First sign of wisdom

It is said, that talking to yourself is the first sign of madness; conversely I wonder if it is the first sign of wisdom, as demonstrated by today's Psalm.

Praise the Lord, my soul; all my inmost being, praise his holy name. Praise the Lord, my soul, and forget not all his benefits— 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. The Lord works righteousness and justice for all the oppressed.

Psalm 103:1-6

We have so many reasons to praise God.

He forgives our sins, heals our diseases and redeems our life from the pit. He has crowned us with love and satisfied us with good things... the reasons to praise go on and on.

But why are they listed here?

The Psalmist doesn't feel like singing. He doesn't want to praise. So he speaks to himself. He lists the many reasons he has to praise. These lay buried in his memory - so he brings them to the front. He is giving himself a proverbial good shake. He is rising his soul from lethargy to the praise of the living God.

He is speaking to himself - and so he is displaying his wisdom. He knows how he feels, and he knows that is not right - so he speaks to himself, reasons with himself, stirring his soul up to praise.

May we show the same wisdom in action as we speak with ourselves.