The Lord's Mercies

The LORD’s Mercies

Psalm 103:1-13

Good morning,

As a child, I remember my grandfather talking about going through the Depression and trying to find work.

I remember him telling stories of how, in the pre-union times, if you were sick, you didn’t get paid. If you got hurt, too bad; go home, and someone else would take your place.

Today, we have social security benefits, workman’s compensation, sick days, and many other benefits.

Healthcare benefits are mandatory in most states, but some companies offer better medical than others.

Some of the bigger corporations today offer benefits that amaze me in order to retain or attract employees.

Some companies offer PTO, extended leave, and paid holidays. Some offer 401(k) retirement plans, bonuses, and parental leave.

Some Silicon Valley companies offer extravagant perks. Mental health support, free meals, laundry services, on-site massage therapists, gym memberships, and other amenities as well.

Please open your Bibles to Psalm 103 as we continue to survey.

Most of our Bibles declare Psalm 103 a Psalm of David, even though we do not know what circumstances led him to write it.

This Psalm is truly a song of praise, and it is mainly about the LORD’s benefits for His people.

G. Campbell Morgan said, “It is perhaps the most perfect song of pure praise to be found in the Bible....

Through centuries it has been sung by glad hearts, and today is as fresh and full of beauty as ever.”

I. Bless the LORD.

Read Psalm 103:1-5

This is not like other blessings found within scripture, where the greater person gives a blessing to a less significant person.

The LORD is so much higher than any man, and we have nothing that the LORD God needs.

In Psalm 103, David said to bless the LORD, as a way of honoring Him as His creation and praising Him, from a heart of thanksgiving.

To bless the LORD means to praise, worship, and exalt Him.

We bless the LORD by knowing Him personally through a relationship. This happens through prayer, doing God's will, meditating on His Word, praising, and remembering His gifts.

We can bless the LORD by remembering all the things that He has done for us, as David also reminds his readers not to forget all that the LORD has done.

Notice next, “All that is within me”

James Boice said, “What a rebuke to much of what passes for praise in our assemblies”.

“We come to church, but we leave our minds at home. We hear of God’s grace, but our hearts have been hardened by a critical spirit.”

I already said some companies offer extravagant perks, but those are all the temporary trappings of this world and none of those potential perks can meet our true need of salvation.

There are so many benefits that come from serving the LORD, that I don’t know if anyone could ever number them all.

Paul said in 1 Corinthians 2:9, "Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love Him." NKJV

Let’s discuss some of the benefits David listed in Psalm 103.

a. The LORD forgives us. (v 3)

The Gospel teaches that every person has sinned, and that sin separates us from the LORD. Sin's final payment is death.

Romans 5:8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. NKJV

The LORD desires us to have a relationship with Him and that begins by Him forgiving all of our sins, so we can be right before Him, and then we are able to enjoy fellowship with Him.

b. The LORD heals us. (v 3)

We are all in need of healing; emotionally, spiritually, and physically. The world began as a perfect place with no sickness or sin, but man sinned and now we live in a fallen world.

The LORD offers spiritual healing and for those who are His, and we are promised a new glorified body in heaven someday.

c. The LORD redeems us. (v 4)

Our redemption was finished on the Cross…John 19:30 So when Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, "It is finished!" And bowing His head, He gave up His spirit. NKJV

The word finished in Koine Greek is “Tetelestai” and it has a few different meanings depending on how it is used in context.

It means “Paid in full” or “the debt is finished” for a bill that was owed. It also means the sentence was “Fully served” in a judicial context, and the “Battle is won” in a military context.

Jesus paid the debt we owed due to sin, He served our prison sentence, and He defeated sin and death on the Cross.