>BLESSINGS THE SOUL FORGETS<

Psalm 103:1–5

1 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.

Intro: As people saved by grace, we have a problem that is affects every single one of us. Our problem is this: we are forgetful!

Oh, we can remember all kinds of things, especially what others have done to us or have said about us, but we tend to forget what the Lord has done for us.

We have a long memory when it comes to our hurts, our sorrows and our burdens, but a very short memory when it comes to recalling just how good the Lord has been to us!

David also had this problem! In these first two verses, David calls upon his soul to remember what the Lord has done. He wants to stir up the inner man and get him excited about what he has been given in God and what the Lord has promised to do for him and in him.

David calls upon his soul to do two things.

First, he calls upon his soul to Praise the Lord!

The word “bless” means “to kneel with the idea of adoration and praise.” to worship. David knows that God is worthy of all the praise we can give Him and David wants his soul to be involved in praising the Lord.

Secondly, he calls upon his soul to consider the Lord!

He challenges his soul not to forget what the Lord has done for him!

(Notice) All the personal pronouns in verses 3–5:

“thy, thee, thine” These all refer directly to the soul!)

By the way, forgetting is far more than just failing to remember something,

this word also carries the idea of turning away from God to follow other gods. A lapse in spiritual memory will cause the christain to wander or to drift !

David wants his soul to continually think about all the “benefits” which the Lord has given. The word “benefits” means “dealing”.

This refers to how the Lord treats our soul.

(Note: I found it interesting that the root word for “benefits” is also the same root word for “camel”.

For people living in the Middle East, the camel is very important.

Camels are called “The ships of the desert”. They carry great Loads over long distance through harsh dry terrain. They can survive for long periods of time without food or water. They are essential to travelers who wish to cross the burning sands of the deserts.

In fact ! In Bible days, a man’s wealth was often measured by how many camels he owned,

Job 1:3

His substance also was seven thousand sheep, and three thousand camels, and five hundred yoke of oxen, and five hundred she asses, and a very great household; so that this man was the greatest of all the men of the east.

Job 42:12

So the Lord blessed the latter end of Job more than his beginning: for he had fourteen thousand sheep, and six thousand camels, and a thousand yoke of oxen, and a thousand she asses.

Like camels, the benefits of God are able to transport Christians across the vast barren deserts of this life to our home in glory.

The man who enjoys the blessings of God is rich beyond measure, though he may possess little of this world’s treasure!

Sometimes the soul forgets just how good God has been and continues to be to His children!

Isn’t it true that we allow ourselves to get caught up in the problems and troubles of life, so much that sometimes we forget where the Lord found us,

and what He did for us

and where He is taking us?

Aren’t we guilty of allowing our eyes to wander from the Lord?

Aren’t we guilty of allowing our focus to be on earthly-things

instead of Godly things?

Far to often, we are guilty of forgetting what God has done in us!

You see, the world around us is in a constant state of change!

Today the world is on the edge of war.

The economy is bad shape as well. Inflation is Out of control.

People are having problems with their health, their homes and their finances. Even the church is not immune from problems as people seem to come and to go.

But, I would remind you this morning that while the world is changing, the church is changing, and your life is changing,

the benefits of the Lord never change! Why?

Because He never changes, Heb. 13:8

Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.

Sometimes, my soul forgets just Who God is and what He has done for me.

Sometimes I need a reminder of the benefits I enjoy as a child of God.

Today, I want to point out some of The Blessings that The Soul Forgets.

If you have allowed your soul to forget the things God has done for you, then this message is designed to speak to your heart.

If you are guilty of allowing the burdens of life and the actions of others to influence your walk with the Lord, God has a word for you today!

If you have never trusted Jesus as your Savior, you will hear how you can do that today.

These blessings and benefits I am going to talk about today are for everyone.

Let me share with you The Blessings The Soul Forgets.

