    He heals your diseases—every one.
    He redeems you from hell—saves your life!
    He crowns you with love and mercy—a paradise crown.
    He wraps you in goodness—beauty eternal.
    He renews your youth—you’re always young in his presence.

6-18 God makes everything come out right;
    he puts victims back on their feet.
He showed Moses how he went about his work,
    opened up his plans to all Israel.
God is sheer mercy and grace;
    not easily angered, he’s rich in love.
He doesn’t endlessly nag and scold,
    nor hold grudges forever.
He doesn’t treat us as our sins deserve,
    nor pay us back in full for our wrongs.
As high as heaven is over the earth,
    so strong is his love to those who fear him.
And as far as sunrise is from sunset,
    he has separated us from our sins.
As parents feel for their children,
    God feels for those who fear him.
He knows us inside and out,
    keeps in mind that we’re made of mud.
Men and women don’t live very long;
    like wildflowers they spring up and blossom,
But a storm snuffs them out just as quickly,
    leaving nothing to show they were here.
God’s love, though, is ever and always,
    eternally present to all who fear him,
Making everything right for them and their children
    as they follow his Covenant ways
    and remember to do whatever he said.

19-22 God has set his throne in heaven;
    he rules over us all. He’s the King!
So bless God, you angels,
    ready and able to fly at his bidding,
    quick to hear and do what he says.
Bless God, all you armies of angels,
    alert to respond to whatever he wills.
Bless God, all creatures, wherever you are—
    everything and everyone made by God.

And you, O my soul, bless God!

In our world, we hear and say frequently, ‘what a blessing’ - welcoming and receiving gifts from our Creator, but in this Psalm we become part of the relationship, not only receiving, but blessing Him… giving. When we enter into this giving and receiving, there is now an interactive relationship. Instead of just a Father giving to a child, there is now a child receiving and giving back to the Father. Two willing, loving participants. A True Relationship. So, what do we have to give to the Creator of the universe that isn’t actually His already? What can we give Him? And this is what Jesus did so perfectly: When given the right to himself, to choose His own path or God’s path, Jesus chose to give back His life in perfect surrender to a God who loves perfectly… Jesus knew this love. He lived this Truth. He trusted God… even when all was dark. He blessed God and saved mankind by giving back the right to Himself. I think we set our gaze too low sometimes; we get lost in the trenches, but that won’t stop perfect Love. His mercies are new every morning; today, let us bless God, Oh my soul.