Psalm 103: 3 – 5

Some of the blessings are enumerated in verses 3-5 of this well-known Psalm. The reasons for Praise! These are some of the reasons for which we, the church of Jesus, give continual praise! Here the Psalmist is talking to himself about Jehovah. Sometimes we need to talk to ourselves, to preach and admonish ourselves, especially during this Lenten season as we approach the holy season of Easter. If no one else praises Him with real devotion and passion we, the followers of the Lamb, are bound, mandated, literally compelled to praise and continually worship Him. We joyfully, perpetually fill the temple with the praise that goes only to Him. “Bless the Lord, O my soul.”

We carefully note that the “Who” repeated in the passage is all related back to Jehovah (vv3, 4, 5). He first instructs that we praise Him from the depths of our souls because He has forgiven us of all our iniquities. We are called upon not just collectively but individually to offer praise to the eternally Righteous One. He declares “Who forgiveth all thine iniquities . . .” It is a factual truth; it all begins with forgiveness. We earnestly praise Him, first and foremost for moral cleansing – the forgiveness of our sins. The most remarkable thing about us all is that we have been forgiven. We can now stand before Him today forgiven, knowing that because of His sacrificial work for us upon the Cross, our sins have been thoroughly washed away. This is where the activity of God on behalf of sinful humankind always begins with cleansing, forgiveness, and pardoning.

We claim not perfection but forgiveness. None of us was holy or righteous, worthy or deserving but by His grace, He pardoned our transgressions and washed us from every iniquity. We rejoice not that the demons are subject unto us or that we can preach or pastor a church, but that we are forgiven. Our names are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life. For this we forever praise Him and now extend merciful kindness and forgiveness to others. We humbly praise Him!

The second reason is found in the words – “Who healeth all thy diseases” (v3). It must be proclaimed, He heals all diseases – diseases of the spirit, mind, and body. Whatever in us that is unhealthy, He can heal. The words “holiness” and “health” come from the same Anglo-Saxon word “halig.” A holy body and a healthy spirit go together. It is believed that disease is a failure, whether spiritual, mental, or physical. However, Jehovah heals all our diseases. Whenever there is healing it is our Jehovah who heals.

We, His avid followers, still profess and believe in divine healing. We will never stop preaching and believing the prophetic word, “. . . And with His stripes, we are healed” (Isaiah 53:5). It is still a staple of our Pentecostal heritage, practice and belief. The gospel advocates healing. A part of the benefits we still proclaim is free access to the greatest Physician! His name is Jesus! He is the cure. He has the answer. We still declare, Rise and be healed in the name of Jesus. He declares “I am the Lord that healeth thee” (Exodus 15:26). We praise Him for healing us, even right now.

We also praise Him in 2024 like the Psalmist does here for redeeming our lives from destruction. He asserts “Who redeemeth thy life from destruction . . .” (v4). It is the avowed intention of the evil One to destroy us. I believe every waking moment the enemy plots our destruction and our undoing. Jesus forewarned of Satanic mischief on every hand and side. He alerted the church concerning the diabolical agenda of the evil One in John 10:10 – “to steal kill and destroy.” We can only thank the Master for His overarching redemptive grace. He daily meticulously preserves our lives from danger and destruction seen and unseen. He shall preserve our souls going out and coming in. The gates of hell cannot prevail against it. Like David, we heartily declare “Bless the Lord, O my soul.” We praise Him for forgiveness, healing and redemption!