Benefits
When you are a full time employee in the corporate world, usually that comes with a benefits package. That benefits package will include things like medical and dental coverage, vision, some sort of life or accident insurance, allotted sick leave and a certain number of paid vacation and holidays. Most private (non government) companies don’t have a pension plan these days, but they might make contributions to a 401k retirement account. These are pretty standard. As you move up the corporate ladder, you may get additional benefits like bonuses, a company car, etc.
The benefits are an important part of total compensation. When you have the choice between taking two jobs with pretty much equal salaries, what they offer as a benefits package could be the deciding factor.
When you become a child of God, you gain a benefits package. Most people think of the retirement plan, which is literally out of this world! We gain a home in heaven.
If you look up the word benefit in the dictionary, you’ll see things like
- An advantage or profit gained from something
- A payment made by an employer, the government, or an insurance company
- Something that produces good or helpful results or effects or that promotes well being
The English word benefit derives from the Latin benefactum, which means a good deed. The prefix bene means good. So a benefit is always something that will do you good in some way. We also use the word beneficial.
Don’t forget ALL His benefits
So this summarizes benefits in a non-spiritual context. But what are God’s benefits? They are laid out in Psalm 103.
Psalms 103:1-2 1 A Psalm of David. 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 starts off by blessing the Lord. In the New Testament, the verb bless comes from the Greek eulogio, from which we get our word eulogy (yes I know Psalm 103 is Old Testament and the Hebrew word for bless is not eulogio). The application of that is the nice things people say about a person at their funeral. It means to speak well of, and that’s exactly what David is encouraging us to do at the beginning of this psalm.
Psalms 116:12 12 What shall I render to the Lord For all His benefits toward me?
The answer to David’s question is what he does at the beginning of Psalm 103 – we bless – speak well of – the Lord!
In verse 2 he admonishes us not to forget all of His benefits; or said another way, don’t forget any of the benefits that comes with a relationship with God.
What happens if you forget your benefits, or perhaps you are ignorant of them in the first place? You will not take advantage of them.
There is an old story about this:
An immigrant books passage on a ship to America, but just has enough money for the ticket. So he takes cheese and crackers to eat on the voyage. Every day he sees the people eating from the sumptuous and bountiful banquets, but he always goes back to his stateroom for his meager meal of cheese and crackers that he is rationing to last the entire voyage. At the end of the voyage while passengers are departing, the steward is saying goodbye and pulls him aside and asks why he never saw him at the tables, was something wrong? The man explains he didn’t have extra money for the meals, and had been eating the cheese and crackers he brought along with him in his small stateroom. “Oh, didn’t you know? The price of the meals was included in the ticket! You could have eaten any time and as much as you wanted!”
So if you are ignorant of your benefits, or if you forget about them, you will not use them, and it will be like you never had them in the first place. You will not gain that advantage or well-being you could have had. You will miss out on a blessing!
Do you want to get to heaven and realize, “Oh, I could have had that all along!”
So David, to remind himself and teach others what those benefits are, begins to itemize them in Psalm 103.
Vs. 3: He forgives all your iniquities
The forgiveness of sin is something we associate as the main benefit of Christianity. Yet here David lists it in the Old Testament. David had personal experience with this: through his affair with Bathsheba, and then his plotting to have her husband die in battle, David was guilty of breaking two of the Ten Commandments. He did repent when confronted with his sin, and the Lord forgave him. He married Bathsheba, and the second son of that relationship became the next king of Israel. David was called a man after God’s own heart.
A little bit more about that phrase. Here the Lord is speaking to Saul:
1 Samuel 13:14 14 But now your kingdom shall not continue. The Lord has sought for Himself a man after His own heart, and the Lord has commanded him to be commander over His people, because you have not kept what the Lord commanded you.”
What does it mean to be a man (or woman) after God’s own heart? It’s not just another way of saying God likes you. It means a person that is actively pursuing to find out and do the things that are pleasing to God. David had his faults, but this definitely sums up the passion of his life.
