Studies In Psalms – Psa 103:17-22 “Bless The Lord” Part 4

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Psa 103:17-22 “Bless The Lord” – Part 4

Psa 103:17 But the mercy of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting upon them that fear him, and his righteousness unto children’s children;
Psa 103:18 To such as uhn eep his covenant, and to those that remember his commandments to do them.
Psa 103:19 The LORD hath prepared his throne in the heavens; and his kingdom ruleth over all.
Psa 103:20 Bless the LORD, ye his angels, that excel in strength, that do his commandments, hearkening unto the voice of his word.
Psa 103:21 Bless ye the LORD, all ye his hosts; ye ministers of his, that do his pleasure.
Psa 103:22 Bless the LORD, all his works in all places of his dominion: bless the LORD, O my soul.

This last part of our four-part study entitled “Bless The Lord” begins with a verse that is really at the heart and core of why we “Bless The Lord”. We bless Him because we have come to know His mercy in advance of the many called and the rest of the world. We bless him because we understand that it is from everlastingH5769 to everlastingH5769 that God is showing that mercy toward us, as we go from glory to glory, through this process of being humbled in our flesh. We give thanks and bless His name because, when our eyes are opened, it becomes clear that His mercy was being expressed from the foundation of the world and throughout the ages, from age to age, through a hidden plan (Eph 3:9) that now in these last times would be revealed unto the elect church the bride of Christ (1Pe 1:20).

Mat 22:14 For many are called, but few are chosen.

Rom 11:11 I say then, Have they stumbled that they should fall? God forbid: but rather through their fall salvation is come unto the Gentiles, for to provoke them to jealousy. [This has an inward application as well as we judge and examine ourselves and come to see that we can do better through Christ (2Co 13:5).]

Rom 11:18 Boast not against the branches. But if thou boast, thou bearest not the root, but the root thee.
Rom 11:19 Thou wilt say then, The branches were broken off, that I might be graffed in.
Rom 11:20 Well; because of unbelief they were broken off, and thou standest by faith. Be not highminded, but fear: […because you stand by faith which is a gift of God (Eph 2:8).]

2Co 3:17 Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.
2Co 3:18 But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory [from everlastingH5769 to everlastingH5769], even as by the Spirit of the Lord.

Ecc 1:13 I applied my heart to inquiring and exploring by wisdom concerning all that is done under the heavens [in our hearts, in our minds – Ecc 3:18]: it is an experience of evil Elohim has given to the sons of humanity to humble them by it. (CLV)

Ecc 1:13 And I gave my heart to seek and search out by wisdom concerning all things that are done under heaven: this sore travail hath God given to the sons of man to be exercised therewith. (KJV)

Ecc 3:18 I said in mine heart concerning the estate of the sons of men, that God might manifest them, and that they might see that they themselves are beasts.

God has shown mercy toward us and put his fear in our hearts by giving us a new heart that has been softened (Eze 36:26-27) so that we heed the admonitions (Rev 1:3), and repent profoundly when we are shown we are wrong (2Co 7:11, Mat 5:4 there is an inward and outward mourning Eze 9:4), and so we ought to bless the Lord, and give thanks that he does not let go of us (Joh 18:9), and that he continues to destroy our old man through this process of repentance to which we’re called even as He builds up the new man of righteousness being formed through Christ (2Co 5:17-19). God has chosen us to show to the world the great extent to which He will extend His mercy to all of His creation in due time (1Co 1:26-27, Joh 15:16-17).

2Co 7:11 For behold this selfsame thing, that ye sorrowed after a godly sort, what carefulness it wrought in you, yea, what clearing of yourselves, yea, what indignation, yea, what fear, yea, what vehement desire, yea, what zeal, yea, what revenge! In all things ye have approved yourselves to be clear in this matter.

Mat 5:4 Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.
Mat 5:5 Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.

This inheritance in the earth is speaking of gaining dominion over the man of sin within as we “mourn” for the death of the old man, not as others (1Th 4:13), but go from glory to glory in these earthen vessels by way of the great treasure within those earthen vessels, our hope of glory Jesus Christ, Who is leading us unto victory little by little (2Co 4:7, Col 1:27, Deu 7:22).

Joh 18:9 That the saying might be fulfilled, which he spake, Of them which thou gavest me have I lost none.

