“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 iniquities, who heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from destruction, who crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies, who satisfies your mouth with good things, so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.” – Psalm 103:1-5
When God graciously works in the hearts and lives of His people in ways in which we examine ourselves and are moved to stir our souls to wholeheartedly bless, to wholeheartedly declare what belongs to Him, and praise His holy name, it’s a glorious thing! David proclaimed rightly in Psalm 145:10, “All Your works shall praise You, O Lord, and Your saints shall bless You.“ Indeed, we must. Indeed, we shall by His grace.
In Psalm 103, David’s public dialogue with himself reveals his struggle, coupled with his conviction and growth in seeking to praise God as he ought, in the right ways, and for all of the right reasons. His self-exhortation should also encourage you and me today, as we see his example. Considering this, as God’s holiness fuels our praise, so also must our remembrance of all His benefits. In other words, we must not forget the good things God has lavished upon us. We must not be oblivious or unmindful of divine blessings and have them far from our attention. We must not refuse to consider them either. Rather, we must gratefully remember all of God’s mercies to us, not professing gratitude merely with our tongue, but from the depth of our soul.
As David gives a list of glorious benefits in this passage, where does he begin? He lists five acts, beginning with the divine pardoning of sin.
- Forgiving all your iniquity – The first and greatest benefit of God’s grace, for which we should bless the Lord, is the forgiveness of all His people’s sins. There isn’t any, or even the smallest sin, that is left unpaid for, or not forgiven. The Apostle Paul pressed this good news as he preached Christ and His work to the men of Israel in Acts 13:38 “Therefore let it be known to you, brethren, that through this Man is preached to you the forgiveness of sins;” God is merciful and compassionate to His repentant people. He alone can forgive the guilt of our sin. (Mark 2:7) Think about the many sins you have committed. Yet, they are all pardoned. Know that the Hebrew verb form teaches us that this is God’s habitual activity. Praise the Lord!
- Healing all your diseases – Sickness of body and soul came into this world by sin. As sin is eradicated, sickness of the body, mind, and spirit will vanish. This benefit has no prosperity gospel message, as if Christ died to take away every sickness in this life. No, sickness and suffering remain today. Consider Paul’s prayer for personal healing, and God’s response – “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” (2 Cor. 12:9) Here’s the connection between these first and second benefits- having forgiven as the Judge, our Savior then cures us as the Physician. He is all things to us and meets all of our needs. God makes medicine for the body effective. He can also heal directly. His grace sanctifies our souls. Spiritually, we’re daily under His care. He visits us as a faithful surgeon, healing sickness according to His will. No disease of your soul baffles His skill. God heals them, and will heal them all in the resurrection on the last day. And so, Jesus teaches us our pardoned and restored souls to bless the Lord with all its strength!
- Redeemed from destruction – A third great benefit of God’s amazing grace, is Christ’s redeeming us from death, from the grave, and eternal condemnation and destruction in Hell. As the writer to the Hebrews wonderfully teaches us in Hebrews 2:14-15 “Inasmuch then as the children have partaken of flesh and blood, He Himself likewise shared in the same, that through death He might destroy him who had the power of death, that is, the devil, and release those who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.” Never forget His breaking of your deadly bonds, bringing you under the yoke of Christ!
- Crowned with lovingkindness – Our souls should also be stirred up and reminded of this benefit that flows from God’s forgiveness of all our sins. Christ crowns us with lovingkindness and tender mercies. Think about all of such kindness and mercy that He gives you and bless your Savior. The sinner outside of Christ doesn’t receive this crown. They receive perishable crowns of misery and corruption from men. Yet, we are the recipients of God’s favor. We are the recipients of His abundant love for all eternity. Christ crowns His people with that which is imperishable! (1 Cor. 9:25)
- Satisfied with good things – It’s truly only the favor and grace of God that can give our souls true satisfaction and supply all of our needs! (Prov. 8:21) Though the world offer many attractive and enticing gifts, they never give what they promise. God’s never ending supply of all that is good is a often forgotten, yet essential to remember each and every day. Notice David’s words that His satisfying us with good things has a wonderful purpose. By the grace and comfort of the Holy Spirit, our Lord restores us and fills us with new life and joy today, which points us to the promise and guarantee of our eternal life and joy in Jesus.
Do you have a half-hearted, forgetful struggle like David? See his self exhortation and follow his example. Forget not all of God’s benefits, Beloved! Engage today, and in the days ahead, to stir up your soul to remember them and praise Him for them with your whole heart.