I. V. 3 AS A SINNER HE FORGIVES ME

A. Man’s greatest need makes it to the top of David’s list!

David uses the word “iniquities”. This word means “bent on crookedness”.

It refers to that evil bend in our nature that pulls us toward sin. It brings to mind the fact that I am a sinner and I have sinned, but it also points out the fact that I am guilty of sin now and ever will be, as long as I am in this body!

B. Yet, He “forgiveth” “all” the iniquities of the soul!

That is, He takes our sins and puts them away from him forever.

He did this through the blood sacrifice of Jesus at Calvary,

Hebrews 9:26 (KJV 1900)

For then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself.

John 1:29

The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.

Now, all our sins, past, present and future have been forever put away through the gift of God in Christ Jesus,

Psa. 103:12

As far as the east is from the west,

So far hath he removed our transgressions from us.

Isaiah 38:17

Behold, for peace I had great bitterness:

But thou hast in love to my soul delivered it from the pit of corruption:

For thou hast cast all my sins behind thy back.

Isaiah 43:25 (KJV 1900)

I, even I, am he that blotteth out thy transgressions for mine own sake, And will not remember thy sins.

Jeremiah 50:20

In those days, and in that time, saith the Lord,

The iniquity of Israel shall be sought for, and there shall be none;

And the sins of Judah, and they shall not be found:

For I will pardon them whom I reserve.

Micah 7:19

He will turn again, he will have compassion upon us;

He will subdue our iniquities;

And thou wilt cast all their sins into the depths of the sea.

1 John 1:7

But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.

Please notice that the word cleanseth along with all 5 of the verbs in these 3 verses ends in “eth”. This shows it written in“present tense”. Not only has He cleansed me from the past, But He is continually cleansing me in the present and He will continue to cleanse me into the future, until the day when my sin nature will forever be left behind and I will stand perfect and complete in Christ Jesus)

C. Does that mean that we are sinless? Of course not!

We sin and “the accuser of the brethren”, Rev. 12:10 , the devil, stands before the Lord and points out our sins to the father

When He does this, the Christian has a someone on the inside

When the “Accuser” points his finger at us, our “Advocate”,

Says No! Those were all covered by my blood And heres the scares to prove it! He say’s we don’t know what sins your talking about!They are not only forgiven but forgotten!

1 John 2:1

My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.

D. As a sinner He forgives me!

How could my soul forget that?

How could I be so foolish as to become distracted from His glory by the mundane and trivial events of this life?

“Bless the Lord, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless His holy name.”

II. V. 3 AS A SICK MAN HE HEALS ME; Body, soul ,and spirit,

A. These bodies wear out, and are often afflicted with sickness and disease, but this verse is not referring to physical healing! It is God’s will to heal His people from their physical afflictions, regardless of what some preachers say. But here He is referring to the sicknesses of the soul!

B. Our souls are subject to many terrible sickness’s.

Among them are lust, hate, greed, jealousy, discouragement, depression, anger, fear, guilt, and doubt, just to name a few.

Just as surely as diseases of the body can take away physical life, the diseases of our soul can deaden us toward the things of God and leave us lifeless and weak.

C. Thank God, He is the cure for all the diseases of the soul!

This word is also in the present tense. Each day, the Great Physician visits His patients and through His grace He tenderly and effectively heals all the diseases of our souls.

Of course, for healing to take effect, we must take our medicine,

Psalm 107:17–21 (KJV 1900)

17 Fools because of their transgression,

And because of their iniquities, are afflicted.

18 Their soul abhorreth all manner of meat;

And they draw near unto the gates of death.

19 Then they cry unto the Lord in their trouble,

And he saveth them out of their distresses.

20 He sent his word, and healed them,

And delivered them from their destructions.

21 Oh that men would praise the Lord for his goodness,

And for his wonderful works to the children of men!

D. How could the soul ever forget the tender touch of the Great Physician as time and time again He has diagnosed, treated and healed the diseases of the soul?

