Who

Who
Psalms 103: 1-5
Carolyn J. Satcher

This scripture is one of my most favorite scriptures. We should always bless and love the Lord with all our heart, soul, and mind. David understood that true worship was something deeply inward, of the soul. It is not just about outward forms or expressions, but also about something real from the soul. All that is within me, bless His holy name: David also understood that worship had to be more than superficial; it had to be offered as completely as possible. He wanted everything within to praise God. He set his heart in tune as well as setting his instruments in tune. We often praise and thank God halfheartedly. David called for everything within him to give honor and praise to God.

We should never forget his benefits. Every day that we wake up we benefit from God. He gives us the breath of life, food on our table, shelter to cover us, clothes to wear on our bodies and jobs to keep us from being homeless. I have written this scripture “Bless the Lord, oh my soul and forget not his benefits” when the time comes to be inscribed inside my casket. I love this particular part of this scripture.

In verse three, David tells us that God forgives all our iniquities. David assures his readers in this scripture that the Lord is merciful, gracious, slow to anger, loving, and ready to forgive. The Lord's love is higher than the heavens, David affirms, and knows that the Lord removes transgressions as far as the east is from the west. Only God can forgive the many iniquities that we commit. Iniquities are not only produced by the physical body but within the mind also. We have to ask God to forgive us for the things that we think in our heart and mind that are not pleasing in his sight.

For example, Jesus said if you lusted after another person in your heart and mind and you are married you have already committed adultery. I know most of us seniors remember our past President Jimmy Carter saying this. He had not physically committed adultery from the body but within his heart and mind he had committed adultery so he had to ask the Lord to forgive him for that. David in these scriptures knows God forgives all of our iniquities. He had committed two ultimate sins adultery and murder himself.

Only God can heal all of our diseases. I can testify that he does heal diseases. When I was a very young woman of 25 with 2 small children only 6 months and 3 years old, I was diagnosed with cancer and God healed me. I didn’t need chemotherapy or radiation treatments. With this being women’s month, many women have been healed of various diseases, breast cancer, lung cancer, colon cancer, brain cancer. We know sometimes God doesn’t always answer our prayers the way we want to; remembering that WSB TV Channel 2 Anchor Jovita Moore died from a brain aneurism. We know God still heals our diseases.

Verse 4 says who redeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies; Many know the powerful blessing of God’s rescue from sure destruction. Many calamities are spared the child of God, whether he knows it or not. The most powerful known destruction that we can face if we don’t accept Christ as our Savior is hell fire.

God crowns us with lovingkindness and tender mercies. Verse 5 says Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things; so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle's. “No man is ever filled to satisfaction but a believer, and only God himself can satisfy even him. Many a worldling is satiated, but not one is satisfied.” (Spurgeon). Your youth is renewed like the eagle’s: “The second line is not implying…that eagles have the power of self-renewal; only that God renews us to…the very picture of buoyant, tireless strength.

Prayer: Dear Lord, we thank you so much for all the benefits you give us. We thank you for the healing you give us. We thank you for forgiving us for things we know not to do. We thank you most of all for your goodness and mercy. May we forever praise you name. In the name of your son Jesus, we pray. Amen.