In Psalm 103:1-5, David wants us to remember all the wonderful benefits that the LORD has personally blessed
us with. He lists at least seven of them in these first verses. Moses had
told the people of Israel in the Book of Deuteronomy that they should not
forget the blessings of the LORD at least fourteen times, and nine times he cautioned
them not to forget (Deut. 32:18). So often, as we get so busy with work,
family, and life, we easily forget the blessings of the LORD and what He does
for us every day!
David
reminds us of the benefits of the LORD’s forgiveness, of His healing, of His redemption,
of His lovingkindness, and of His tender mercies. Today we want to look at the
last two that he mentions in verse 5, satisfaction and renewal.
There
is no real satisfaction in this world. The pleasures and things of this world
might give us some temporary feelings of happiness and satisfaction, but they
will not last. Money, fame, family, friends, education, achievements, success
and a host of other things promise us satisfaction, but they always come short
of fulfilling the deepest need of our souls. Jesus warned us in Mark 8:36-37, “For
what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or
what will a man give in exchange for his soul?”
We
are born with a “void”, an empty hole deep in our soul that only God can fill.
Remember the woman at the well in John 4? She had come to draw water and Jesus
was there. He asked her for a drink, and this started a conversation with her. Then
Jesus made an astounding statement. “If you knew who I am, and you would
have ask me for a drink I would have given you living water.” She replied, “How
can you, since you have nothing to draw with and the well is deep”. “Jesus
answered and said to her, "Whoever drinks of this water will thirst again,
but whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst. But
the water that I shall give him will become in him a fountain of water
springing up into everlasting life." (John 4:13-14).
This
woman had desperately been drinking of the water of this world to find
satisfaction! She had been married five times and was presently living with a
man who was not her husband! All her earthly relationships left her empty. Only
Jesus who is the Water of Life, and the Bread of Life (John 6:33-40), can satisfied
our deepest need of salvation and hope! Jesus is the Good Shepherd who leads us
into green pastures (Psalm 23:3). He alone can forgive us of our sins and give
us life and give it to us more abundantly (John 10:10).
The
LORD alone is the One, “Who satisfies your mouth with good things” (v. 5a).
The word translated "mouth" is a bit of a puzzle since it is usually
translated "ornaments" or "jewelry," words that hardly fit
this context. Some students interpret the word to mean "duration" or
"years". Which means, no matter how old we become, God can always satisfy
the needs of our lives and the spiritual desires of our hearts. Jesus said, “Blessed
are they that hunger and thirst after righteousness, for they shall be filled
(satisfied)” (Matthew 5:6). Jesus is the “righteousness of God” (1
Corinthians 1:30).
My friend, the person who
seeks and finds the true righteousness of God in Jesus Christ through His Word
and salvation will also find renewal! “So that your youth is renewed like
the eagle's” (v. 5b). Do you need “renewal” today? You will find it as you
wait on the LORD! Isaiah 40:28-31 assures us: “Have you not known? Have you
not heard? The everlasting God, the LORD, The Creator of the ends of the earth,
Neither faints nor is weary. His understanding is unsearchable. He gives power
to the weak, And to those who have no might He increases strength. Even the
youths shall faint and be weary, And the young men shall utterly fall, But
those who wait on the LORD Shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with
wings like eagles, They shall run and not be weary, They shall walk and not
faint.”
God
bless!
