“Of David. Bless the LORD, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless His holy name! Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits, Who forgives all your iniquity, Who heals all your diseases, Who redeems your life from the pit, Who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy, Who satisfies you with good so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.” Psalm 103:1-5
Devotional Thought For The Day
Once a company gets large enough it generally has to have a personnel and benefits department. The job of the benefits department is to make sure that employees understand the benefits provided as a condition of employment so that these benefits can be fully utilized. The benefits are an enhancement to a job offer, and they are aimed at making workers happier, healthier, and more productive. Such workers are less likely to decide that they need to look for a better job. Longevity and continuity and healthiness are generally good for the productivity of workers and the success of a business/organization. While many things have changed in the business world over the past few years, including insurance, wage raises, bonuses, etc., much of this is still in place.
In this psalm, David sounds a bit like the benefits manager for the kingdom of heaven, those who are members of God’s dear family of faith. He encourages us not to forget the benefits God provides for His dear people, and which He offers to all people if they will return to Him in repentance and live in His mercy and kindness. This is not a self-righteous and hypocritical society. The first benefit mentioned is that He “forgives all your iniquity.” Though we are never happy to recall and face up to our sin and moral depravity, this is part of the healing – to return to God for forgiveness, cleansing, and His assurance that we still have hope and a future. This is the most important “healing” that God provides for us, and His love – once experienced by faith – continues to have the most powerful therapeutic effect on our hearts and minds. And yes, God also is the ultimate great physician – He “heals all your diseases.” Understanding the work of Jesus Christ, what He accomplished for us and for God in His suffering, death, and resurrection, our redemption and atonement, we are certain that He has “redeemed our life from the pit.” We will not perish forever in hell as we deserve in view of our sin; rather, God continues to crown us with “steadfast love and mercy” all the days of our earthly life.
All of this is important, very important for us, for it is God’s great benefits which keep us healthy, happy, and productive within His kingdom. It is His benefits which satisfy us with all good and renew our strength. The church is charged with dispensing and distributing God’s gracious mercy and forgiveness, and with continuing to make His children aware of all of His benefits, which we receive within His kingdom, by faith. Shame on the churches [and pastors] which do not do this, or who find little value in this. In what sense are they Christian if they are not about distributing these very blessings and benefits of God? And how well are they functioning as God’s servants if they are obscuring or denying these benefits rather than publicizing, promoting, and actually applying them to His dear children of faith? Perhaps we would be helped if we understood better our real function and purpose in regard to God’s benefit package. The psalmist certainly understood his role and function as a prophet, and shows us the way.
Likewise, we must always remember to claim and utilize the blessings and benefits of God’s kingdom in our own lives. These are also our help, healing, life, strength, and salvation. We need them for ourselves, and God wants us to have them because they provide us with longevity and productiveness for His kingdom. It is in the benefits that He provides to us that His will and our own self-interests coalesce and are identical. It is no offense to God if we become selfish about these things, and eagerly grasp His forgiveness, healing, redemption, steadfast love and mercy, goodness, and renewal of our strength. In fact, He wills that we grip on to His benefits with tenacity and fierceness! Only let us not forget that others need these things too, and would benefit from them greatly. It does not diminish our share of God’s blessings in the least when we share them with others! This psalm is filled with praise of God, clearly revealing His nature to us, that God is love. How blessed we are to be touched by His love for us.
Prayer For The Day
Dear Lord Jesus, thanks and praise be to You for providing us with such a benefits package that is fantastic beyond all of our hopes and expectations. Help us to grasp these benefits and to utilize them, so that we remain spiritually healthy, happy, and strong. In this way shape us and prepare us to be productive in the work of Your kingdom. Keep Your church faithful in proclaiming and distributing Your benefits to all who come to You. We look forward to our ultimate rest and retirement within Your heavenly kingdom – all provided by Your work for us. Amen