Following A Psalm Pattern

by Dale Harcombe | More from this Blogger

24 Jul 2007 06:54 AM

For many people the Psalms are one of the favorite bible books because so many of them seem to capture so well our experiences and emotions. So, I've decided to leave the book of Mark for a time and look at some of the psalms. The first one I've chosen to look at is Psalm 103, a psalm written by David.

David starts by praising God for who He is - for His holy name and for what He has done, verses 1-2. Do we come into the presence of our Holy God and praise Him for who He is and all He has done? Our prayer should always start by praising God.

David had many reasons to praise God for forgiveness and for his deliverance from diseases and disaster. God had crowned David with the kingship of Israel as well as with his love and compassion, verses 3-4. We have even more reason to praise God than David did, for through Jesus we have had our sins forgiven. Through Jesus we have been crowned with love and compassion. We may not have the crown of an earthly kingdom as David did. But we are children of the King of all creation. All the blessings of the Heavenly realm are ours, Ephesians 1:3-5.

David had seen how God satisfied his desires with good things, verse 5. It is helpful for us at times to take stock and write a list of all the blessing and good things God has given us. Maybe stick the list up on your fridge or somewhere where you can see it each day to encourage you to praise God often throughout the day.

Are we feeling oppressed and downtrodden? Take heart. God works righteousness and justice for the oppressed, verse 6. Will you turn your situation and problems over to Him and allow Him to work?

David declares God made his way known to Moses, verse 7. He makes His way clear to us if we seek Him and His will for our lives. God calls us to act on what He reveals to us.

'The Lord is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in love,' verse 8. What a great picture this gives us of God!

Verse 10 tells us He does not treat us as our sins deserve. David knew the reality of that in his life. Aren't you glad that God doesn't treat you as your sins deserve? I know I am.

What an amazing picture of God's love, verses 11-13. We cannot fully comprehend love like this but we can experience it.

David ends this psalm where he began it, praising God. It's a good pattern for our prayers to start and end by praising God.

All Bible references from The New International Version

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Learn more about Dale Harcombe

Dale has a passion for books and writing. She writes in various forms, from articles to poetry to fiction for children and adults.

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