Rom 2:3 And thinkest thou this, O man, that judgest them which do such things, and doest the same, that thou shalt escape the judgment of God? [Do we do the same? We do until we don’t – 1Co 3:17-20]
Rom 2:4 Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?
Rom 2:5 But after thy hardness and impenitent heart treasurest up unto thyself wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God;

God works the hardness of our hearts, and is sovereign over the process of the light and darkness within us, the good and the evil, that He may be glorified even as it says of Pharoah who was raised for this reason (Rom 9:16-21) that Christ might be glorified through the judgment that would come upon Pharoah which is a type and shadow of the judgment of the man of perdition on the thrown of our own hearts, who is being destroyed by the brightness of Christ’s coming (1Pe 4:17, 2Th 2:8). The destruction of the man of sin is the only thing that will bring us to no longer be of the generation who have confidence in our flesh (Php 3:3) or the wisdom of the world we read of in (1Co 3:17-19).

Rom 2:6 Who will render to every man according to his deeds:
Rom 2:7 To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honour and immortality, eternal life (Luk 21:19, Tit 3:8, Isa 30:15):

So the narrow way is to rest in the Lord, to be quiet, but also to be careful to maintain good works that will help us believe in the works that Christ is doing in his body (Heb 4:11, Joh 10:36-38).

Rom 2:8 But unto them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation and wrath,

Isa 30:15 For thus saith the Lord GOD, the Holy One of Israel; In returning and rest shall ye be saved; in quietness and in confidence shall be your strength: and ye would not. [because of the contentious spirit spoken of in Rom 2:8].

Isa 30:15 [NIV] This is what the Sovereign Lord, the Holy One of Israel, says: “In repentanceH7729 [H7725] and rest is your salvation, in quietness and trust is your strength, but you would have none of it.” (Rom 2:4).

When we are blessed to abide in Christ, we will find ourselves being purified by the light of this relationship, and when the Lord shows us what needs to be changed in our hearts we are not to despise this process (Rom 2:4) that is bringing us around to return and rest in the Lord (Luk 15:21-22 parallel verses Luk 17:10). The story of the prodigal son is an ‘is, was and will be’ event for our old man who must die daily and continue to find our refuge and rest in the Lord (Psa 46:1-2).

2Co 5:17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
2Co 5:18 And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation;
2Co 5:19 To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation. [within – Joh 17:17]

1Co 1:26 For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called:
1Co 1:27 But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty;

Joh 15:16 Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you.
Joh 15:17 These things I command you, that ye love one another.

As we go through this last part of our four-part study, let’s consider that God’s people are called to “do his pleasure” and to “do his commandments”, and are given to understand that it is in “all the places of his dominion” that we will find a people “that fear him” and who are being prepared through a cleansing process to one day go forth and save the world, because where His spirit is there is liberty (Lev 14:7, Rev 19:7, 2Co 3:17).

Psa 103:17 But the mercy of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting upon them that fear him, and his righteousness unto children’s children;

‘Don’t be wise in your own eyes’ is the first thought which comes to mind when I read this verse, and yet we would not have to go from glory to glory if there were not a need to see that part in us which is yet carnal and in need of maturing. In other words, it is God’s grace which chastens us to forsake ungodliness and worldly lust in this age if He is working with us (Tit 2:12).

Pro 3:1 My son, forget not my law; but let thine heart keep my commandments:
Pro 3:2 For length of days, and long life, and peace, shall they add to thee.
Pro 3:3 Let not mercy and truth forsake thee: bind them about thy neck; write them upon the table of thine heart:
Pro 3:4 So shalt thou find favour and good understanding in the sight of God and man.
Pro 3:5 Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.
Pro 3:6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.
Pro 3:7 Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil.
Pro 3:8 It shall be health to thy navel, and marrow to thy bones.
Pro 3:9 Honour the LORD with thy substance, and with the firstfruits of all thine increase: [how do we honour the LORD with thy substance, and with the firstfruits of all thine increase? – Gal 6:10]
Pro 3:10 So shall thy barns be filled with plenty, and thy presses shall burst out with new wine.

We now know what the “firstfruits of all thine increase” is speaking about for God’s elect (Mat 9:37, Joh 4:35) as these following verses demonstrate:

Jas 1:18 Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.

Rom 13:7 Render therefore to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honour to whom honour.

Php 2:3 Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.

