" And Forget Not ALL HIS Benefits " From Psalm 103

   Psalm 103 is one of the sweetest Psalms that gives us just a glimpse of how much GOD loves HIS people and how much HE loves those who don't even know HIM yet.  Let me show you Psalm 103:

Bless the LORD, O my soul; and all that is within me, bless HIS HOLY name !
Bless the LORD, O my soul; and forget not all HIS benefits:

WHO forgives all your iniquities, WHO heals all your diseases,

WHO redeems your life from destruction, WHO crowns you with
 lovingkindness, and tender mercies,                                                                                               WHO satisfies your mouth with good things, so that your mouth is
 renewed like the eagle's.

The LORD executes righteousness and justice for all who are
 oppressed.
HE made known HIS ways to Moses, HIS acts to the children of Israel.
The LORD is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and
abounding in mercy.
HE will not always strive with us, nor will HE keep HIS anger forever.
HE has not dealt with us according to our sins,
Nor punished us according to our iniquities.

For as the heavens are high above the earth, so great is HIS mercy
toward those who fear ( reverence ) HIM;
As far as the east is from the west, so far has HE removed our transgressions from us.
As a father pities his children, so the LORD pities those who
fear ( reverence ) HIM.
For HE knows your frame; HE remembers that we are but dust.

As for man, his days are like grass; as a flower of the field,
so he flourishes.
For the wind passes over it, and it is gone, and its place
remembers it no more.
But the mercy of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting,
on those who fear ( reverence ) HIM, and HIS righteousness
to children's children,
To such as keep HIS covenant, and to those who remember HIS
commandments, to do them.   The LORD has established HIS throne in heaven, and HIS
kingdom rules over all.

Bless the LORD, you HIS angels, who excel in strength, who do
HIS WORD, heeding the voice of HIS WORD.
Bless the LORD, all you HIS hosts, you ministers ( servants ) of HIS,
who do HIS pleasure.
Bless the LORD, all HIS works, in all places of HIS dominion.
Bless the LORD, O my soul.                                           Psalm 103

     The above Psalm was written and sung by King David of Israel to his blessed LORD GOD.  For 10 years, before David was crowned King of Israel, he ran for his life from the very angry King Saul.  The short version of this turbulent time was after David slew the giant Goliath of Gath and helped the army of Israel get victory over the Gathes.  David was considered a friend of King Saul and a dear friend to Saul's son Jonathan. Soon King Saul became jealous of Davids popularity with the people and he realized that the ONE TRUE GOD was with David and that GOD would make David King instead of Saul's son Jonathan.  Jonathan was OK with GOD's choice and actually it made Jonathan protective of David. Jonathan helped David to escape King Saul's attempts to kill David.  Eventually King Saul was killed in a battle with enemy forces and so was Jonathan.  But all this took about 10 years of running and hiding and trusting that in GOD's good time he would be made King over Israel.

     David was not a perfect King by any stretch of the imagination. He sinned with Bathsheba and had her husband killed during a battle with one of Davids enemy nations.  David was confronted by the Prophet of GOD about his sin and Psalm 51 speaks of Davids confession to GOD of his sin ( vs.3 and 4 ) and the need for GOD's forgiveness ( vs.7 thru 15 ) and restoration.  Even though David did the sin of adultery, murder and covered it up, when he was confronted with his sin, he cried out to GOD because he knew that GOD was just and righteous to forgive. GOD said about David in Acts 13:22 -  And when HE had removed him ( Saul ), HE raised up for them David as King, to whom also HE gave testimony and said, " I have found David, the son of Jesse, a man after my own heart, who will do all my will. ( originally from 1st.Sam.13:14 )

David, as all of us are, was a sinner.  GOD meant that David did not follow after all or any of the false gods that were in all of the nations around him. David was a sinner, but he loved the ONE TRUE GOD, JEHOVAH.
     This does not mean that GOD overlooked David's sin but David knew that if he would humbly and sincerely prostrate himself before the LORD that HE would forgive, cleanse and renew the fellowship that they enjoyed before David had sinned.  Were there consequences to Davids sin, a resounding YES. David's firstborn son to Bathsheba died. There was rape, murder and incest within his immediate family.  One of Davids sons, Absalom, tried to take the kingdom away from him and Absalom was killed by one of Davids generals.
     THERE ARE ALWAYS CONSEQUENCES TO SIN !!!!!!  The consequences may not happen right away, but they will happen. Per David's Psalm 51 of repentance after his sin with Bathsheba and Psalm 103 which lists many of GOD's benefits:  Forgiveness, Heals, Redeems, Crowns, Lovingkindness, Mercy, Satisfies, Righteous, Just, All Knowing.  And this is what I would call a SHORT LIST !!!!  Our finite human minds have trouble comprehending what is the height and width and depth and length of GOD's love and care for us, even before we are HIS.
     Look into your heart today, as David did many, many years ago. See what you have done over your life as far as sinning against an ALL HOLY GOD.  Right now, at this moment. as you are reading HIS WORD, HIS SPIRIT is whispering to your heart that it is not too late to be saved. Bough your head, take responsibility for your sin, as David did. Ask GOD to forgive you in the name of HIS SON, JESUS CHRIST who came to earth as a human baby but still 100% GOD. HE allowed the Roman solders to nail HIS hands to the cross, where HE paid the ultimate price that GOD the FATHER required of HIM, because HE knew we could not save ourselves.  HE rose again on the third day, which testified that GOD the FATHER was satisfied with HIS SON's perfect payment for our sin with HIS HOLY blood.   THE PRICE FOR YOUR SIN HAS ALREADY BEEN PAID, you just have to pray and ask GOD to forgive you and to have JESUS come into your heart and save you.  GOD's WORD says, " that not by works of righteousness which I have done. "   No amount of works or baptism or communion or rosaries or catechisms or mass or any man made liturgies will save even one pinkie toe !!!!  So accept what JESUS has already done for you,  today is the day of Salvation, you may not have a tomorrow !!!!
Your servant in CHRIST,
Julie