David goes on to make other comments about forgiveness in this psalm.
Psalms 103:10-12 10 He has not dealt with us according to our sins, Nor punished us according to our iniquities.
11 For as the heavens are high above the earth, So great is His mercy toward those who fear Him;
12 As far as the east is from the west, So far has He removed our transgressions from us.
But isn’t this the Old Testament, where the people were under the Law? And doesn’t the Law say, “The soul that sins, it shall die?” (Ezekiel 18:20).
Even under the Old Testament, there was provision for forgiveness when you sin through the sacrificial system. The key was keeping your heart true towards God.
We as Christians have an even greater benefit concerning the forgiveness of sin than the audience David was speaking to in the Old Testament.
Hebrews 10 compares the animal sacrifices of the Old Covenant with the sacrifice of the life of Jesus. The blood of animals was powerless to take away sins, it could only cover them temporarily – that’s why the sacrifices were constantly repeated, both on an individual and national level.
But the blood of Jesus cleanses us from sin. This is the difference between covering and redemption.
But even in the Old Testament, David is rejoicing that the covering was available, that he could have forgiveness.
Vs. 3: He heals all your diseases
There is a significance in the use of the word all in this psalm. It means every one with no exception. We are told not to forget all His benefits. He forgives all our iniquities. He heals all our diseases.
It is also interesting where forgiveness of sins and healing of the body are mentioned together.
In Luke 5:17-26, in the story of the paralytic that was let through the roof, the first words that Jesus spoke to him were, “Man, your sins are forgiven you”. The Pharisees took exception to that: “Who can forgive sins except God alone?”
Luke 5:22-26 22 But when Jesus perceived their thoughts, He answered and said to them, “Why are you reasoning in your hearts?
23 Which is easier, to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven you,’ or to say, ‘Rise up and walk’?
24 But that you may know that the Son of Man has power on earth to forgive sins”–He said to the man who was paralyzed, “I say to you, arise, take up your bed, and go to your house.”
25 Immediately he rose up before them, took up what he had been lying on, and departed to his own house, glorifying God.
26 And they were all amazed, and they glorified God and were filled with fear, saying, “We have seen strange things today!”
Both the forgiveness of sins and healing of the body take divine power. The Pharisees were right, although they did not realize Who stood before them.
James 5:14-16 14 Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord.
15 And the prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven.
16 Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.
1 Peter 2:24 24 who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness–by whose stripes you were healed.
The last phrase, “By whose stripes you are healed”, is a quote from Isaiah 53. And even here, a prophetic message of the suffering Messiah, it couples His bearing our sins and healing.
Isaiah 53:5 5 But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, And by His stripes we are healed.
You could hardly call yourself a Christian if you didn’t believe in the forgiveness of sins. It’s the major tenet of Christianity and the main reason for having faith in Christ. Yet many Christians relegate healing of the physical body to a much lower status – some don’t believe in it at all, that healing and miracles have passed away.
“Well, healing is not as important as the forgiveness of sins. You can’t get to heaven without forgiveness of sins, but you can with sickness in your body.” That is true. You might even get there quicker! But who said you had to choose between the two? It’s not an either-or situation! Forget not all His benefits!
And speaking of that word all, it says He heals all our diseases. That means He will heal any kind of disease or condition we may have. Deuteronomy 28:61, which is in the passage of the curses that would come on Israel if the did not keep the Law, says this:
Deuteronomy 28:58-61 58 “If you do not carefully observe all the words of this law that are written in this book, that you may fear this glorious and awesome name, THE LORD YOUR GOD,
59 then the Lord will bring upon you and your descendants extraordinary plagues–great and prolonged plagues–and serious and prolonged sicknesses.
60 Moreover He will bring back on you all the diseases of Egypt, of which you were afraid, and they shall cling to you.
61 Also every sickness and every plague, which is not written in this Book of the Law, will the Lord bring upon you until you are destroyed.
Galatians 3:13 says we are redeemed from the curse of the Law – which therefore includes every disease and sickness.
But the word all does not only encompass every kind of disease, but also on every occasion. It’s not that sometimes it’s God’s will to heal you, and sometimes it’s not.
Vs. 4: Who redeems your life from destruction
The word redeem literally means to buy back – to pay a price for.
The Hebrew word that is rendered destruction here literally means a pit. The NASB translates it that way. Other meanings are corruption, ditch, or the grave. We can easily see how this would apply to hell.
Job 19:25-27 25 For I know that my Redeemer lives, And He shall stand at last on the earth;
26 And after my skin is destroyed, this I know, That in my flesh I shall see God,
27 Whom I shall see for myself, And my eyes shall behold, and not another. How my heart yearns within me!
It’s amazing how many New Testament truths are spoken of in the Old Testament. Job says the Redeemer will stand on the earth. Jesus the Messiah did come to earth, and He will return again. After Job’s skin was destroyed – after he is dead and his body sees corruption, yet in his flesh He will see God – this is the resurrection.
So this word for destruction also means decay, rot – everything falling apart.
John 10:10 10 The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.
Satan, the thief, comes to destroy. Jesus came to bring the opposite – abundant life. An abundant life is one full of joy, peace, and purpose.
Vs. 4: Who crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies
To crown means to encircle or compass about – to surround. It also means to beautify and dignify, to lift up. A crown is worn on the head, and the phrase to lift up the head of someone means to exalt them. Remember 1 Peter 5:6 says to humble yourself under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, or at the proper time. God is not against you being exalted – it’s just that He wants to be the One doing the exalting.
David is also speaking from his own experience. He was a shepherd boy, a teenager, and God came and declared him to be the next king of Israel. It took him a while to get there, and he had many difficulties on the way, but eventually he became the most powerful man in the world.
In many ways his story parallels that of Joseph’s: a teenager who was given a vision by God of greatness, a long path with many troubles before that vision was fulfilled, but lifted up to be a leader of a great nation.
Lovingkindness is the Hebrew word hesed, which is a theme that is woven throughout God’s dealings with Israel. Early on it was just translated mercy, but in 1535 Miles Coverdale coined the word lovingkindness to more accurately convey the meaning of the word. It conveys God’s attitude towards Israel, as well as His actions. The kindness He shows, because He loves us.
And do not forget, as Christians, these benefits not only belong to Israel, but to us. We get in on God’s covenant with Israel (Galatians 3:29).
The second part of this benefit, is tender mercies.
You might think, “But I’ve read the Old Testament. There is a lot of it where God is harsh and judgmental against Israel”.
That is true. But remember that when David wrote this, it was before the nation of Israel was split in two and half rebelled against God and went back into idolatry. What is worse is the reason why they rebelled. Jereboam, the one who led the rebellion, didn’t want his people to have any loyalties to David’s dynasty. And since the temple of God’s was in Jerusalem, he decided to lead them away from the worship of God so they wouldn’t have ties to go back to Jerusalem and the priesthood. He did it for political purposes.
He also shows us tender mercies. We couple mercy with forgiveness, i.e., you don’t get punishment you deserve. Certainly there is that. But mercy is also coupled with healing.
- The neighbors heard how the Lord had showed great mercy to Elizabeth, when she was able to have a baby in her old age. (Luke 1:58)
- Blind Bartimaeus called out for mercy when he wanted to be healed of blindness. (Mark 10:47-48)
- The 10 lepers cried out for mercy and healing. (Luke 17:13)
It’s not just mercy that He shows, but tender mercies. That shows there is emotion towards those God shows mercy towards – compassion.
Psalms 103:13-14 13 As a father pities his children, So the Lord pities those who fear Him.
14 For He knows our frame; He remembers that we are dust.
Nowadays we look at the word pity and just think it means to feel sorry for, to have sympathy and empathy for. And it does mean that, but much more. The root word means to fondle. It is translated mercy or compassion more often than pity.