2Pe 1:5 And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge;
2Pe 1:6 And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness;
2Pe 1:7 And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity.
2Pe 1:8 For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
2Pe 1:9 But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins.
2Pe 1:10 Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall:
2Pe 1:11 For so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. [These verses in Peter can be expressed (3Jn 1:2) as well.]

Rom 12:9 Let love be without dissimulation [hiding from one another Isa 58:7]. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good.
Rom 12:10 Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another;
Rom 12:11 Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord;
Rom 12:12 Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer;

If we are blessed to follow this pattern of esteeming each other better “in honour preferring one another”, we will in fact be laying up our own inheritance which is in the Lord, and “his righteousness unto children’sH1121 childrenH1121“.

Mat 6:19 Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal:
Mat 6:20 But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal:
Mat 6:21 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.

1Th 2:19 For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Are not even ye in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at his coming? [Today, right now – Eph 2:6]
1Th 2:20 For ye are our glory and joy.

Eph 1:18 The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints,
Eph 1:19 And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power,

Deu 4:9 Only take heed to thyself, and keep thy soul diligently, lest thou forget the things which thine eyes have seen, and lest they depart from thy heart all the days of thy life: but teach them thy sonsH1121, and thy sons’H1121 sonsH1121;

Job 42:16 After this lived Job an hundred and forty years, and saw his sonsH1121, and his sons’H1121 sonsH1121, even four generations.

Psa 103:18 To such as keep his covenant, and to those that remember his commandments to do them.

God’s covenant is the new covenant commandment to love one another, and that love is expressed by being doers of the word and not just hearing the word (Jas 1:22).

The Body of Christ, “The Christ”, is a spiritual family uniquely chosen of the Lord and knitted and bonded in love.

Eph 4:16 From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.

Jesus Christ is our brother and our sister, our mother and our father. He is all of these things if we know the real Jesus Christ and that He has come in His flesh which is His Body.

Mat 12:48 But he answered and said unto him that told him, Who is my mother? and who are my brethren?
Mat 12:49 And he stretched forth his hand toward his disciples, and said, Behold my mother and my brethren!
Mat 12:50 For whosoever shall do the will of my Father which is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother.

As God’s people we are not to seek our own gain but are to be sold out for our brothers. Our Lord tells us there is no greater love than this.

Joh 15:12 This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you.
Joh 15:13 Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.”

God’s children must “remember his commandments to do them in order to be justified in the Lord. We are not justified by the works of the law but rather by the life of Christ within us, that grows in love and in our ability through Christ to bear one anothers burdens and so fulfilling the law of Christ which law is the new covenant law of love that Pete was talking about (Gal 6:2, Joh 13:34).

Rom 2:13 (For not the hearers of the law are just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified.

Jas 2:20 But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?
Jas 2:21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar?
Jas 2:22 Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect?
Jas 2:23 And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God.
Jas 2:24 Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only.
Jas 2:25 Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent them out another way?
Jas 2:26 For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.

Psa 103:19 The LORD hath preparedH3559 [H8689] his throne in the heavens; and his kingdom ruleth over all.

The LORD has prepared his throne in the heavens [a ‘done deal’], and is preparing us [‘causative’ action] so that we can rule over the nations without, after we have been given dominion over those nations within.

Rev 5:10 And hast made us [“hath prepared his throne in the heavens”] unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth.

Rev 1:6 And hath made us [“hath prepared his throne in the heavens“] kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.
Rev 1:7 Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen.

Christ was sent into this world “and his kingdom ruleth over all“, and we will learn how to rule in this age by His grace and faith that is working in our own heavens, in the kingdom of God that is within us. God is “over all” of this process of ruling and reigning in our heavens.

Joh 6:38 For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me.

Joh 17:18 As thou hast sent me into the world, even so have I also sent them into the world.

Joh 20:21 Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you.

1Co 6:2 Do ye not know that the saints shall judge the world? and if the world shall be judged by you, are ye unworthy to judge the smallest matters?
1Co 6:3 Know ye not that we shall judge angels? how much more things that pertain to this life?

Eph 2:7 That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.
Eph 2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
Eph 2:9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.
Eph 2:10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

Luk 17:21 Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you.

Eph 1:11 In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will:

Php 2:13 For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.

