To forget is common to man. We are a forgetful people. Thankfully, God has provided reminders in His word. This Psalm is a good place to start.
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“Forget Not”
Psalm 103
- We address a Psalm of David today
- One that urges us not to forget
- Not to forget that which God has done for us
- How He has acted toward us
- Instead, seeing clearly what He has done
- And who He is
- We are to bless Him
- That is to kneel before Him, to adore Him, to salute Him, to praise Him
- Psalm 103, “Forget Not” today
- To forget is common to man
- We are a forgetful people
- Thankfully, God has provided reminders in His word
- This Psalm is a good place to start…
Psalm 103:1-2
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:
- David seeks (as we should) to bless the Lord with all that is in him
- To bless is to kneel before, to adore, to salute, to praise
- He seeks to do this because of the “benefits” God has provided
- The way in which he has treated David, His acts toward David, that which He has given David
- David lists the acts of God in his life – and they fit our lives too
- He begins with forgiveness…
Psalm 103:3-5
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.
- It is fitting that our reminders begin here
- With forgiven sin
- With healing
- With redemption
- Lovingkindness and mercy
- For any believer in Christ, this is a wonderful reality
- We are relieved of the burden of sin
- It has been lifted because of what Christ has done
- And though destruction was our certain fate, He has rescued us – redeemed us
- It was because of His almighty love and tender mercy
- Now that this is true, we are satisfied with good
- And have been renewed
- Let us not forget
- But there is much more…
Psalm 103:6-8
6 The LORD executeth righteousness and judgment for all that are oppressed.
7 He made known his ways unto Moses, his acts unto the children of Israel.
8 The LORD is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy.
- All the oppressed have hope in Christ
- Because all He does is right and just
- Just as He showed this before to Moses and the children of Israel
- He is showing us today His mercy and grace
- Far from the caricature of the world, He is slow to anger
- He withholds punishment we deserve because of His abundant mercy
- None of this should ever be forgotten
- The Psalm goes on…
Psalm 103:9-12
9 He will not always chide: neither will he keep his anger for ever.
10 He hath not dealt with us after our sins; nor rewarded us according to our iniquities.
11 For as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is his mercy toward them that fear him.
12 As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us.
- We should have been dealt with in one way, but for Christ’s sake, God has dealt with us in another way
- Not according to our sins, but according to Christ’s righteousness
- While our list of iniquities was long, it has been wiped clean because of Jesus
- Our sins are now as far away as possible
- Never returning to haunt us
- In verse 13…
Psalm 103:13-17
13 Like as a father pitieth his children, so the LORD pitieth them that fear him.
14 For he knoweth our frame; he remembereth that we are dust.
15 As for man, his days are as grass: as a flower of the field, so he flourisheth.
16 For the wind passeth over it, and it is gone; and the place thereof shall know it no more.
17 But the mercy of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting upon them that fear him, and his righteousness unto children’s children;
- To pity means to love, to love deeply, to have tender affection for
- This is the way in which God acts toward His children
- All those that fear Him experience this pity
- He knows who we are
- What we are
- What we are made of
- And loves us despite this
- No doubt, our lives are short – here today and gone tomorrow
- But His love lasts forever
- It is from everlasting to everlasting
- His mercy – deserved wrath withheld – is eternal
- It means eternal life for His disciples
- And not just eternal life, but eternal life with Him
- The One who loves us far beyond any other’s love
- Who has treated us with lovingkindness beyond any other kindness
- Eternity – with Him
- It is a wonderful privilege for us who know Him to pass His mercies on
- To teach our children and grandchildren about Him
- To urge them not to forget
- For remembering is important…
Psalm 103:18-22
18 To such as keep his covenant, and to those that remember his commandments to do them.
19 The LORD hath prepared his throne in the heavens; and his kingdom ruleth over all.
20 Bless the LORD, ye his angels, that excel in strength, that do his commandments, hearkening unto the voice of his word.
21 Bless ye the LORD, all ye his hosts; ye ministers of his, that do his pleasure.
22 Bless the LORD, all his works in all places of his dominion: bless the LORD, O my soul.
- God will not forget His promises
- He cannot lie
- He is ever-just, ever-true, ever-faithful
- His children know it
- An their children after them will know it too
- Providing they fear Him (know Him) and keep His commandments
- He deserves the praise of all created beings
- All earth and all the heavenly host
- Every voice must ring out in praise to Him
- For all His benefits