When I think of his help and healing I have received, what can I say but, ““Bless the Lord, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless His holy name.”?

III. V. 4 AS A SLAVE HE REDEEMS ME

A. Every soul that enters this world, enters as a slave to sin,

Psalm 103:4

4  Who redeemeth thy life from destruction;

Who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies;

Romans 3:23 (KJV 1900)

For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;

Galatians 3:22 (KJV 1900)

But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe.

Every soul is headed to horrible conclusion as well,

Romans 6:23 (KJV 1900)

For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Thank God He saw our lost souls and provided redemption for them. He saw our enslavement and He saw our ultimate destiny in Hell that awaited every single member of the human race.

But, God didn’t just see it, He did something about it! He came into this world and paid the price for our redemption on the cross,

Revelation 5:9 (KJV 1900)

And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation.

Galatians 4:5 (KJV 1900)

To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.

1 Peter 1:18–19 (KJV 1900)

18 Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers;

19 But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:

Now, these who were slaves to sin and headed for an eternity in Hell have now been delivered from their slavery and their bondage and have a heavenly hope today!

B. I would point out that the word is “redeemeth”. This is also a present tense verb. The redemption enjoyed by the children of God will never falter or fail until all the saints arrive safely home in glory,

1 Peter 1:5 (KJV 1900)

Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.

John 6:37–40 Jesus speaking:

37 All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.

38 For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me.

39 And this is the Father’s will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day.

40 And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day.

John 10:28

And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.

C. When I think of the fact that I was once a slave to sin,

But now I am free from sin’s bondage, sin’s curse and sin’s penalty,

I just have to say,

“Bless the Lord, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless His holy name.”

You see, every one of us would have squandered the life of our soul by seeking things that could never satisfy, these could only lead to destruction.

But He made all the difference in my life ( The old song says)

I was sinking deep in sin far from the peaceful shore

Very deeply stained within sinking to rise no more

But the master of the sea heard my despairing cry

From the waters lifted me now safe am I

Ho! Yes when nothing else could help Love lifted Me!

How could my soul forget such a blessing? Oh, but it does from time to time, but when it remembers, the problems of this life just fade away.

And God becomes more glorious and real than ever!

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IV. V. 4 AS A SON HE CROWNS ME

A. The Psalmist says that like a king passing down the power and glory of his kingdom to a beloved son, the people of God are crowned with the blessings of the Lord’s great kingdom.

We are told that He crowns His children with “lovingkindness” and “tender mercies”.

“Lovingkindness” corresponds to what the New Testament calls “grace”.

Thank God there is grace for our journey,

2 Corinthians 12:9

And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

Tender mercies” carries the idea of “compassion and his tender love”.

His grace is matchless and marvelous,

But His tender mercies are glorious beyond My ability to explain!

This brings to mind the tender touch of a mother.

There is something special in a mothers touch it communicates love, peace, safety and well-being.

I thank God for His tender touch as I pass through this harsh and difficult land! This is written in the present tense as well!

Lam. 3:22–23

22 It is of the Lord’s mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not.

23 They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.

B. There have been times when human touches and words were ineffective in the valleys of life, but even in the midst of those times,

I have never! been beyond the tender touch of my heavenly Father!

Just the feel of His hand as He reached into my heart was more wonderful than I can describe. The knowledge that He is with me, along with His rod and staff, they are always present to lead, to feed, to guide and give hope for my journey!

C. Notice that He doesn’t just give “mercies”,

He gives “tender mercies”.

He doesn’t just give “kindness”, He gives “loving kindness”.

When we hurt he hurts he understands and He is the god of all comfort!

We serve a God Who always operates in abundance .

In creation, He operates in the abundance,

Gen. 1:20, “let the waters bring for ABUNDANTLY”.

In victory He operates in abundance too!, Ex. 15:1, Moses proclaimed “He hath triumphed GLORIOUSLY”. He doesn’t just win the battle but he destroy’s the enemy!

