In Psalm 103, it appears that
David is determined not to forget all the benefits and blessings that the LORD
has bestowed upon him. And despite all the problems and difficulties and
challenges that he had to face throughout his life, David is going to praise
the LORD for them. In James we are
reminded that, “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming
down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to
change.” We so easily forget His
blessings, especially when we are going through a dark and difficult time. But
that is the time to remember His goodness and all His benefits and proclaim
with David, “Bless the LORD, O my soul; And all that is within me, bless His
holy name!
Yesterday
we talked about the benefit of forgiveness. I’m convinced that one of the
greatest human experiences that we can have, is to know that we are forgiven by
God. It is a wonderful thing that a friend or family member might forgive us
for an offence that we committed against them. But they can’t forget what you
did, and sometimes it comes back up. But when God forgives us, it is not just
wonderful, it is incomprehensible!!!! He not only forgives our offence, our
sin, our transgressions, and iniquities, He will never again hold them against
us. He “cast them all behind His back” (Isaiah 38:17) and forgets them. He
“cast all our sins into the depths of the sea” (Micah 7:19), where they
can never be found!
David
also says that we should praise and bless the LORD because He is able to heal
every disease (Matt. 9:35). But we need to remember that He is not obligated to
do so. The Apostle Paul healed people on many occasions in his missionary
ministry, and even raised the dead, but he was not able to heal two of his
friends He mentions Epaphroditus in Philippians 2:25-30, and in 2 Timothy 4:20,
he says, “…but Trophimus I have left in Miletus sick.” Paul told his son in the faith, Timothy, to
take some medicine for his stomach ailment and his frequent infirmities (1
Timothy 5:23). Paul prayed to be healed of “a thorn in the flesh” at
least three times but the Lord finally assured him that His grace was
sufficient, and in his weakness, he could experience God’s strength. (2
Corinthians 12:7-10).
David's
own baby son died in spite of his fasting and praying (2 Sam. 12:15-23). We
need to remember that the believer's body will not be completely delivered from
weakness and disease until it is redeemed and glorified at the return of Jesus
Christ (Rom. 8:18-23). We will experience ultimate healing when we enter into
the presence of the Lord after we draw our last earthly breath! But even today,
we can experience His healing presence in the midst of our pain and suffering. “He
sent His Word and healed them….” (Psalm 107:20). “…And by His stripes we
are healed” (Isaiah 53:5). By His grace and through His Word we can
experience spiritual, emotional, and mental healing as we journey through this
world of chaos and confusion.
In
verse 4, David mentions that our life is “redeemed from destruction or the
pit”. The word "redeem"
would remind the Jewish people of their deliverance from the bondage of Egypt
at the Exodus (Ex. 12-15). They would remember the Passover Lamb that was slain
and the blood that was applied to the door posts. The statement describes God
rescuing someone about to fall into a pit, and "the pit" is a symbol
of sheol (Psalms 6:5; 16:10; 28:1), the world of the dead.
For
us today, Peter put it this way: “Knowing that you were not redeemed with
corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by
tradition from your fathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a
lamb without blemish and without spot” (1 Peter 1:18-19).
I
love the old hymn by Fanny Crosby that says, “Redeemed, how I love to proclaim
it! Redeemed by the blood of the Lamb; Redeemed through His infinite mercy, His
child, and forever, I am.” Praise the LORD!
God
bless!
