The Fifth Sunday after Epiphany (Ps) February 5th

Psalm 103:1-22
1 Bless the LORD, O my soul,
and all that is within me,
bless his holy name!
2 Bless the LORD, O my soul,
and forget not all his benefits,
3 who forgives all your iniquity,
who heals all your diseases,
4 who redeems your life from the pit,
who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy,
5 who satisfies you with good
so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.
6 The LORD works righteousness
and justice for all who are oppressed.
7 He made known his ways to Moses,
his acts to the people of Israel.
8 The LORD is merciful and gracious,
slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.
9 He will not always chide,
nor will he keep his anger forever.
10 He does not deal with us according to our sins,
nor repay us according to our iniquities.
11 For as high as the heavens are above the earth,
so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him;
12 as far as the east is from the west,
so far does he remove our transgressions from us.
13 As a father shows compassion to his children,
so the LORD shows compassion to those who fear him.
14 For he knows our frame;
he remembers that we are dust.
15 As for man, his days are like grass;
he flourishes like a flower of the field;
16 for the wind passes over it, and it is gone,
and its place knows it no more.
17 But the steadfast love of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear him,
and his righteousness to children’s children,
18 to those who keep his covenant
and remember to do his commandments.
19 The LORD has established his throne in the heavens,
and his kingdom rules over all.
20 Bless the LORD, O you his angels,
you mighty ones who do his word,
obeying the voice of his word!
21 Bless the LORD, all his hosts,
his ministers, who do his will!
22 Bless the LORD, all his works,
in all places of his dominion.
Bless the LORD, O my soul!
The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. 2001 (Ps 103:1–22). Wheaton: Standard Bible Society.

Bless The LORD for all he has done for you. It is Jesus Christ our LORD who has died for the forgiveness of sins. The LORD works righteousness and justice for all people. He sends rain on the just and unjust alike. The LORD has mercy on whom he chooses to have mercy. But the phrase that strikes me the most in this Psalm is in verse 21.

"Bless the LORD all his hosts, his ministers, who do his will!" The Hosts of God would truly include Angels and the four living Creatures standing around the throne. But what about you? Are you included in God's host? Does God work his will on Earth through you? Or are you standing opposed to God's will. We pray in the LORD's Prayer, "Thy Will be done on Earth as it is in Heaven." Here we pray that all wills which are opposed to God's Will be broken and submit to God's will.

God is your God and he works his will through those who love him. He works his will through Jesus Christ's sacrifice and resurrection. God works his will through his Holy Angels. God works his will through You. God has given you his Son to die for the forgiveness of all your sins. He has cleansed you of all unrighteousness. God has sent his Holy Spirit to help you do His will and obey his Word. "Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits, who forgives all your iniquity, who heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit."