This psalm is a personal testimony of David’s encounter with God. The word “bless” can mean to “kneel before someone whom we are grateful to.” “Bless the LORD” is a rally call to us to do so all the time with our whole being (v1). But we must first be cleansed of our sins and must not be in sin; and we are to bless the LORD out of love for Him. The three reasons why we bless the LORD are:

1. Benefits (v2-7):

a. Forgiveness of all our iniquities (v3): Jesus died on the cross in order that all our sins can be forgiven. But we still struggle with sin and we still sin. He will forgive, when we confess and repent. How then can we not bless Him?

b. Multiple redemption (v4): David experienced this often (eg 1 Sam 23) and did not need to be told to bless the LORD. God will deliver us when we obey His Word and do His will.

c. Strength (v5): The LORD will give us the strength to be steadfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the Lord’s work (1 Cor 15:58, Isa 40:31).

d. Protection (v6): God protected Daniel’s three friends in the burning furnace (Dan 3). David, too, and also some of those who were martyred (eg: William Tyndale who was protected by God till he finished his mission of translating a large portion of the Bible into English).

e. Revelation/His Word (v7): We are not left in the dark but God has given us His precious Word to guide us. We are encouraged to read the Bible through in a year, and also a chapter of Proverbs (a book about prevention) daily. We are forgetful people. God’s Word sanctifies (John 17:15-17). Our minds must be filled with God’s Word that we may live aright and not be influenced by the things of the world.

2. God’s mercy (v8-18): We are but dust and ashes (Gen 18:27), deserving His wrath, but He is so merciful. Bless the LORD with our lives, never counting the cost of living for Him!

3. Participation in the Lord’s kingdom (v19-22): Those who do the will of God include “angels” (v20) and “hosts” (v21, ministers of God), as well as the “works” (v22) of believers will be in the Lord’s kingdom. Our destination cannot be changed, as it is sealed by the blood of Christ (Rom 8:38-39). Our suffering is temporal (Rom 8:18) and cannot be compared to the glory that is to come.

We are who we are by the grace and mercies of God. May our life bring glory and honour to Him, and will bless Him this year and forevermore.