Now, the psalmist has the utmost satisfaction in God, because he is quite sure that God never over chides. As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us. The meaning is, not "thy youth is renewed as an eagle's youth is," for an eagle's youth is not renewed; but "thy youth is renewed, and is become in its strength like an eagle.". Therefore we need this healing of the soul. Remember, then, two things: It may be that we shall be surprised to find what soul progress we have really made, when the body-clog drops off. Jeremiah 3:5, Jeremiah 3:12). III. And it may he added that God has power to stop chidings. We sin through ignorance. And we sin with knowledge. I. ITS REASON. Praise That Won't Forget - Psalm 103. If God decides a thing, it has to be carried out; nay, he himself presides over the carrying it out. And amongst men. Man is like grass (Psalms 37:2; Psalms 90:5, Psalms 90:6; Psalms 102:11; Isaiah 40:6-8, etc.). "The Lord looketh from heaven, he beholdeth all the sons of men; from the place of his habitation he looketh upon all the inhabitants of the earth" (Psalms 33:13, Psalms 33:14). Man has not. (Psalm 103:1-5) This sermon was delivered on Thanksgiving Week (November 2010) at God of Grace Christian Fellowship, Inc., Escario St., Cebu City. "He knoweth our frame; he remembereth that we are dust." Intellect, memory, imagination, affection, will, all the energies of our spiritual nature, should be engaged. These sins have been, 2. III. The Jews, we well know, would never have allowed this. II. the fourth (Psalms 103:19-22) a glance at God's unchanging glory, and a call upon all his creation to bless and worship him. His days fleet and fade. Praise the LORD, my soul, and forget not all his benefits— who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion, who satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s. God had satisfied his prime (marginal reading, Revised Version) with good things—had so visited and renewed him in his manhood, that now, instead of a growing feebleness, he felt the vigour and hopefulness of youth; perhaps he was far enough on the way to be said to be "still bringing forth fruit in old age." The work of the physician must always be traced back to the Divine Physician, who alone has proved to be the recuperative force in human vitality. See how he calls on himself, stirs himself up to this holy work, repeats his exhortation and protests against that one chief cause—forgetfulness—of our failure to render praise. Two ideas are suggested: 1. Thus the traveller westward may be said to be ever chasing the west without coming nearer to it. Doubtless there are others, but amongst them all that horrible one, so sadly dear to theologians of a bygone age, is not to be found—that it was to turn the heart of God from anger to love, for God was and eternally is Love—S.C. The continuance of Divine protection and replenishment to later life (Psalms 103:5). on StudyLight.org Anointing sick people with oil was no religious ceremony in the days of the apostle. II. Minds are spiritual things, but they work through a material frame. 5. St. Paul himself had some bodily infirmity which he calls a "thorn in the flesh," but he simply prayed about it, as we pray about such things now. They who chide when in a passion always over chide; they try to satisfy their feeling—and it is unrestrained feeling—rather than the actual demands of the case. God has made use of our happy familiarity with parental love and pity to teach us what he himself is. Their inveterate exclusiveness and scorn of all other nations would have kept it to themselves alone. But the rendering of עדי by "mouth" is very doubtful. The outward man may, will, decay, but the inward man shall be renewed day by day. She enriches, or crowns, her provisions. II. Now, our ideal of age shifts. "Thou renderest to every man according to his work;" "With the froward thou wilt show thyself froward." Those may not claim the fulfilment of promises to whom they were not made. 4. Such is the title which a great preacher has given to a sermon on this text. Only when you can will God find it fitting to entrust you with the immortal and incorruptible body. Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things. Psalms 103:16 For the wind passeth over it, and it is gone; literally, it is not. God's ways with us are taken upon due consideration of our bodily frailty. They think they can trust no man, and they consult us as they never would have done had not the dew of our youth long ago disappeared. He meets need, but goes beyond need to give us all things "richly to enjoy." Among the greatest blessings which we receive of God is recovery from sickness. Here the inferior angels seem to be meant—that "multitude of the host of heaven" which appeared to the shepherds on Christ's natal day (Luke 2:13), and which is elsewhere often referred to in Holy Scripture. Dr. Kay translates, "thy gay heart;" Professor Cheyne, "thy desire." HINT: Since there are such a large number of resources on this page (>10,000 links) you might consider beginning with the more recent commentaries that briefly discuss all 150 Psalms - Paul Apple (750 pages), Thomas Constable, David Guzik, Bob Utley.For more devotional thoughts consider Spurgeon's The Treasury of … When we repent of our sin, when God's purpose is fulfilled, when we enter heaven. 