Praise The Lord Regardless of Circumstances
April 8, 2024
Commentary
Spurgeon said, “There is too much in this Psalm for a thousand pens to write. It has often been referred to as David’s Hallelujah Chorus. It contains twenty-two verses – the same number as there are letters in the Hebrew alphabet. In the original text the verses are all of uniform length and all contain two lines each. It is a composition of praise by the psalmist to the God of Israel whom he loved so dearly.
David calls upon all his faculties to bless the holy name of God. He begins his list of blessings:
“who forgiveth all thine iniquities” – (v. 3)“who healeth all thy diseases” – (v. 3)“who redeemeth thy life from destruction” (v. 4)“who crowneth thee with loving-kindness and tender mercies (v. 4)“who satisfieth thy mouth with good things” (v. 5)The psalmist turns his attention completely to praising God for His divine character (vv. 8-10). He says that “the Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy. He will not chide (contend): neither will he keep his anger forever. This means that God will not always contend with those who sin. Regardless of circumstances He bears no grudges and harbors no resentments. God does not punish us as we deserve or we would be consigned to hell forever. We need to praise God for what He has not done to us, as well as for what He has done for us.
Application
It is easy to complain about circumstances in my life but David’s list gives me plenty for which to praise God. If I feel as though I have nothing to praise God for I need to read David’s list.
Psalms 103:1– 14 (NET)
Verses not found.
Illustration: God’s Mercy is Never Far Away
Robert Robinson had been saved out of a life of sin through George Whitfield’s ministry in England. Shortly after that, at the age of twenty-three, Robinson wrote the hymn “Come, Thou Fount of every blessing, Streams of mercy, never ceasing.” Sadly, Robinson wandered far from those streams and, like the Prodigal Son, journeyed into a life of carnality. One day he was traveling by stagecoach and sitting beside a young woman engrossed in her book. She ran across a verse she thought was beautiful and asked him what he thought of it. “Prone to wander Lord, I feel it Prone to leave the God I love.” Bursting into tears, Robinson said, “Madam, I am the poor unhappy man who wrote that hymn many years ago, and I would give a thousand worlds, if I could enjoy the feelings I had then.” Although greatly surprised, she reassured him that the “streams of mercy” mentioned in his song still flowed. Mr. Robinson was deeply touched. Turning his “wandering heart” to the Lord, he was restored to full fellowship. (Kenneth W. Osbeck, 101 Hymn Stories, p. 52).