Psalm 103 Forget not His Benefits

These are bookends. We are going to talk about bookends today.

The Duke of Wellington, was not always an easy man to serve under. He was brilliant, demanding, and not one to shower his subordinates with compliments. Yet even Wellington realized that his methods left something to be desired. in his old age a young lady asked him what if anything he would do different. “I’d give more praise.”

Bless the Lord could be translated praise the Lord.

Psalms 73–150: An Introduction and Commentary (Psalm 103. So Great Is His Love)

Among the psalms attributed to David, Psalm 103 stands a little apart: it is less intensely personal than most of his; less harassed, if at all, by enemies or private guilt.

do not forget His benefits = Deut 8:12-14

Deuteronomy 8:12–14 CSB

When you eat and are full, and build beautiful houses to live in, and your herds and flocks grow large, and your silver and gold multiply, and everything else you have increases, be careful that your heart doesn’t become proud and you forget the Lord your God who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the place of slavery.

You need to keep a “benefits file” in your house so that you don’t forget what God has done for you.

Verse 3 to verse 19 detail the Lord’s benefits. when you think about this it is a rather short list compared to the true and inexhaustible list of His benefits towards us.

God is the great physician . . . the human body is what heals. medicine or surgery can only work if the body accepts it and is willing to heal. God is the only one who can heal us.

Eagles could also be translated as vultures or birds or prey. Griffon Vulture.

They ride the thermal vents of the earth upward without flapping there wings. Their youth is renewed because they just coast on God’s power.

Verse 8-10 are a self prorate of God. This is how God reveals Himself to us. Ex 34:6-7

Exodus 34:6–7

English Standard Version Chapter 34

6 The LORD passed before him and proclaimed, “The LORD, the LORD, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness, 7 keeping steadfast love for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, but who will by no means clear the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children and the children’s children, to the third and the fourth generation.”

verse 8 is the famous Hebrew word Hesed = loyalty or faithfulness. It is one of the most famous words in Scripture bc it is one of the most important words in the Scriptures.

The word for God’s covenantal faithfulness and love.

Verse 10 - It is not just that God gives what we do not deserve (His benefits). He also does not give us what we do deserve. We deserved to be punished for our sins and sometimes we are but God does not punish as much as we deserve.

Verse 11 and 12

the 3 heavens of the Jewish people

East vs West on a globe. As opposed to North and South.

Verse 13 - The great theologian George Strait Love without end amen.

As a parent you know your children’s limits. God is so gentle with us bc He knows are limits.

Romans 8:38 CSB

For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers,

This Psalm starts and end like every day of ours should start and end. With the idea of praising the Lord.

Duke Wellington was talking about praising other. Another great military leader David here in this psalm is talking about praising God.

When you bookend your life with blessing God, you will discover that God has booked blessings for you.