Psalm 100

This Psalm indicates the ‘manner’ in which, and the ‘reason’ for which we ought to praise God. It tells us that the sound/song of praise must resonate with joy and gladness, vs 1,2.

Why? Because we know that the LORD is God and it is He that has made us, (and not we ourselves); and we are His people, and the sheep of His pasture, vs 3*. This is a glorious truth, and has the power to transform our lives, provided we realise that God alone is our source, and not ourselves or anyone else!

It brings rest to our souls when we understand this, as it makes us to cry out to Him, and depend on Him alone in every changing and perplexing situation of life, knowing, that as we do so in faith, He will never let us down, because He is our source and delights in providing for us! However, He can do this only for those who trust in Him and prove it by their obedience to His commands while passing through the difficult seasons of life! Then, we can enter into His gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: being thankful unto Him and blessing His name, for all that He is and means to us, vs 4. *Yes, He is good; His mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations, vs 5.

Just imagine what it would be like to have someone close to us who is eternally good to us, everlasting in mercy, even when we ask Him to forgive us for the ‘nth’ time, (because we are sorry for our sinful behaviour), and whose Word is truth and stands eternal and unchanging to all generations, so that He will never fail to keep His Word and promises to us!

This revelation will inevitably bring us a ‘rest and peace’ that surpasses all understanding and result in heartfelt praise and thanks unto the Lord, even in the most perplexing situations of life, bringing delight to the Lord’s heart and thus opening a door for Him to do the miraculous in our lives, exceeding abundantly, above all that we could ask or think, Ephesians 3:20! May we seek God for this revelation, so that we can praise Him in the right manner and so bring glory to His Name. Amen.

Psalm 103

In this beautiful Psalm, king David lists the numerous blessings of the Lord upon our lives, (which we often take for granted), and for which we will always have reason to bless the Name of the Lord, vs 1!

As we go through them may we realise how blessed we are to be called the sons and daughters of the most High God! Here David instructs his soul not to forget ALL the Lord’s benefits, vs 2, because He forgives ALL our sins and heals ALL our diseases, vs 3.

He has redeemed us from the pit of hell and crowns us with lovingkindness and mercy, vs 4. He gives us our daily bread, both physically as well as spiritually (His Word) too, such that our youth is renewed like that of an eagle, vs 5! When the oppressed cry out to Him, He executes righteousness and justice for them, vs 6.

To His spiritually mature children, He reveals His ways, while to those who are babes in Christ, He encourages them with His miracles, vs 7!

And to all His children, He is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and plenteous in mercy, vs 8. Numerous blessings surround those that fear Him. He will not always scold or be angry with them, vs 9; nor deal with them according to their sins, vs 10; but will show them His great mercy, vs 11; and remove their transgressions from them, as far as the east is from the west, vs 12.

Further, He will pity them as a father pities his children, vs 13, for he knows the brevity of our life span and that our body is but dust, vs 14-16. So, His mercy will not only extends to those who fear Him in our generation, but even to those of our subsequent generations who continue to walk according to His covenant and commandments, vs 17,18. Although His throne is set up in the heavens, yet His Kingdom rules over all the earth, vs 19.

So, even His angels who are great in strength, who obey His bidding and wait for His voice, give Him praise, through their obedience, vs 20; as well as, all His armies and servants who do His pleasure, vs 21; and all His works in all places under His rule, and so also, must we remind our souls to praise God along with all of these, vs 22, with penitent hearts that desire to walk in obedience, for those who have been forgiven much, love much, while those who think they have been forgiven little love little, Luke 7:47.

Thus, praising God with our mouths must be preceded by hands lifted up to Him in total obedience to His will, and hearts full of praise and thanksgiving, if we are, indeed, truly grateful for all His benefits! For such praise opens doors for God to work miraclously on our behalf. Amen.

Rowena Thomas
Mumbai, India.