The
Thanksgiving Catalog
Psalm 103
November 26, 2006
The biggest
Thanksgiving killer is the day after when Christmas shopping
begins in earnest and we stop thinking about what we have
and start thinking about what we want.
Many of
us like to peruse the Christmas catalog; looking at all
the neat stuff we want.
* We ought to spend more time looking at the neat stuff
we already have.
* In Psalm 103 we find God’s Catalog of Mercies,
not a Christmas catalog but a Thanksgiving Catalog.
The first item we find in God’s Thanksgiving catalog
is-
1. The Remission of Sin
Psa 103:3, “Who forgiveth all thine iniquities;”
The word “iniquities” is a strong one. It
does not mean “mistakes.” What if the Bible
said Christ died for our mistakes? God forgives more than
mistakes when He forgives our iniquities.
David sees the believer as a forgiven penitent. “He
forgiveth all our iniquities.”
* The measure
of His Forgiveness.
Psa 103:12 As far as the east is from the west, so far
hath he removed our transgressions from us.
Mic 7:19 He will turn again, he will have compassion upon
us; he will subdue our iniquities; and thou wilt cast
all their sins into the depths of the sea.
2. Restoration
of Health
Psa 103:3 Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth
all thy diseases;
What albatross do you have around your neck?
What sin from the past sneaks up to haunt you?
Read Psalm 106 verses 8 and 44, underline the word nevertheless,
and complete this statement: “Even though I have
_________, nevertheless God has forgiven me.” Fill
in the blank with a sin from the past, and realize you’re
forgiven! Or go home and write it down on a piece of paper,
write several down as needed, and then tear it up, burn
it, or flush it away…symbolically illustrating what
God has done in your spiritual healing!
This is
the answer to the prayer in Psalm 102; &32:3, 4; 38:3-5;
James 5:15
*Psychosomatic effects of unconfessed sin / non-accepted
forgiveness). What is the answer? Forgiveness which begins
with confession! And then you must accept the forgiveness…don’t
try to do penance for it!
“Who
healeth all thy diseases.” Psychotherapy doesn’t
cure like God can (Guilt, fear, doubt, depression, anger,
lust, hate, jealousy, spite, and greed are some of them.)
3. Redemption of life from Destruction.
“Who redeemeth thy life from destruction”
(Psalm 103:4)
or, “He redeems your life from going to waste.”
(*Shattered people & makes them new)
Just think about where you would be if not for Christ!
4. Royal
Treatment 103:4b
Psa 103:4 Who redeemeth thy life from destruction; who
crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies;
* He now
takes us into the palace. How like our God! He brings
us into the palace, along its splendid corridors and into
the throne room itself.
He is going to crown us the way He does everything else—gloriously.
* God’s love is incomprehensible (vs. 11, 17) shore
less, boundless, bottomless, and endless, ever unfolding
and infinite! We can’t measure.
5. A Rewarding
Life (satisfaction with good things) vs. 5
Your attitude
about those things determines your satisfaction.
Our problem
is that we are looking at the Christmas catalog, focusing
on what we want rather then rejoicing in what we have!
6. Rejuvenation
of Youth 103:5b
Psa 103:5 Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things; so
that thy youth is renewed like the eagle’s.
(NT renewed day by day- fresh everyday)
An Eagle remains strong throughout its long life.
* The Devil
has no happy old people.
It locks us into an unending circle of praise. We get
to the end; it becomes anew beginning. We get to the end
again; it becomes a new beginning again. Such will be
our praise in an endless eternity.
We have
a tendency to forget the good things and remember the
bad. The psalmist reminds us, “Bless the LORD, O
my soul, and forget not all his benefits” (Psa 103:2)