When Your Soul Needs a Sermon
By Dean Collins
Well, bless my soul! I don’t recall hearing this phrase while growing up in Tampa, Florida, but once I moved to the real South, I have heard many southerners use this phrase. It often drips with a good southern drawl as well!
When I first began to hear this expression, it was usually from church members. I was a bit confused because it seems that my charming southern friends meant a variety of things when they used this expression. Sometimes “Well, bless my soul,” meant that the speaker was genuinely surprised by something that had happened. Sometimes the surprise was seeing someone unexpectedly. But other times the use of “Well, bless my soul,” was said in a way that suggested the person didn’t want to say, “Oh my God,” because it isn’t a proper way to refer to God, so “Oh my gosh,” “Oh my goodness,” or “Well, bless my soul,” was a substitute for what would otherwise be a no no in church world.
In Psalm 103 we find David using the phrase, “Bless the Lord, O My soul,” and I can assure you that the psalmist did not intend any of the southern references above! In Psalm 103, David is offering personal praise to God. Many times, we read of corporate worship in scripture, but in this Psalm the intent is that David’s worship is personal and from deep within his soul. He opens his praise with these words:
“Bless the Lord, O My soul, and all that is within me, bless his Holy name.”
I don’t know about you, but I often preach to myself. To be honest, when I write I am also writing to myself as much as, or more than, I am writing for others. In this Psalm, David is preaching or instructing himself about his need to praise and worship God with everything he has to offer.
Listen to David’s sermon to himself. It is a challenge to worship the Lord with everything he has and to remember the goodness of the Lord in that he offers forgiveness of all of our sins! Maybe it is a sermon you can preach to yourself as well.
Bless the Lord, O my soul,
Forget not all his benefits. Look at all the things that God does for you and for me:
- He forgives all your iniquities
- He heals all your diseases
- He redeems your life from the pit
- He crowns you with steadfast love and mercy
- He satisfies you with good so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s
- He works righteousness and justice for all who are oppressed
- He is merciful and gracious
- He is slow to anger
- He is abounding in steadfast love
- He will not always chide
- He will not keep his anger forever
- He does not deal with us according to our sins
- He doesn’t repay us according to our iniquities
- He shows compassion to those who revere him
- He knows our frame
- He remembers we are dust
- His steadfast love is everlasting
There are mornings when my heart doesn’t naturally overflow with praise. On those days, I have to do what David did. I have to speak to my own soul: Remember. Don’t forget what God has done. Bless the Lord!
So today, Lord, we bless your holy name! From deep within our hearts, we come with gratitude and praise for all that you are and all that you have given to us. Today, we pray that you would allow us to be a vessel of blessing to someone in need of your love. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Your Time with God’s Word
Psalm 103:1-22 ESV
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