Psalm 103 (NRSV)
Read Psalm 103 on biblegateway.com
Verse 1Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless his holy name.
Verse 2Bless the Lord, O my soul, and do not forget all his benefits-
Verse 3who forgives all your iniquity, who heals all your diseases,
Verse 4who redeems your life from the Pit, who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy,
Verse 5who satisfies you with good as long as you live so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's.
Verse 6The Lord works vindication and justice for all who are oppressed.
Verse 7He made known his ways to Moses, his acts to the people of Israel.
Verse 8The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.
Verse 9He will not always accuse, nor will he keep his anger forever.
Verse 10He does not deal with us according to our sins, nor repay us according to our iniquities.
Verse 11For as the heavens are high above the earth, so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him;
Verse 12as far as the east is from the west, so far he removes our transgressions from us.
Verse 13As a father has compassion for his children, so the Lord has compassion for those who fear him.
Verse 14For he knows how we were made; he remembers that we are dust.
Verse 15As for mortals, their days are like grass; they flourish like a flower of the field;
Verse 16for the wind passes over it, and it is gone, and its place knows it no more.
Verse 17But the steadfast love of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear him, and his righteousness to children's children,
Verse 18to those who keep his covenant and remember to do his commandments.
Verse 19The Lord has established his throne in the heavens, and his kingdom rules over all.
Verse 20Bless the Lord, O you his angels, you mighty ones who do his bidding, obedient to his spoken word.
Verse 21Bless the Lord, all his hosts, his ministers that do his will.
Verse 22Bless the Lord, all his works, in all places of his dominion. Bless the Lord, O my soul.
Devotion
Thank you, God, we mumble through mouthfuls of turkey. But our thoughts may already be focused more on the day of "Thanks—getting," the one we call Black Friday. Smartphones now streamline our searches for the best deals. No more paging through Christmas catalogues and looking at maps, not with GPS and electronic "hear ye, hear ye" ads.
But how can we map the GPS waypoints that lead from Thanksgiving to Thanks-getting and back? By using Psalm 103 as a guiding waypoint we may be reminded of blessings we so easily take for granted: 1. If you've never experienced the danger of battle, the loneliness of imprisonment, the agony of torture or the pangs of starvation, you are more blessed than many; 2. If you attend church without fear of harassment, arrest, torture or death, you are more blessed than many; 3. If you have food, clothing and a place to sleep, you are blessed with more riches than many in this world.
Psalm 103 is a great reminder of these "waypoints" of God's blessings—here are four:
1. God forgives
2. God heals
3. God redeems
4. God crowns us with love and compassion
Prayer
We thank you, Lord God, for giving us this day our daily bread. We know for sure that you give daily bread without our prayer, even to all the wicked, but we pray you continue leading us to more fully recognize and acknowledge this, and to always receive our daily bread with thanksgiving. Amen.