Praise the Lord, my soul; all my inmost being, praise his holy name. Praise the Lord, my soul, and forget not all his benefits—who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion, who satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s. Psalm 103:1-5
“The Psalm has an intricate plan that is designed in every detail to serve its purpose. It opens and closes with the same measure, an inclusio that defines the whole as praising thanks.
The imperative “bless” introduces two lines and the beginning and four lines at the end to emphasize the psalm’s function as a rehearsal of declarations that exalt the LORD. The psalm has twenty-two lines, the number of letters in the Hebrew alphabet, another clue to the poet’s attempt to be comprehensive.
In the second line there is a warning negative imperative [“forget not”] that tells how the psalm executes its purpose. The psalm is a liturgical “not forgetting” of all the LORD’s dealing; the body of the Psalm is a recollecting, remembering, reminding.”
James Luther Mays in Psalms (Interpretation: Louisville, WJKP, 2011) 326.
On this Saturday, wherever you area, take time to “forget not” God’s many blessings to you by cultivating an attitude of gratitude. Grateful hearts nurture rich generosity.
Perhaps follow the example of David, the psalmist, and go through the alphabet? Try it. Think of something you are thankful for with each letter. In English, go from A to Z.
Start and end your practice with praise. This psalm touched me from the start as it says He heals all our diseases, redeems our life from the pit, and crowns us with love and compassion. That sums up 2020 for me.
What are you grateful for today?