Psalm 103 – My Inmost Being
Psalm 103 – my inmost being, is another psalm of praise. It calls the reader to praise God using all that is within us. What is this inmost being?
Psalm 103
Psalm 103 – my inmost being, begins with the writer, David, calling upon his soul to bless the Lord.
“David called upon his soul to bless Yahweh. It was as if David looked at his soul and understood that it was not praising God enough. He called upon his soul to do more.
David understood that true worship was something deeply inward, of the soul. It is not just about outward forms or expressions, but also about something real from the soul . “Soul music is the very soul of music.” (word.com/bible-commentary/psalm-103/)
He repeats this twice for emphasis in the first two verses, then ends with the phrase.
“Praise the Lord, my soul; all my inmost being, praise his holy name.
Praise the Lord, my soul, and forget not all his benefits.” (1-2)
Other translations of “inmost being” are “all that is within me,” (KJV, NKJV, NAS, ESV) and “my whole heart” (New Living).
“David also understood that worship had to be more than superficial; it had to be offered as completely as possible. He wanted everything within to praise God. He set his heart in tune as well as setting his instruments in tune.” (https://enduringword.com/bible-commentary/psalm-103/)
Why Is God to be Praised?
And why praise God? Because of his forgiveness and compassionate love. God redeems our lives and satisfies our desires.
“Who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases,
who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion,
who satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.” (3-5)
Our God is slow to anger and abounding in love. His love is as high as heaven.
“The Lord is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love.
He will not always accuse, nor will he harbor his anger forever;
he does not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our iniquities.
For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his love for those who fear him;
as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us.” (8-12)
Like a father, God knows us and has compassion on us, his children.
“As a father has compassion on his children, so the Lord has compassion on those who fear him;
for he knows how we are formed, he remembers that we are dust.
The life of mortals is like grass, they flourish like a flower of the field;
the wind blows over it and it is gone, and its place remembers it no more.” (13-16)
God’s Everlasting Love
God’s love is everlasting, another reason for praise.
“But from everlasting to everlasting the Lord’s love is with those who fear him, and his righteousness with their children’s children—
with those who keep his covenant and remember to obey his precepts.” (17-18)
The psalm ends with David calling upon the angels and all creation to praise the Lord, then the repetition of the first line of the psalm.
“Praise the Lord, you his angels, you mighty ones who do his bidding, who obey his word.
>Praise the Lord, all his heavenly hosts, you his servants who do his will.
>Praise the Lord, all his works everywhere in his dominion.
Praise the Lord, my soul.” (20-22)
What is our Inmost Being?
Our inmost being is nothing less than our soul. The writer of this psalm emphasizes the importance of the soul – our inmost being.
“The soul in the Bible is a complex and multifaceted concept, encompassing life, personality, and the spiritual essence of a person. It is central to understanding human nature, salvation, and the believer’s relationship with God.” (https://biblehub.com/topical/s/soul.htm)
Jesus instructs us to love our God with our heart, soul, and mind (Mt. 22:37). We humans are made in God’s image. God has breathed God’s spirit into us.
“The soul is seen as the true self, created by God and destined for eternal communion with Him.” (https://biblehub.com/topical/s/soul.htm)
The soul lives on after our physical body is gone. Thus, care for our souls is more important than care for our earthly bodies.
“The biblical understanding of the soul has profound implications for Christian living. It calls believers to prioritize spiritual growth and to seek a deeper relationship with God. The soul’s eternal value encourages a life of holiness and devotion, recognizing that earthly pursuits are temporary compared to the soul’s everlasting significance.” (https://biblehub.com/topical/s/soul.htm)
All reasons to praise God with our inmost being.
Psalm 103 – My Inmost Being
What does it mean to praise the Lord with all that is within? This is not half-hearted worship. It requires all of us. It is not just a recitation of words. We use our words, our heart, our whole being. Our inmost being, our soul, speaks to God.
It also requires a level of honesty that is uncomfortable. We peer into our souls and see our failings, our mistakes, all the many ways that we are not living the life of holiness God calls us to. Praising God with our inmost being requires effort on our part.
In Psalm 103 – my inmost being, the writer calls upon all of God’s works to praise the Lord, but especially the human soul. It challenges us to look within, are we worshiping in spirit and truth, or are we simply going through the routine without allowing it to touch our inner being?
(For another take on this Psalm, see https://patriciamrobertson.com/psalm-103-renewing-your-youth-like-an-eagle/)
This post is part of a series of blog posts on the Psalms. Sign up to follow this blog and and receive a free copy of Still Dancing, the second book in my Dancing through Life Series. click here to sign up
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