03 Forget not ALL his Benefits

Copyright © 2017 Michael A. Brown

‘Praise the LORD, O my soul; all my inmost being, praise his holy name.  Praise the LORD, O 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’

(Ps. 103:1-5)

      The repeated use of the present participle form of the verbs in the Septuagint version of Psalm 103:3-5 brings out the believer’s continuing experience of God in the ways these verses describe.  So he is the One forgiving us, he is the One healing us, the One redeeming us, the One crowning us and the One satisfying us.  This is our inheritance in our new life in Christ, and we are reminded to not forget these things.  They are the benefits and blessings we reap as we learn to live in intimate spiritual union with Jesus (1 Cor. 6:17).  To know Yahweh and to walk with him in our life is to know and experience him in these ways.

      He keeps on forgiving us ALL our sins (as we repent from and confess these, of course). So our conscience is freed, we are washed clean, and we remain free of bondage to sin and the inward torment it causes.  We are free and at peace deep within.  He keeps on healing us of ALL our physical diseases, so he can make and keep us healthy today, tomorrow and next week.  The Spirit of life within us sustains and gives life to our mortal bodies (Rom. 8:11).  So healing and good health become our expectation in him as we continue to embrace by faith his word of healing to us.

      Our ongoing experience of redemption from the pit means that our spiritual enemy and the corruption, decay and spiritual ruin of the world around lose their power over us.  The enemy no longer has place in our lives to steal from, kill and destroy us.  We are freed from his controlling and destructive influence, guarded and protected by the inward, life-giving and empowering presence of the Holy Spirit and by the presence of God’s holy angels watching over us (Ps. 34:7, 91:11-12).  Indeed, the tables have been turned and it is now we who tread on serpents and scorpions (Luke 10:19, cf. Ps. 91:13)!

      The LORD crowns us, honouring us with the garland of his love and kindness.  As his children, we are the treasured daily objects of his love, compassion and tender mercy which surround us continually.  God is good to us, and every day we experience new demonstrations of his goodness and faithfulness, and so we become secure in his love for us and we love him back.  He keeps on satisfying our desires with the many good things he gives us, both in terms of spiritual blessings and the way he meets the daily needs of our lives.  Our hearts find true satisfaction in him, and our souls delight in the richest of fare (Isa. 55:2, Ps. 63:5).  No-one else and nothing else could ever give us what he has given us and continues to give us.  The Christian life is a happy, secure and blessed life and is to be enjoyed!

      So as we experience these things in an ongoing way, we become people of praise and grateful thanksgiving.  His praises continually well up from within us and we freely speak and sing out his praise.  We bless the LORD at all times (Ps. 34:1) and all that is within us goes out to him, praising, blessing and loving his holy name!

      And what is the result of all these benefits?  Our youth is renewed like the eagle’s.  Non-believers have always longed to discover the so-called secret of eternal youth.  The secret, of course, is that it is spiritual and is found only in the indwelling eternal life of Christ.  In him, our spiritual lives can be continually refreshed by the Holy Spirit like an inward fountain of living water (John 4:14) and our strength can be renewed as we wait on him, dwelling and lingering in the intimacy of his life-giving presence.  Then, as a result, we do not walk in our human weakness, but rather in his strength and we can mount up with wings as eagles.  We have new, fresh vitality and energy.  We can run and not be weary; we can walk and not be faint (Isa. 40:31).  We flourish, grow and bear fruit, and we are a blessing to others, even in old age (Ps. 92:12-15).