Meditating on Psalm 103 (part 3)

… who forgives all your iniquity, who heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit, who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy, who satisfies you with good so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.

– Psalm 103:3-5, ESV

Last week we you were encouraged to take a moment to think through the many personal benefits that you have experienced as a direct result of putting your faith in Jesus. I hope that you took the time to physically do that, and to experience the joy of meditating on the countless benefits of walking with God.

This week we will look at the specific benefits that David points out in this great psalm, and we will consider these truths in light of what Christ accomplished for us on the cross fourteen generations after David’s writing.

…He forgives all our iniquity… I don’t know about you, but that is an awful lot of forgiving for me!

…He heals all your diseases… I know that not every disease is healed on this side of eternity, but have you ever stopped to marvel at the reality that every disease that is healed is healed by the hand of God? He is the Great Physician. Any healing that ever takes place, takes place not primarily through medicine or the able hands of a doctor, but ultimately through the loving hands of God.

…He redeems your life from the pit… We were all dead in our transgressions and sins when God made us alive in Christ! 

…He crowns you with steadfast love and mercy… He didn’t just lift us from the pit, but He also lifted us and seated us with Christ. We are co-heirs with Christ. We are more than conquerers through Christ. We have been crowned with His steadfast love and mercy. How amazing is that?!

…He satisfies you with good… There is a longing, and aching, in the human heart. We were made to be satisfied—by God. He is by far the most good. For those who put their faith in Christ alone for salvation, they will ultimately find their satisfaction—in God alone.

David understood in part what we can understand more fully on this side of the cross. Jesus forgives, heals, redeems, loves, and satisfies. May you find these qualities (and so much more) today as you bless the LORD with all that is within you.

APPLICATION: Take a moment to express your thanks to God for the many ways that He forgives, heals, redeems, loves, and satisfies.