Forget Not All His Benefits

Preacher Michael Orlino, on Psalms 103.

Bless the LORD, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name. 2 Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits: 3 Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases; 4 Who redeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies; 5 Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things; so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle's.

It is an easy thing for us to forget - we can hold up to seven pieces of information at the same time for around only 20 seconds. The Lord calls us to not forget his benefits to us.

We bless the Lord and praise him as we remember the goodness of God in our lives. David is talking to his own self - to his own soul. He is instructing his soul to bless the Lord. He is directing his soul to bless the Lord - to praise him.

We think of him as the as the one Mighty God - a faithful God who has never abandoned us. We lift up our petitions and our hearts to him and say, Lord, You are the faithful God, I love you. You are my God and I bless your name.

David is talking to his soul, but also, he's talking to his memory. David is instructing his soul - the seat of the understanding and affection - the inmost soul. David is also calling upon his heart, his affection; upon everything that is in him. You cannot truly serve God while your heart serves sin or idols in your life.

Matthew 22:37 Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.

We are instructed to bless the holy name of God. His name is Holy - it is consecrated, set apart, the name that is above all other names. He is Yahweh, the Covenant name of our God. Praise God for his character, his faithfulness, his love, his mercy.

Brethren, let’s not forget the good things that the Lord has done for us. It is easy to forget our Lord, to forget his goodness. Thank him for his providence and his care.

We are prone to forget, just like the Israelites. We complain despite God's marvelous and mighty works. Let us recollect the goodness of God in our lives in our lives. Remember all the things that the Lord has done in your life.

Praise the Lord for his pardon - who forgiveth all thine iniquities. God has redeemed us. We receive pardon from the Lamb of God. Our God has redeemed us through the blood of his son our Lord and Saviour.

Exodus 34:6-7 ..The LORD God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth, Keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin…

Psalms 103:10-12 He hath not dealt with us after our sins; nor rewarded us according to our iniquities… 12 As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us.

We have been brought back from sure destruction to a sure heaven, to sure eternal life, to a sure haven of rest In Christ the Lord. 1 Peter 1:18-19 …ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold… 19 But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot: 1 Corinthians 6:20 For ye are bought with a price…

Glory in the gospel - what a comfort it is to know – Jesus is MY Saviour. If you are not in Christ why would you not come to God for your pardon? Why would you not come to God for the healing of your soul?

Verse 4, …who crowneth thee with loving kindness and and tender mercies… We know that those who are with him and for him will be kept all the time. We know his Covenant love, his steadfast love, his faithful love.

He reckons us righteous. He preserves us. He has counted us righteous in Christ. 2 Timothy 1:12 …for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day.

Philippians 1:6 Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ: He is keeping you all the way.

We also praise the Lord for his Providence - who satisfies thy mouth with good things so that thy youth is renewed like the eagles… He gives us more than what we need, even above and beyond our basic needs.

David was satisfied. He was content. He was gratified and happy. He has given us good things. Truly our cup overflows.

We are thriving in the goodness of God. We have reason to praise him. Just think, how your heart beats about 100 000 times in one day – that’s about 35 million times in a year; or about 2.5 billion times in a lifetime.

So you have 2.5 billion reasons to thank the Lord for his goodness to you!