Daily Dose of the Word of God - Psalm 103

Erin Pacheco, Director of Worship

Transcript

Erin Pacheco  0:07  

Welcome to Elmhurst CRC’s Daily Dose of the Word of God.  It’s Friday, February 5, but Sunday is coming. I’m Erin Pacheco.  Each Friday we’ll listen to the voice of the Psalms, which teach us to pray and point us to Jesus. Today’s passage comes from Psalm 103:1-5, 13-17.

Erin Pacheco  0:30  

Bless the Lord, O my soul,  and all that is within me, bless his holy name! Bless the Lord, O my soul, and don’t let me forget the good things he does for me.  Who forgives all my sins and heals all my diseases, Who redeems my life from the grave and crowns me with love and mercy, Who satisfies me with good as long as I live, so that my youth is renewed like the eagle's.  Like a father to his children, the Lord shows compassion to those who fear him. For he knows our weakness. He remembers that we are dust. Our days on earth are like grass. We are like wildflowers that bloom and then blow away. But from everlasting to everlasting, the steadfast love of the Lord remains with those who trust in him. 

Erin Pacheco  1:28  

This is a self-talk psalm. Or at least it starts that way. “Bless the Lord, O my soul.”  Hey soul, hey self — reminder to praise God. Don’t forget what he’s done for you. I appreciate David’s honesty. Because we do forget, and there are times we need to actively remind ourselves who God is and how he has been faithful.   I’ve been feeling discouraged lately. Maybe it’s a winter thing. It’s been cold and gray for a long time. (If you’re listening to this somewhere sunny, I’m jealous… I mean, happy for you!)  But I also feel weighed down by the stories of people in seasons of hardship, of all kinds. Maybe you find yourself there today. Psalm 103 reminds us that God responds to our discouragement, our weakness, and our need, with compassion — like a father with his children. Amongst each other, we are often a people of pretense. But before the Lord, we are fully known as frail creatures, made of dust, as fleeting as wildflowers (which are a faint memory here in the middle of winter.) But God — God is everlasting. Full of steadfast, hesed love for those who fear him, who put their trust in him, those who in the middle of the trial, turn to the One who is always good, always faithful.  Am I weighed down with how badly I’ve messed up? Bless the Lord, who forgives all my sins.  Am I burdened with illness — my own, or that of a loved one? Bless the Lord, who heals all my diseases.  Am I filled with despair? Bless the Lord, who redeems my life from the grave and crowns me with love and mercy. Am I tired and longing for rest? Bless the Lord, who satisfies me with good as long as I live, so that my youth is renewed like the eagle's. This Sunday, we invite you to come into worship with a sense of need, even desperation — and with an openness to how Jesus might meet your need with his compassion and healing touch. 

 
Erin Pacheco 4:06  

Let’s pray. God of goodness and grace, thank you for your everlasting and never failing love, for your abundant forgiveness and grace, and for all the ways that you move in our lives for our good and for your glory. May our souls bless you today for all you have done and will do. Amen.