“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 103:19-21
Devotional Thought For The Day
The psalmist begins this meditation with the words: “Bless the LORD, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless His holy name!” He then proceeds to “remember” all of the benefits of being a child of God, one who is redeemed, forgiven, loved, cherished, protected, understood, healed, and renewed in strength, one who has God’s steadfast and eternal love from everlasting to everlasting. He concludes by acknowledging the certainty, strength, and breadth of God’s kingdom, His power and rule, and urges all created beings – angels, humanity, and “all His works” to join in blessing the LORD. Lastly, he once again blesses the LORD with his own soul. Hopefully, having remembered and contemplated along with him these blessings and benefits which God has poured out upon us in Christ Jesus our Savior, we cannot help but spontaneously, vigorously, and enthusiastically join him and all creation in blessing the LORD.
God, the only True and Living God – Father, Son, and Holy Spirit – does indeed rule over all. We have a better idea of what this constitutes, understanding at least to some degree the vastness of space and the awesome power of the stars which He created [Gen. 1:16]. Those who deny this reality, who attribute the generation of the cosmos [or any part of it, whether inanimate or living] to any other being or power are utterly deluded and spiritually bankrupt. They obviously do not “do His Word,” or “obey the voice of His Word,” or “do His will,” and they cannot be “blessing the LORD.” Rather, they are disbelieving, disobeying, diminishing, and rebelling against God and His Word. They are in the blindest delusional rebellion against the LORD, Whose dominion is everywhere and Whose rule is over all. It is remarkable that any mere human being could dare to do this in the very presence and rule of God, and even more remarkable that He doesn’t sweep us all away from His presence – but His steadfast love and mercy is “from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear him.”
We are invited, and those who know God as He truly is, that “God is love,” are eager to be among those who do His Word, obey His voice, and do His will. We envy the blessedness of His holy angels who are confirmed in their bliss and perfection and rejoice that we will also be the same [1 John 3:2]. In this life we remain infected with sin and its consequences, and though we strive to put to death our earthly, fallen, sinful nature [Col. 3:5], we cannot free ourselves completely from sin, and even if we get to the point where we only sin once in a while [completely unlikely and unrealistic], we are in fact “guilty of all.” [James 2:10] But we can in fact begin to do His will and obey His Word – when we live in humble repentance, when we rejoice in His gracious mercy, forgiveness, and salvation – His free gifts in Christ Jesus, our benefits – and when we conform our faith and our teaching to His written Word, the Bible. Though this feels depressing, and perhaps even restrictive to our sinful minds, and although it is certainly utterly humbling, we are in fact serving Him, praising Him, exalting Him, and blessing Him, by faithfulness to His Word. It is amazing that the LORD, Who “rules over all,” would rejoice to receive this meek and lowly homage and love from us.
It is certain that the apostle Paul spent a good deal of time meditating upon this psalm and the rest of Holy Scripture which presents and teaches these same blessed realities of God’s gracious love, mercy, forgiveness, and salvation. As we contemplate His benefits, we too are compelled to conclude: “Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and how inscrutable His ways! For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who has been His counselor? Or who has given a gift to Him that he might be repaid? For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him be glory forever. Amen.” [Rom. 11:33-36] How utterly blessed we are just to be able to do this in faith, and to join in blessing God – and we shall do so forever!
Prayer For The Day
Dear Lord Jesus Christ, we are so often depressed with the sin and evil all around us, and by the sin and evil which stubbornly infects and corrupts our own thinking, believing, speaking, and doing. But You have brought us light, hope, mercy, forgiveness, and renewed relationship with God. You have made us dearly beloved children of God and given us eternal life; You are our only strength and life. Grant us to continue onward, strengthened in our faith and love by Your steadfast and eternal love, that we reach our destiny and completion in Your perfect presence. Amen.