Psa 103:20 Bless the LORD, ye his angels, that excel in strength, that do his commandments, hearkening unto the voice of his word.
Psa 103:21 Bless ye the LORD, all ye his hosts; ye ministers of his, that do his pleasure.
Psa 103:22 Bless the LORD, all his works in all places of his dominion: bless the LORD, O my soul.

These last three verses of our study are very much focused on the title “Bless The Lord” where we learn that we bless each other and the Lord in each of us (Col 1:27) when we “do his commandments”. Whenever we do it unto the least of these my brethren we are doing this unto Christ (Mat 25:40).

We are reassured of Christ that we must receive those who are drawn to Christ in us (Mar 9:37, Joh 6:44), and not cause offence (Mar 9:42), as well as become like children (Mat 18:3) who come under our Lord’s loving hand and guidance learning to bind mercy and truth continually around our necks (Pro 3:3) as we mature into beloved children of our Lord whose good pleasure it is to give us the kingdom of God today (Mat 3:17, 1Jn 4:17). That kingdom is within today and received in earnest, knowing that one day the resurrection will occur and we will be delivered from these bodies of death (Luk 17:21, Eph 1:14, Rom 8:19, Php 1:20).

When we “do his pleasure” as “his host” or “ministers of his”, we are laying down our life for one another and overcoming together for one another, so that we can witness to the world discipleship through those actions of love (Joh 13:35) and glorify God with those works that He considers his good pleasure to work and fulfill within each of us (Luk 12:32, Php 2:13).

We bless the Lord for “all his works”, and because we know we serve an all powerful, all knowing Father who is “in all places of his dominion”. There is no place that is not His dominion, and there is no place that mankind can hide from his dominion as these follow scriptures reveal.

Eph 1:11 In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will:
Eph 1:12 That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ.

Rom 8:28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.
Rom 8:29 For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.
Rom 8:30 Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.
Rom 8:31 What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?

Gen 3:9 And the LORD God called unto Adam, and said unto him, Where art thou?
Gen 3:10 And he said, I heard thy voice in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked; and I hid myself.

Psa 139:7 Whither shall I go from thy Spirit? Or whither shall I flee from thy presence?
Psa 139:8 If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: If I make my bed in Sheol, behold, thou art there.
Psa 139:9 If I take the wings of the morning, And dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea;
Psa 139:10 Even there shall thy hand lead me, And thy right hand shall hold me.
Psa 139:11 If I say, Surely the darkness shall overwhelm me, And the light about me shall be night;
Psa 139:12 Even the darkness hideth not from thee, But the night shineth as the day: The darkness and the light are both alike to thee.
Psa 139:13 For thou didst form my inward parts: Thou didst cover me in my mother’s womb.
Psa 139:14 I will give thanks unto thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: Wonderful are thy works; And that my soul knoweth right well.
Psa 139:15 My frame was not hidden from thee, When I was made in secret, And curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the earth.
Psa 139:16 Thine eyes did see mine unformed substance; And in thy book they were all written, Even the days that were ordained for me, When as yet there was none of them.
Psa 139:17 How precious also are thy thoughts unto me, O God! How great is the sum of them! (ASV)

As “his angels”H4397, we admonish and encourage and strengthen each other to “do his commandments”H1697. We are messengers of His WordH1697, and although there is persecution and rejection by the world who cannot read, hear and keep that Word, we Bless the Lord by heeding Christ in each other.

2Ch 36:16 But they mocked the messengersH4397 of God, and despised his wordsH1697,and misused his prophets, until the wrath of the LORD arose against his people, till there was no remedy.

Psa 103:20 Bless the LORD, ye his angelsH4397, that excel in strength, that do his commandmentsH1697, hearkening unto the voice of his wordH1697.

Isa 44:26 That confirmeth the wordH1697 of his servantH4397, and performeth the counsel of his messengers; that saith to Jerusalem, Thou shalt be inhabited; and to the cities of Judah, Ye shall be built, and I will raise up the decayed places thereof:

Zec 1:13 And the LORD answered the angelH4397 that talked with me with good wordsH1697 and comfortable wordsH1697.

To end this study, let’s just look at the first few verses to remind us again of why we “Bless The Lord” and how greatly blessed we are to have all our iniquities forgiven, and all of our diseases healed;

Psa 103:1 A Psalm of David. Bless the LORD, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name.
Psa 103:2 Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits:
Psa 103:3 Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases;
Psa 103:4 Who redeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies;
Psa 103:5 Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things; so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle’s.

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