In less than two days, we will leave 2023 and enter 2024. Like any other year, 2023 is going to be one to remember! Here are some highlights of what happened in 2023.
For the last century, if not longer, China has had the world’s largest population. That ended in 2023. India now does. Its population is estimated to be 1.43 billion people. India will likely remain the most populous country for decades to come. China’s population is both shrinking and aging.
On Feb 6, Turkey and Syria were struck by a catastrophic 7.8 magnitude earthquake that killed 59,259 people. On February 8 - 24, the revival among Christian college students happened at Asbury University in Wilmore, Kentucky, during its chapel services. It was attended by approximately 15,000 people each day. By its end, the revival brought 50,000–70,000 visitors to Wilmore, representing more than 200 academic institutions and multiple countries.
In technology, on Mar 14, OpenAI released GPT-4, an upgraded version of their popular artificial intelligence chatbot. It not only got better—the latest version of ChatGPT is reportedly ten times more advanced than its predecessor—governments, companies, and individuals moved quickly to exploit its potential. On May 25, the FDA gave Elon Musk the go-ahead to trial his Neuralink brain implants on humans which hopes to help patients with paralysis control a keyboard or computer cursor with their minds. On Aug 10, two rival driverless taxi companies were approved to operate 24/7 in San Francisco, California. The two companies, Cruise and Waymo, had been testing their services in the city for a year before they were given full approval.
In politic, on Oct 8, Israel formally declared war on Hamas following a surprise attack by Hamas operatives in Israeli-controlled territory. At the point of the declaration, the death toll had already risen to 1,100 from both sides.
For some people, 2023 has been a blessing because they still have jobs and get job promotions, and everybody in the family is OK and healthy. For some others, the year 2023 is just like other years: good things happened, and there were challenges that they had to face. For some people, the year 2023 may have been a complex or challenging year for them because they faced serious health, family, or relationship problems or because they lost their job, home, or loved ones.
I don’t know what you experienced this year and how you view 2023. But as we leave this year, I encourage you to do what David did: praise God and give Him thanks! Let’s read Psalm 103.
If we look at David’s life, we find how sometimes he was at the peak of success, like when he defeated Goliath and was later chosen to be King of Israel. But there were times when he was afraid, frustrated, and miserable, like when King Saul hunted him and wanted to kill him even though he did nothing wrong. Or when he fell into severe sins of adultery and murdering an innocent man, sins that caused some terrible consequences in David’s life. Or when he prayed for healing for his son with Bathsheba, but God didn’t grant his request. Or when his son, Amnon, raped his half-sister, Tamar. Or when another son, Absalom, tried to kill him (Can you imagine how you would feel if your son wanted to kill you?).
So, we see how David experienced a lot of hardship and trials in his life, yet he praised the LORD in verses 1-2, “Praise the LORD, my soul; all my inmost being, praise his holy name. Praise the LORD, my soul, and forget not all his benefit.” Instead of letting disappointment, failures, frustration, shame, stress, and depression control his life, David encouraged and told himself to praise the LORD. There are times in our lives when we feel miserable and terrible. In that situation, we need to learn from David to tell ourselves: “Praise the LORD, my soul; all my inmost being, praise his holy name.”
Otherwise, we will let those negative feelings put us down and make us depressed. In this situation, we will become an easy target for the enemy to defeat us. Lately, we’ve heard more and more how people who faced financial problems, health problems, or relationship problems fell into the devil’s trap and killed themselves.
When we allow bad things to control our minds and meditate on negative thoughts or feelings instead of the LORD’s goodness, we can fall into the devil’s trap. Therefore, no matter how this year has been for us, let’s say to our soul: “Praise the LORD, my soul; all my inmost being, praise his holy name!”
The second thing that David told himself was, “Praise the LORD, my soul, and forget not all his benefits.” Like the Indonesian translation, the New Century Version says, "My whole being, praise the Lord and do not forget all his kindnesses." When we face hardship and tribulation, it is so easy for us to forget God’s kindness. We then conclude that life is unfair or God is not fair. It is like the Indonesian proverb says, “a drop of ink ruins the whole milk in the jar.”
So, don’t let the ink of failure, an unanswered prayer, or the ink of disappointment ruin your life. Remember what the LORD has done for you. Forget not all His benefits!
From verses 3 to 6, David mentioned the good things or the benefits the Lord has given him, which we also have received even more because of what Jesus Christ has done for us.
V. 3 - “Who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases.” The most significant benefit our LORD has given us is the forgiveness of our sins. That is much more valuable than material benefits.
Not only that, but God also still gives us life and good health. Therefore, we can be here tonight. Every year, approximately 3.5 million people in the United States lose their lives. The most common causes of death in the U.S. are heart disease and cancer. But praise the LORD, here we are. We are still alive and forgiven.
V. 4 - “Who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion.” We were sinners, undeserving of God’s love, but He redeemed and loved us.
V. 5 – “Who satisfies your desires with good things so your youth is renewed like the eagle's." God also has provided for our needs; we have a roof that protects us from rain and cold weather; we have enough clothes and food, etc.
V. 6 – “The LORD works righteousness and justice for all the oppressed." God is on the side of those who are oppressed. So, when we experience oppression, remember this verse.
Verses 7-18 show a God is full of mercy and compassion. He doesn’t keep a record of our transgressions. How blessed we are to have The Lord God like Him! Even though we experienced trials and tribulations this year, we know the Lord is good. He loves us and cares for us. His grace and mercy have saved and sustained us. Therefore, as we leave this year, let’s praise Him and not forget His goodness! Later, at the fellowship dinner, I encourage you to share the benefits of God’s goodness that you have received this year with the people at your table.
We don’t know what will happen next year. But with faith, we believe God’s grace is sufficient for us. He will not let us be tempted beyond what we can bear, and He will never leave or forsake us because He is God Immanuel. Therefore, confidently, we can say, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me!” Have a blessed and fruitful New Year 2024!
