Dr. Steven K. Parker
Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless his holy name!
Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits, who forgives all your iniquity, who heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit, who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy, who satisfies you with good so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.
The Lord works righteousness and justice for all who are oppressed. He made known his ways to Moses, his acts to the people of Israel. The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. He will not always chide, nor will he keep his anger forever. He does not deal with us according to our sins, nor repay us according to our iniquities.
For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west, so far does he remove our transgressions from us. As a father shows compassion to his children, so the Lord shows compassion to those who fear him.
For he knows our frame; he remembers that we are dust. As for man, his days are like grass; he flourishes like a flower of the field; for the wind passes over it, and it is gone, and its place knows it no more. But the steadfast love of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear him, and his righteousness to children’s children, to those who keep his covenant and remember to do his commandments.
The Lord has established his throne in the heavens, and his kingdom rules over all. 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)
Remembering Praise
Psalm 103
The last few weeks have been difficult for my family. Though we’ve had our share of hardships the past few years, we’d, up to this point, steered clear of contracting Covid ourselves. That perfect record was quickly marred when, after two and a half years of pandemic, I tested positive and the other five members of our household and a member of our extended family followed suit in the days that followed. Being sick at the same time is no fun and your prayers, a spaghetti delivery from my father-in-law at our low point, and a timely grocery delivery helped get us through a lousy week. A day and a half before I tested positive, I had met Kim Curry for lunch and the evening before I tested positive, I had taught my class. A prayerful week later, I was so relieved to hear that I had not shared Covid with Kim and though I may have shared Covid with one of my star students and his family, they had recovered well. I don’t know why our world has been so ravaged by this terrible disease and its accompanying troubles. I don’t know why we fared so well while so many struggled so badly. Through it all, I am grateful for the Lord who has been good to us through the trials of the last few years. On this side of our experience with illness, I feel like I still haven’t returned to full strength, but I am so grateful for our blessed LORD who forgives, heals, redeems, crowns, and satisfies. And, though my youth has not yet been fully “renewed like the eagle’s,” I still declare with the Psalmist: “Bless the Lord, O my soul!” Will you join me in that praise this week?