The Book of Psalms is frequently cited as being one of the most popular texts found within the Hebrew Bible (Old Testament) due to the beauty of the poetry contained therein. It is also, possibly, one of the more challenging to translate from Hebrew into English. There is always a risk that something is being lost in translation, in particular the overtones of emotion or the nuance in the meaning of certain words that come with the Hebrew text. I am not a Hebrew scholar, and although I studied New Testament Greek as an undergraduate, biblical linguistics has always been something that has challenged me. I therefore rely on the various commentaries that have been produced by academics who understand not only the biblical languages but the full social and historical context in which texts were written. I also try to read scripture using different English translations whilst looking at what the commentators say about them and the translation of particular words or verses.

Yet the alternate Psalm that we have from the lectionary for this Sunday, Psalm 103, seems to have a very clear message regardless of which translation you are seeking to use.
You have here a hymn of praise that is intensely personal:

Bless the Lord, O my soul,
   and all that is within me,
   bless his holy name.

The starting place within the Psalm is an outburst of thanksgiving and blessing towards God. It then moves into being a song all about the steadfast love and mercy and justice of God. Stressing Yahweh’s character of goodness, compassion, faithful love, not just for humanity but for the whole of creation.

Psalm 103 is a gift for those suffering through a season of low affection; particularly when you are struggling with your faith and when your spirituality seems dry. It is a reminder that in all that we are experiencing and going through, God is good and God’s presence and being is constant. In the passage the author, attributed as David, reminds himself about the good things that God has done, through God’s justice and liberation, holding on to the truths of God’s character and nature.

In the psalm, the author is certain that it is not just that God loves us but that God himself embodies love in every way because God is love. Even in the wilderness, when God’s people grumbled against God, as alluded to in verses 7 and 8, God continued in faithfulness and in love towards his people.

At the heart of this love is also God’s forgiveness. When we are experiencing difficulties in our faith, we will often feel guilty and with that comes a sense of unworthiness about ourselves. Yet Psalm 103 reminds us of God’s forgiving love and our status as his children. This is best understood when we see what God has done for us in Christ. That through Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection the fullness of God’s love for the world is displayed.

The psalms may not be easy to translate but the message here is clear: God is love and that love for us is steadfast. So let us bless the Lord and give thanks for his steadfast and eternal love for us.