The Psalm Of Boundless Praise Series

Summer Psalms #11 - The Psalm of Boundless Praise

Psalm 103:1-22

Sermon by Rick Crandall

McClendon Baptist Church - Aug. 12, 2009

*Last Friday morning Ed Turnage was walking out of the donut shop and said a hearty “Good morning” to the man coming in. Ed was taken aback when the man rudely replied, “What’s good about it?!?”

*Ed was shocked, but looking back on it, he wanted to say, “How much time have you got?” -- A couple of hours? -- A couple of days? -- We could talk forever about what the Lord has done for us!”

*We could “bless” the Lord forever. The word picture in Psalm 103 is kneeling in adoration to bless God, congratulating Him, exalting Him, praising Him.

1. Psalm 103 tells us that God deserves boundless praise! So let His praise radiate through every part of your heart.

*As David said in vs. 1, “Bless the Lord, O my soul; And all that is within me, bless His holy name!” David started by talking to himself. Do you ever do that? Sometimes it’s a good thing to do, especially as we urge ourselves to do something good. Here David raised the bar of praise in his own heart. “Bless the Lord, O my soul; And ALL that is within me, bless His holy name!”

*God wants to see praise in every part of your heart. How much praise can the Lord see in you right now? Jerry Shirley called this growing praise “walking the path of praise,” and Jerry said, “Nobody can praise God for you. We must choose whether we will walk the path of praise or just continue to follow the avenue of the average. Nobody can praise God for you. Don’t leave this place saying ‘we praised God in church today’ if YOU didn’t praise Him. God isn’t looking at US, He’s looking at YOU. You can be surrounded by people who are praising God, but if you aren’t joining in the exaltation, you will rob God of the glory He deserves.” (1)

*That’s why David pleaded with himself, “Bless the Lord, O my soul; And all that is within me, bless His holy name!” God deserves boundless praise! So let His praise radiate through every part of your heart.

2. And remember His goodness in your life.

*In vs. 2-5, David remembered God’s goodness in His life:

2. Bless the Lord, O my soul, And forget not all His benefits:

3. Who forgives all your iniquities, Who heals all your diseases,

4. Who redeems your life from destruction, Who crowns you with loving kindness and tender mercies,

5. Who satisfies your mouth with good things, So that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.

*David was looking back over his life here. He was counting his blessings like God wants us to do. And David said, “Wow! God sure has been good to me! He forgives all my iniquities. He heals all my diseases, He redeems my life from the destruction I deserve! On top of that, the Lord has crowned me with loving kindness and tender mercies, and He has satisfied my mouth with good things, so that my youth is renewed like the eagle’s.”

*“Bless the Lord, O my soul, And forget not all His benefits!” God wants us to remember that He is the source of every good thing in our lives.

*Author Alex Haley always kept an unusual picture hanging on his office wall. It was a picture of a turtle on top of a fence post. Sometimes people would ask, “Why is that there?” And Haley would answer, “Every time I write something significant. Every time I read my words and think that they are wonderful, and begin to feel proud of myself. I look at the turtle on top of the fence post and remember that he didn’t get there on his own. He had help.” (2)

*So have we! God wants us to count our blessings, and when we do, we will say, “Wow God! You sure have been good to me!” “Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits!” God deserves boundless praise! So remember His goodness in your life.

3. And recite His wonderful ways.

*In vs. 6-13, David begins to talk about the wonderful ways in which God relates to men. In vs. 6, he stresses God’s righteousness: “The Lord executes righteousness And justice for all who are oppressed.” Then in vs. 7, David stresses God’s revelation of Himself: “He made known His ways to Moses, His acts to the children of Israel.”

*In vs. 8-12, David stresses God’s forgiveness:

8. The Lord is merciful and gracious, Slow to anger, and abounding in mercy.

9. He will not always strive or (chide) with us, Nor will He keep His anger forever.