(A revision of a much earlier Blessay by Pastor Bulldog)
FORGET NOT HIS BENEFITS
“Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his BENEFITS:” (Psalm 103:2)
One of the sweetest sights I have seen in our 62 years of marriage is that of Helen reading her large print Bible: in the dining area with her cup of coffee; in her recliner until she drops off to sleep; or on the side of her bed in the middle of the night when she can't sleep.
Often something she reads brings tears to her eyes. "This is so beautiful, I can’t get over it. God gives us BENEFITS. Just think of this – BENEFITS like you get from your employer. It’s just too wonderful.” But that's my girl: the word of God bows across her heart strings, playing them like a cello.
Meditation on the word of God gives cause to reflect on the differences of God’s ways to the ways of the world. Every decade or so, employers deal with employees in different ways. It wasn’t so long ago that human relations people camped on college campuses on recruiting missions, competing for the best brains. Benefits were the carrots of competition to lure them in. College seniors actually made career decisions based on benefits.
And the worst of it is that the whole process of benefits backfired. A recruited “shooting star” got all the benefits possible and some asked for more. Then they were lured away by another company – hop-scotching to mega bonuses and salary increases like the benefit game corporation heads, city managers and school superintendents in moving from job to job; each one giving larger severance bonuses.
How temporal are man’s benefits. As we write, corporations are actually planning to drop health plans and benefits. But with God, His benefits are permanent, “For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance.” (Romans 11:29)
It is still fresh in my mind that benefits in my day were simple: If you did a good job today, you got to come back tomorrow. It was not unusual for a person to be told not to bring their lunch on Friday: they might be sent home early because they would not be back on Monday.
Experts say that benefits or the lack of them can cause job related stresses, which can result in angst, depression, poor diet, and lack of exercise: known factors in developing a life-threatening disease. It is important at this time to remember and meditate on all His benefits, some of which are clearly stated in Psalm 103:3-5:
- Verse 3: “Who FORGIVETH ALL THINE INIQUITIES ...:" The most beautiful words to me are "… thy sins be forgiven thee (Matt 9:2);” “… come unto me … and I will give you rest (Matt 11:28)”. What better BENEFIT? Are you hanging on to guilt, knowing that God turns His head and cannot look on iniquity?
If you have accepted God's free salvation through Jesus, you are saved from the penalty of your sins, according to the word of our immutable God. God has already turned His head away from your sins; they were judged in the body of His only begotten Son as He spoke in agony, “My God, why hast thou forsaken me?” It's over – forget it, God has, why can’t you?! Now, go on! (Accept peace and get rid of stress)
- Verse 3: "... who HEALETH ALL THY DISEASES: (Caveat ... if we let Him) Some people just accept diseases, drifting into stress and bewilderment. They pray and hope for healing, but do not see in their mind’s eye that their request is placed at the foot of the throne of grace. God’s gift of faith is a super charged BENEFIT: On numerous occasions Jesus said, “They faith has made thee whole. Faith is a gift of grace through faith and it comes by hearing and hearing from the word of God. It’s okay to say, “Lord, I believe, but help me in my unbelief.” Who can find a better health care plan that makes a person whole?
The administration believes the people’s cry for change to mean, "We have no health insurance but from 'Caesar' (John 19:19)". However, we can trust Jesus: He never sees too many patients, never has waiting lines, is ready to see you 24/7, no price increases; Jesus paid it for you, and He has promised never to drop you. In addition, America has the best health care system and the most skilful and professionally trained health care professionals - IN THE WORLD.
Politicians and humanists who say the government is more capable of seeing to the needs of the people do not understand people or they hope for total control of the people, because the people do not know what they need and the government does.
- Verse 4: “Who REDEEMETH THY LIFE FROM DESTRUCTION ...: Another BENEFIT is sanctification: instant and on-going. New believers are separated from the world at their new spiritual birth, but a discipled believer belongs to the Lord and keeps himself separated from the entanglements of the world, yet having a good report from those without.. Any deviation from the path of being conformed to the image of Christ can and will result in physical destruction and/or spiritual destruction: fellowship with the Lord.
God had a church full of sanctified sheep at Corinth, but they felt so secure that they engaged in all sorts of fornication. The Apostle Paul severely scolded them in his first epistle, telling them to get their act together and to kick out a “black sheep” from the flock, who engaged in incest, to let the Devil's wolves deal with him. But in his second epistle he applauded their repentance and restoration. The sheep of the good shepherd, know His voice and he saves them from destruction of body and soul, and He will rescue them, even if there is only one ... you.
- Verse 4: " ... who CROWNETH THEE WITH LOVING KINDNESS and TENDER MERCIES:” The good life does not exist outside of being a believer in the LORD Jesus Christ. Worldly pleasures are only "the high life," and don't reach any higher than the moon.
Therefore, worldly pleasure seekers have shallow ambitions, temporal at best, and we all are like ants on this small planet, which Almighty God hung upon absolutely nothing and placed His throne in the north over "the empty place (Job 26:7)." Kindness and mercy are from Mount Zion above, on the sides of the north, the place of the throne of God.
The BENEFIT is a crown of kindness and mercy from God the Father, who is spirit, and Jesus Christ, " ... the image of the invisible God … (Col 1:15),” and from the Holy Spirit, "… the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive … but [we] know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you (John 14:17)." Wear your crown with the grace and love for which it was given (Three benefits for the cost of one).
- Verse 4: “Who SATISFIETH THY MOUTH with good things ... ; When we look at the disciples Jesus picked, we have to wonder at the diversity of occupations and standing in the world: tax collector, physician, fisherman, and others, making a group of future apostles. Good words are good BENEFITS for use at the right time to the right people: those who hearts are prepared to seek the Lord.
The Master told His disciples that He would give them a mouth; the right things to say to the house of Israel that the kingdom of heaven was at hand. The "good things" the Psalmist mentions are those things that are spoken from the mouth that sprung from the heart. Much later, the Apostle Paul gave good news with the gospel message of Christ, dead, buried, and risen. Then he gave an invitation: " ... if you confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved (Rom 10:9).
- Verse 5: " ... so that THY YOUTH IS RENEWED like the eagle's.” But when? Israel is waiting for that, "Next year in Jerusalem," and so am I. Here, then, is the BENEFIT tested, in that there is a time of affliction and a time for healing and relief. But, Is it soon or do we wait and wait and wait to feel the Lord's healing touch? Isaiah’s poetic prophecy concerns Israel, but at the same time God gives us the same advice:
"But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint (Isa 40:31).
Are you waiting? So are we; waiting to run and not faint; my dear wife will run and not stagger or reel or faint ... so we ask when we shall see God? Call me crazy, but the thought of soaring like an eagle gives me quite a lift, and although it refers to Israel’s future, but it thrills me to pieces. I am also lifted when I read Isaiah’s words to Israel, "Thy youth is renewed,." I claim that verse.
Let's see, I am 82 years old, and when I think of Helen and I bursting through the ether in eternity to a never ending adventure of service to the Lord my heart skips a beat. The Bible says that when we see Him we will be like Him, and we shall see Him as He is (1John 3:2-3). He was about 33 ½ years old. My goodness, it will be so good to be 33 ½ again. What a BENEFIT, what a Savior!
What sayest thou? Comments, please!
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