2. He is not implacable. Carefully show the distinction between an absolute standard of morals, and an absolute setting, or application, of that standard. ways — of providence, etc., as usual (Psalm 25:4; Psalm 67:2). It is an emphatic calling upon his soul, that is, himself, never to forget the many favors which God was continually conferring upon him. II. "to the faithful"—to those who, notwithstanding many lapses and many shortcomings, are yet sincere in heart, and seek to do his will. Fulness of joy in his presence is theirs. I. To put it in a formal way, the legislative rights of God may be recognized, but the executive rights of God may be denied. See the parable of the two debtors. This vehicle of the human spirit is wholly the plan of God. And if God's omniscience is a reason for trust, how much more is Christ's human experience!—R.T. Then by yielding our young hearts to the Lord Jesus Christ, let us receive from him that eternal life, that life of the Spirit, whose youth is ever renewed. This complaint no child of God, who was in his right mind, ever made; certainly no child of God ever had a right to make. Forget not all his benefits — In order to our duty, praising God for his mercies, it is necessary we should have a grateful remembrance of them. Then sickness was seen to be one of the great moral agencies by means of which God wrought his higher work in characters and in souls. It is as if God had thoroughly made up his mind that he would never look upon them again; he had done with them forever. The reservoir gets lower, the constant drain is but inadequately repaired, and by and by our life has all run out. CALLING OTHERS TO PRAISE THE LORD, AND YET NEGLECTING IT HIMSELF, he adds. We pass on by stages which succeed each other in regular and well marked order from infancy to the last scene of all, the second childhood, which finds us "sans teeth, eyes, taste—everything." GOD'S WAYS WITH US ARE TAKEN WITH FULL KNOWLEDGE OF THE CONNECTION BETWEEN OUR BODIES AND OUR MINDS. He’d heard about how quiet they are and thought it was would be a delightful way to explore the countryside. He dealt with it only as a means of securing soul healing. 2. "Commentary on Psalms 103:4". Its duration. But when men come to the verge of three score years and ten, they will often flatter themselves that even yet they are not old. Bless the Lord, ye his angels (comp. THE ONLY HOPE OF THE DISLOYAL. This tender and considerate representation of God is full of comfort to us. It may, indeed, be said that it is impossible to conceive of any of God's creatures or children who owe him so much as we do. Forever and ever. know it no more — no more recognize him (Psalm 90:6; Isaiah 40:6-8). Our Lord, as a moral and spiritual Teacher, our Lord as a Saviour, found in men's sicknesses, infirmities, and. A Psalm of joyous praise, in which the writer rises from a thankful acknowledgment of personal blessings to a lively celebration of God‘s gracious attributes, as not only intrinsically worthy of praise, but as specially suited to man‘s frailty. Ascends to the highest intelligences; the "angels that excel in strength" owe to him their homage; they do, indeed, hearken and obey. He will accept repentance and amendment (Ezekiel 18:27) He will accept atonement (1 John 2:2). https://www.studylight.org/commentaries/tpc/psalms-103.html. These are immutably right. TO REVEAL ITS ENLARGED SCOPE AND AIM. The subject is suggested by its closing words. But he was not carried away by the gift he possessed. What spiritual victories it has won! Recovery from bodily sickness and infirmity. how ignorant! This is fully treated under verse 14. Readers through the centuries have interpreted “A Psalm by David” to mean “A Psalm written by David,” but a number of scholars question that interpretation today. Though the bodily life be sustained and nourished by appropriate food and rest, yet, in spite of this, the physical energies succumb to the decay of nature. How can that be? From every point alike in the circuit of the world the east extends in one direction, the west in the other. And there are special influences of disease, and mischievous results often follow it. This psalm is full of the recital of things to be thankful for, and of expectation that we be thankful. https://www.studylight.org/commentaries/jfb/psalms-103.html. GOD DOES NOT OVER CHIDE. tender mercies — compassions (compare Psalm 25:6; Psalm 40:11). And—. Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things. it is my meditation all the day.". Such are the characteristics of this blessed and glorious kingdom, whose subjects consist only of regenerated souls—souls that can say, "Oh how I love thy Law! Life and immortality were brought to light by the gospel. One point only need be mentioned. THAT THERE IS SUCH CHIDING. Includes all that come between. "All my whole nature—intellect, emotion, feeling, sentiment—brain, heart, lungs, tongue," etc. So the question comes to be—What is the true adornment, or enrichment, the true decoration, of a human life? Job 14:2; Isaiah 28:1; Isaiah 40:6; James 1:10; 1 Peter 1:24, etc.). But precisely the test under which each one of us is placed is this—Can you live a godly life in that body of yours, and under those precise body conditions of yours? Hopefulness. Though this psalm is one of the most familiar, both its authorship and its particular occasion are quite unknown. Loving kindness and tender mercies make him rich and royal. In view of the way in which Eastern poets loved to repeat their thought with slightly altered phraseology, it is quite possible that the text may read, "Who forgiveth all thine iniquities, and healeth all thy soul diseases—those soul conditions of frailty and infirmity, out of which iniquities come." 3. A Psalm of joyous praise, in which the writer rises from a thankful acknowledgment of personal blessings to a lively celebration of God‘s gracious attributes, as not only intrinsically worthy of praise, but as specially suited to man‘s frailty. The LORD is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love. Deliverance from threatened death. How weak in mind! 4. Christian, sing this psalm more heartily, so that many poor lost ones, hearing its sweet evangel, may turn and with you bless the Lord.—S.C. God makes all reasonable allowances. In conclusion, the incomparable majesty of God is set before us, in contrast with the feebleness of man, and he is put forward as the one and only fit Object of worship, alike to the spiritual (Psalms 103:20, Psalms 103:21) and the material creation (Psalms 103:22), as well as to the psalmist himself (Psalms 103:22). Nothing can exceed the pity of the parent for his or her child when in pain or trouble. 1. To him suffering was the issue and consequence of sin. II. Hezekiah, in the middle of his reign, but before any son and heir was born to him, was smitten down with a bad kind of boil or carbuncle, which put his life in peril. This is so vast, that not alone is our eyesight aided with all conceivable telescopic power far outstripped, but even our thought fails to grasp in its comprehension, or even in its imagination, the wide range either of the material or moral universe over which God reigns. There is always, therefore, the danger that a man will transfer his own feeling to God, and persuade himself that, though God may forgive, he never really forgets. Its purpose and aim. 4. But that was a long time ago. What various answers could be given to the question—What is the true crown of a man's life?" But the mercy of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting upon them that fear him (comp. Poetic speech, eloquent phrase, beautiful music, skilled song,—all count for nothing if the soul be not in the work. He does not measure the race in its savage condition with the standard for the race civilized. 2. Psalm 103:1-22. 6. He concludes by invoking all creatures to unite in his song. Yet it is quite possible for us to be. If we think precisely we shall admit that God does deal exactly with us "after our sins;" but it is as our sins are divinely estimated. I. acts — literally, “wonders” (Psalm 7:11; Psalm 78:17). And yet it is significantly told us that means were used to ensure his recovery, "Now Isaiah had said, Let them take a cake of figs, and lay it for a plaister upon the boil, and he shall recover." It must be a fear that produces obedience, or, in New Testament phrase, that is a "godly fear" (Hebrews 12:28). "Behind the back" is a strong figure for "out of sight" and "out of mind.". The force of the machine is the blood. The Bible never speaks of "the dreary gift of years;" and if, in melancholy mood, Moses asserts that which, thank God, is so often untrue, that in the years of old age "their strength is but labour and sorrow," the general tone of the Bible tells that days "long in the land" are God's own reward to his people. The Lord Jesus searchingly said, "If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them!". II. In every age God has healed diseases through his own appointed healing agencies; and those we must use in faith.—R.T. Praise for the Lord’s Mercies - A Psalm of David. III. (Psalms 103:19.) Kimchi understands the phrase as expressing David's recovery from sickness. Psalms 25:6 - Remember, O Lord , Your compassion and Your lovingkindnesses, For they have been from of old. That’s exactly what David is doing in Psalm 103. The way the young treat us. 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