Lord's Day Devotion - Benefits and Blessings

 

"Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits" Psalm 103:2 ESV.

The psalmist didn't want to forget all the Lord had done for him.  His antidote for forgetfullness was to bless the Lord for each one, giving Him praise.

David, this psalms' psalmist, appears to have written it when he was a senior citizen.  I imagine him looking back over the years of his life, taking stock and giving account of all the Lord had done for him.  He did not want to forget any of them.

But if he had left it until he was older, he may well have forgotten,what those things were.  He must have been making a habit of blessing the Lord all along.

Whatever the case, he was making mention of them now, in this psalm.  They were that He was the one ...

" ... who forgives all your iniquity, who heals all your diseases," (Psalm 103:3 ESV).

And more, which you will see if you continue to read the psalm on.

David committed some pretty awful iniquities.  Most people will especially recall what he did to Bathsheba and her husband.  It was atrocious!

We learn though that he did repent and bear consequences in more than one way.  He learned the Lord's forgiveness but also His justice and mercy.

I don't recall any mention of David being sick with disease.  He spent so many years out on the range, he and his men must have met a lot of sickness you'd think.   However, it could also be David's observation in general, that the Lord

 "heals all your diseases."

This could be why he intensely fasted and prayed, begging God to spare the life of his newborn baby he had had with Bathsheba.  The baby did die though - a consequence of David's gross sin.  He fully believed God could but accepted the "NO" answer.  He trusted God was doing right.

David never wanted to forget all of these, having had his life, so to speak,

"redeemed from the pit" (Psalm 103:4).

No doubt David's list was long with all the times the Lord helped him while he was a fugitive all those decades.  Countless benefits, I'd think.

Nowadays, we likely can list a few benefits in each category.  How shall we remember to remember all our Lord and Savior has done for us?

The firm answer points to

 "Bless the LORD, all His works, in all places of His dominion.  Bless the LORD, O my soul" (Psalm 103:22 ESV)!

The benefit we can put at the top of our list is our salvation through Jesus' death and resurrection.  This Lord's Day, let's bless Him for this saving grace.  Partake of the broken bread and drink of the cup of wine in remembrance and in blessing the one who died for you.

Heavenly Father, Your benefits are manifold.  We see and know some of them and we bless You for all You have done for us over the many years of life.  We especially give thanks for forgiving our iniquities, transgressions and sins, through Jesus' sacrifice for us on the cross, thus buying our salvation and freedom from the slavery of sin.  We give You our praise and bless Your name in Jesus' name.  Amen.

                                                         ~  ERC  September 2026  ~

Based on Psalm 103: especailly 1-3 and 21-22 EAV.

Sing, Who is There Like You, along with Stuart Townend and 10,000 Reasons along with Matt Redman and Hadleigh Baptist Church.