Psalms 103:1-5 - Homiletics

God's goodness to ourselves.

The psalmist begins by addressing himself; he has before him his own personal experience during a long (or lengthening) life; and he finds ample reason for full, heartfelt gratitude. Of the "benefits" he has received, he gives—

I. A RECITAL OF THEM . They include:

1 . The Divine mercy when he has sinned ( Psalms 103:3 ). These sins have been

2 . Divine restoration. ( Psalms 103:3 , latter part, and 4.) And this is inclusive of

3 . All the loving kindnesses which make life beautiful and glad ( Psalms 103:4 ). The excellency of human love, the comforts of home life, the sacred joy of worship.

4 . The continuance of Divine protection and replenishment to later life ( Psalms 103:5 ). God had satisfied his prime (marginal reading, Revised Version) with good things—had so visited and renewed him in his manhood, that now, instead of a growing feebleness, he felt the vigour and hopefulness of youth; perhaps he was far enough on the way to be said to be "still bringing forth fruit in old age." He calls on himself to cherish—

II. A REMEMBRANCE OF THEM . "Forget not," etc. ( Psalms 103:2 ). Antecedently that seems impossible; certainly in the case of any one claiming to be devout. Yet it is quite possible for us to be

III. FULL - VOICED AND FULL - HEARTED UTTERANCE OF PRAISE . ( Psalms 103:1 , Psalms 103:2 .) God's praise is not to be rendered by an occasional and formal "returning of thanks" either at the table or in the church. It is to be a daily offering, and one that comes from the heart as well as from the lips. "All that is within us," the whole range of our faculties, is to combine to speak and to sing his praise. Gratitude to God for his abiding and abounding goodness to us, both as citizens of this world and as his children, should be a very leading and powerful factor in our soul, making our character beautiful with spiritual worth, and our life resonant with holy song.