Look at the comparison given: as a father pities his children. There is no more intense love than a parent for his or her child. Those kids can be driving you crazy, but any threat comes to them, and you are there with your battle armor on.
Think of all the emotion that parenthood brings. Compassion is more than sympathy or empathy. Sympathy and empathy is the feeling, but compassion moves you to do something about it and not stand by idly.
A parent wants to do things for his or her children. A good parent also wants to mold them into a good person. So there is training, and discipline involved.
The next part of that verse shows that God knows where we come from, what we are made of, our strengths and our weaknesses. He understands us; and even more so that God took on the same frame of flesh as us in Jesus Christ.
Vs. 5: Who satisfies your mouth with good things
The word for satisfy comes from a word meaning to fill, satiate, plenty. It carries the idea of abundance – more than enough. In an agrarian society where drought could bring on famine, having more than enough to eat was a sign of prosperity. In America today, we are largely isolated from that. You might find some cases where people are malnourished or starving, but it would be rare. Obesity is an issue among those that live below what is considered the poverty line.
Which brings us to the next word – he satisfies your mouth. Certainly that makes us think of food. The Hebrew word adee is only translated twice as mouth, but 11 times as ornament. It comes from a root word that means trappings, finery, generically an outfit. So we are also talking about clothes here.
Matthew 6:31-33 31 Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’
32 For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things.
33 But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.
Food and clothing – these are basic necessities of life. The Amplified Bible says it this way
Psalm 103:5 AMPC Who satisfies your mouth [your necessity and desire at your personal age and situation]…
So it’s not just your needs, but also desires, and it is adjusted for the particular stage of life and situation you are in.
So what are we satisfied/filled/satiated with? The KJV says good things, but it is actually just good. The root word here means a lot of things – good, better, best, well, fair, prosperity, wealth, precious. Since the meaning includes prosperity and wealth, we can also conclude that it includes material things – but it is not limited to them.
A good life. Jesus came to give us life more abundantly. There are plenty of people that have many material things, but they are miserable.
Vs. 5: So that your youth is renewed as the eagles’
This verse has become more important to me as I became a senior citizen. The word at its root means vitality, vigor, strength. So it is not talking so much about chronological age as it is your vitality. Think of Moses at 120, where his strength was not abated nor his eyesight dimmed (Deuteronomy 34:7). Or Caleb, who was as strong at 80 as he was at 40 (Joshua 14:10-11). Abraham, after the death of Sarah was remarried and had more kids.
The analogy that David gives is a fascinating one. Our youth is renewed as the eagles. I’ve heard it said that as an eagle gets older, its beak and talons get overgrown, and feathers get worn. The old eagle will fly somewhere way high, and literally beat its beak against rocks until it falls off. Then when its beak and talons are grown back, it is like a younger version of itself. Unfortunately when I researched it, this story is a myth, eagles don’t do this. But people believed they do, perhaps even in David’s day. It is true that eagles molt, their old feathers fall out and they grow new ones. Perhaps this inspired the myth.
The word renew means to make like new, or repair. To renovate or rejuvenate.
People expect their bodies to start falling apart when they get older. We make jokes about it. I’ve stopped doing that. Instead, I quote this psalm and scriptures, and confess that I am like Moses or Caleb.
Your expectations will come upon you. People expect to slow down when they are old, but many cease most of their activity – and that will age you quick. You have to keep moving, and keep active.
Youth renewed is a result of a satisfying life. This is one of the blessings of Psalm 91, the psalm of protection:
Psalms 91:14-16 14 “Because he has set his love upon Me, therefore I will deliver him; I will set him on high, because he has known My name.
15 He shall call upon Me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him and honor him.
16 With long life I will satisfy him, And show him My salvation.”
Conclusion
Psalms 68:19 19 Blessed be the Lord, Who daily loads us with benefits, The God of our salvation! Selah
He loads us up – piles it on! Every day we should be experiencing His benefits. Start a practice – every day, quote Psalm 103:1-5.
Don’t forget His benefits!
