Worshipping with the Psalmist
Bless the Lord, O you his angels,
you mighty ones who do his word,
obeying the voice of his word!
Bless the Lord, all his hosts,
his ministers, who do his will!
Bless the Lord, all his works,
in all places of his dominion.
Bless the Lord, O my soul! – Psalm 103:20-22, ESV
“Our relationship with God is wholly dependent on divine commitment, yet unless that meets with a response in the form of revering and thus obeying God, an actual relationship cannot come into being.” – John Goldingay
Psalm 103 is such a fitting stopping point in our exploration of the Psalms for the time being. There are several reasons for that but, the strongest is that it calls us remember our relationship with God and to respond rightly to that relationship. It holds in tension our connection to God as an individual but anchors that connection to the community of faith. How do we respond to a God who does all that He does? How do we relate to a God who so compassionately and mercifully relates to us? Worship. The posture of the bowed down. We lower ourselves in humility before a holy and all-powerful Sovereign. We and everything and everyone else ought to worship, to praise, to bless. Wonder should flood our beings until it overflows in the most sincere expressions of reverence and obedience. With such a Sovereign in view, what else could we do?
Questions for discussion/life application:
· The benefits of relationship with God are many. The Psalmist lists these ones (see v3-5): forgiveness for sin, healing for disease, crowning with love and compassion, and satisfaction of our desires with good things. Which of these benefits have you experienced recently? In what way?
· Is there part of your life that is not “revering and thus obeying God”? How will you turn that part of you over in humble worship?
· How do you stay rooted in community?
Blog Bonus:
Here is some amazing audio of a pastor who was healed while teaching Psalm 103.
Here is a hymn by H. F. Lyte based on Psalm 103. (H.F. Lyte also wrote “Abide with Me”)
Here is a modern worship song that has a lot of connections to Psalm 103.