Bless, O My Soul, the Living God

More than a year and a half ago, I wrote about a resolution: less whining, more worship. I've fallen off the wagon a bit on that resolution, so I wanted to write about a song of praise to remind us of our great God.

First of all, we serve a living God!

My heart and my flesh sing for joy to the living God. Psalm 84:2

But the LORD is the true God; He is the living God and the everlasting King. At His wrath the earth quakes, and the nations cannot endure His indignation. Jeremiah 10:10

For it is for this we labor and strive, because we have fixed our hope on the living God, who is the Savior of all men, especially of believers. I Timothy 4:10

Let everything in us praise our Living God.

Bless the LORD, O my soul,and all that is within me, bless His holy name. Psalm 103:1

This hymn exhorts us that God's favor should claim our highest praise. The Psalmist reminds us that His favor is for a lifetime: that is worthy of praise!

For His anger is but for a moment, His favor is for a lifetime; weeping may last for the night, but a shout of joy comes in the morning.
Psalm 30:5

We must not forget His wonders; or let them be lost in silence.

Your way, O God, is holy; what god is great like our God? You are the God who works wonders; You have made known Your strength among the peoples. You have by Your power redeemed Your people, the sons of Jacob and Joseph. Psalm 77:13-15

He has made His wonders to be remembered; the LORD is gracious and compassionate. Psalm 111:4

It was our living God who sent His son to die for the crimes that we committed. He owns the ransoms and forgives the "follies of our lives."

But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5:8

For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many. Mark 10:45

Our living God is a God of power! He heals the vices of the mind, cures pain and redeems our souls from hell.

He Himself bore our sins in His body on the cross, so that we might die to sin and live to righteousness; for by His wounds you were healed. I Peter 2:24

At that very time He cured many people of diseases and afflictions and evil spirits; and He gave sight to many who were blind.
Luke 7:21

Our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus, gave Himself for us to redeem us from every lawless deed, and to purify for Himself a people for His own possession, zealous for good deeds. Titus 2:14

You were not redeemed with perishable things like silver or gold from your futile way of life inherited from your forefathers, but with precious blood, as of a lamb unblemished and spotless, the blood of Christ. I Peter 1:18-19

His power is even capable of repairing our decaying youth.

Who satisfies your years with good things,So that your youth is renewed like the eagle. Psalm 103:5

He is righteous and just.

The LORD performs righteous deeds and judgments for all who are oppressed. Psalm 103:6

He loves righteousness and justice. Psalm 33:5

Righteousness and justice are the foundation of Your throne; lovingkindness and truth go before You. Psalm 89:14

Our living God has been working in His children for a LONG time.

He made known His ways to Moses, His acts to the sons of Israel. Psalm 103:7

He gave the Law to Moses, but He sent us truth and mercy in the person of Jesus Christ to us!

For the Law was given through Moses; grace and truth were realized through Jesus Christ. John 1:17

Let the whole earth His power confess! Let the whole earth adore His grace!

Let's stop whining and start worshiping!

The LORD has established His throne in the heavens, and His sovereignty rules over all. Bless the LORD, you His angels, mighty in strength, who perform His word, obeying the voice of His word! Bless the LORD, all you His hosts, you who serve Him, doing His will. Bless the LORD, all you works of His, in all places of His dominion;
Bless the LORD, O my soul! Psalm 103:19-22

Bless, O My Soul, the Living God
Words by Isaac Watts

Bless, O my soul! the living God.
Call home thy thoughts that rove abroad.
Let all the powers within me join
In work and worship so divine,
In work and worship so divine.

Bless, O my soul! the God of grace.
His favors claim thy highest praise.
Why should the wonders He hath wrought
Be lost in silence and forgot,
Be lost in silence and forgot?

’Tis He, my soul, that sent His Son
To die for crimes which thou hast done.
He owns the ransom and forgives
The hourly follies of our lives,
The hourly follies of our lives.

The vices of the mind He heals,
And cures the pains that nature feels;
Redeems the soul from hell, and saves
Our wasting life from threat’ning graves.

Our youth decayed, His power repairs;
His mercy crowns our growing years;
He satisfies our mouth with good,
And fills our hopes with heav’nly food.

He sees th’oppressor and th’oppressed,
And often gives the suff’rers rest;
But will His justice more display
In the last great rewarding day.

His power He showed by Moses’ hands,
And gave to Israel His commands;
But sent His truth and mercy down
To all the nations by His Son.

Let the whole earth His power confess.
Let the whole earth adore His grace.
The Gentile with the Jew shall join
In work and worship so divine,
In work and worship so divine.