In this psalm, David calls his entire being to “bless the LORD.” Three times he praises God with all that he is (1, 2, 22). The Hebrew word for “bless” is translated in the Greek Old Testament by “praise.” We get “eulogy” from that word, and a eulogy happens when someone speaks well of someone else, usually at their death. But God is very much alive and deserves all of my praise and everything good I can say about him. In fact, God often gets a bum rap and criticism for how he’s running the universe. But we find none of that here – quite the opposite. Like David, there are plenty of “benefits” I need never to forget: forgiveness & healing (3), redemption & steadfast love & mercy (4), total satisfaction with all that is good, and renewed spiritual vigor (5). Verse 8 declares what God revealed of himself to Moses & Israel in Exodus 34:6: He is “merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.” This basic creed was repeated often at key times throughout Israel’s history (Numbers 14:18; Nehemiah 9:17; Psalms 86:15; here in verse 8; 145:8; Joel 2:13 & Jonah 4:2). I can’t be reminded of this enough. This is God’s answer to all those who think the OT is only about an angry god of wrath. That god is an idol of man’s making. The truth is Yahweh revealed himself with words that could describe no other god. As far as God’s anger went, he didn’t always chide his people or hold on to his anger forever (9). Quite the opposite was true. Although Israel gave God plenty of reason for him to be angry with them – and he was! – he did not deal with them according to what their sins & iniquities deserved (10). This has been God’s same dealings with me. What I deserved Jesus Christ suffered. The height and breadth of such love & forgiveness is immeasurable (11-12). Yahweh is like a compassionate father (13), but even more so because his compassion towards his people has no limits. Three times David says this kind of covenant, committed love is for “those who fear him” (11, 13, 17). I don’t earn God’s loyal love by fearing him; but my reverence, respect & obedience show that I acknowledge my need for God’s mercy, grace & kindness. I obey Jesus Christ, not to earn his love but because he first loved me (1 John 4:10). I return that love in obedience as Jesus & his apostle taught (John 14:15; 1 John 5:3). I know my place in God’s kingdom under his rule (19). There’s no other place I’d rather be. My dutiful delight is to join angels & all creation in blessing the LORD with my entire being (20-22). On this Easter morning, I can’t think of a better time than today to do this. “Christ the Lord is risen today! Hallelujah!”
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