August 13 — Psalm 104

“Bless the LORD, O my soul. O LORD my God, you are very great. You are clothed with honor and majesty, wrapped in light as with a garment. You stretch out the heavens like a tent, you set the beams of your chambers on the waters, you make the clouds your chariot, you ride on the wings of the wind, you make the winds your messengers, fire and flame your ministers. You set the earth on its foundations, so that it shall never be shaken. You cover it with the deep as with a garment; the waters stood above the mountains. At your rebuke they flee; at the sound of your thunder they take to flight. They rose up to the mountains, ran down to the valleys to the place that you appointed for them. You set a boundary that they may not pass so that they might not again cover the earth. You make springs gush forth in the valleys; they flow between the hills, giving drink to every wild animal; the wild asses quench their thirst. By the streams the birds of the air have their habitation; they sing among the branches. From your lofty abode you water the mountains; the earth is satisfied with the fruit of your work.” (Verses 1-13)

Psalm 104 begins and ends with the same self-exhortation that opens and closes Psalm 103: “Bless the LORD, O my soul.” The sentence appears only in these two psalms; its repetition holds them together as a pair.

“Bless the Lord, O my soul” — I guess it is true, praise should begin at home. It is hypocritical to ask others to lift up praises to G-d if we are ungratefully silent ourselves. We should find the joy that resides within our own lives and of course our hearts to awaken and realize the blessings G-d has first given us — before we press others to do the same. When we bless the Lord, we should do it personally, publicly, and often. To offer up half-hearted praise, and to offer up half-hearted worship is not worthy of the awesomeness of the Lord.

“O Lord my God, you are very great.” Is it too bold to call upon the Lord as “Mine”? I do not think so. If we believe in our hearts that Jesus is Lord and confess with our lips the same, then we are just as right to call Jesus “ours”, “mine” — for the Lord is a great G-d and worthy to be praised. God was great on Sinai, yet the opening words of his law were, “I am the Lord YOUR God;” his greatness is the reason to put our claim on Jesus as “ours”. It does not mean Jesus is ours “alone” — it just means that we worship one Lord, Jesus, who requires only faith, “alone”.

Let us pray:

God of majesty, we are constantly surrounded by your gifts and touched by your grace; our words of praise do not approach the wonders of your love. Send forth your Spirit, that our lives may be refreshed and the earth may be renewed, until the new heaven and new earth resound with the song of resurrection in Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord.

Amen.

August 12 — Psalm 103

“Bless the LORD, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless his holy name. Bless the LORD, O my soul, and do not forget 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 as long as you live so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s. The LORD works vindication 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 accuse, 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 the heavens are high 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 he removes our transgressions from us. As a father has compassion for his children, so the LORD has compassion for those who fear him. For he knows how we were made; he remembers that we are dust.” (Verses 1-14)

“The LORD is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.”

We hear these words in a variety of forms throughout the Old Testament — in Nehemiah 9:31; Exodus 34:6; Numbers 14:18; Psalm 86:5; Psalm 86:15; Joel 2:13. It is repeated again and again — so there must be something to this teaching.

Hesedness, in Jewish theology is used to describe G-d’s love for the Children of Israel, and in Jewish ethics it is used for love or charity between people. The word “Hesed” or “Chesed” is also considered the foundation of many religious commandments practiced by traditional Jews, especially interpersonal commandments. Hesed, or “Steadfast love” is, of course, the attribute and activity of the LORD celebrated in the psalms — it is the LORD’s essential goodness beyond all others.

Steadfast love is both the character of G-d and the foundation of all G-d’s actions. One can attempt to define it as helpfulness toward those with whom one stands in relationship. To do “hesed” is to do the best in and make the best of a relationship. The Lord’s steadfast love, says the Psalm, is so abounding that it fills all time and space. It is as great as the heavens are high above the earth; it is lasting as everlasting lasts.

Let us pray:

Compassionate Father, you forgive all our sins and put them far from us. As an eagle to her young, you nourish and renew us with your tender love. Sustain us each day of our mortal life, that we may seek your healing for all who are in need, and bring us at last with saints and angels to bless and praise you forever; through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord.

Amen.