Ps 103 – Forget Not All His Benefits

Last Sunday at church we looked at Psalm 103v1-5.  We saw that David speaks to himself to stir up his praise of God and we must do the same.  However, what benefits can we remind ourselves of?  David lists five:

1) Forgiveness

David praises God “who forgives all your sins” (v3).  This is God’s greatest gift – and his most costly.  Our first priority should be to praise God for the fact that guilty sinners like ourselves can be declared righteous through the cross.

2) Health

“…and heals all your diseases” (v3).  This is not a blanket promise that we will always be well, but rather a reminder that we should give thanks to God for the health we enjoy.  David may also have been thinking of spiritual diseases.  This also looks forwards to the fact that believers will know ultimate healing in the new heavens and the new earth when Jesus comes again.

3) Redemption

“…who redeems your life from the pit” (v4).  God rescues those who trust in him from the pit of hell and places them on the throne of heaven.  Sometimes God also rescues us from trials in this present life.  Those in Christ are now seated with him in the heavenly places (Ephesians 2v6).

4) Care

“…and crowns you with love and compassion” (v4). God cares for his people.  He pays individual attention to us.  He treats us like royalty as his adopted children and is attentive to our needs.

5) Satisfaction

“…who satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s” (v5).  God is the one who satisfies us according to his unfailing love (Psalm 90v14) and fills us with joy and gladness all our days.  The eagle is a picture of strength, newness, vitality and trusting in God (Isaiah 40v31).

So five things to give thanks for: forgiveness, health, redemption, care and satisfaction.  What else can you add to the list?