In salvation He operates in abundance,

Heb. 7:25,” Wherefore he is “able to save to the UTTERMOST”.

God moves in the realm of overabundance.

He operates in “more than enough”

We like to say that Jesus is all we need! Or, Jesus is all I want!

But, if it ever comes to the place in your life where Jesus becomes all you have, you will find he is more than enough, more than all you need, or more than all you want! When He moves in your life, He will never be just enough, He will always be more than enough!

D. How could my soul ever forget that He crowns me with lovingkindness and tender mercies?

When I think of His grace and His goodness towards me,

I just have to say, “Bless the Lord, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless His holy name.”

V. V. 5 AS HIS SON HE SATISFIES ME

A. As our gracious heavenly Father He gives His saints the “good things of life”. He does not always give us what we want, but He always gives us what is best,

Romans 8:28

And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.

Those who rest in Him and draw their strength from Him, will find that they are in a constant state of renewal and their spiritual stamina will never fail.

Those who do not abide in Him will have a difficult time continuing in the race, John 15:5

I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.

Those who are drawing their life and satisfaction from the Lord will display a youthful spirituality that allows them to soar above the storms and difficulties of life like a mighty eagle.

B. When the Psalmist mentions the renewal of the eagle, he may be referring to the “molting process” in an eagle’s life.

Scientists tells us that as eagles age, their beaks and talons become encrusted with calcium. Thus, neither is as sharp as they once were. When this happens the aging eagle cannot hunt as effectively.

. As he ages, he also loses some of his feathers. When this happens it causes his body to “whistle” in the air as he dives toward his prey.

This destroys his ability to hunt in silence, thus further reducing his effectiveness as a hunter.

When the eagle enters this period of his life, he will descend from soaring in the heights above and find him a place in the rocks.

There, he will pluck out all of his feather and break off his own calcium encrusted beak against the rocks. He will even scratch his talons against the rocks until they are reduced to nubs. At this point, the eagle is absolutely vulnerable and defenseless.

Many eagles die during this process because they cannot feed themselves or escape predators.

But, during this time a wonderful thing begins to happen, to those who survive. The feathers will begin to grow back.

His beak will also grow back. His talons regrow as long and as sharp as ever before.

After a time, the eagle will step out on the rocks. Flap his great wings and take to the skies once again in victory.

Many of us can identify with the pain the eagle experiences.

We go through our own “molting process” from time to time.

The eagle will only go through it once, the saint will go through it many times! The answer for both lies in getting back to the Rock!

There, we can recover what we have lost and have our strength renewed once again. After an eagle has been through the molting process, He can look directly into the sun and he can soar above the storms. The saint of God who has been through the valley and has been restored by the Rock can look full into His face to see His glory and can soar above the troubles and afflictions of life!

Interesting Note: Sometimes, when eagles are in their time of molting, other eagles will fly overhead and drop food for those in the rocks below. Scientists tell us that young eagles never drop food for the molting eagles, but it always the older eagles who have been there and want to share what they have with those who are hurting!

There’s a message in that thought for us this morning!)

C. When I think of how He has repeatedly lifted me from the jagged rocks of affliction and pain and restored to me spiritual strength and victory, I just have to say,

“Bless the Lord, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless His holy name.”

Conclusion;

Sometimes the soul forgets the great blessings of the Lord, doesn’t it? When it does, it’s time to get before Him to seek His face and to get a reminder of the great things He has done for us.

Have you become so caught up in the burdens and problems of life that you have forgotten His benefits in your life?

Have you allowed others and their actions to turn your heart away from the Lord and His blessings in your life?

I wonder how many of us are really in a place where our souls are a“blessing” to the Lord?

Or, is there a need for us to reach within ourselves, and say to our own soul, “Bless the Lord, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless His holy name.”?

If the Lord and His presence aren’t as real to you as they used to be or as they need to be, you can get the help and restoration you need right now.

He is here! He is present! And he wants to touch you today!