Thankful for Every Benefit

Saturday the 21st of September

in Meditations I

Psalm 103:2

An athlete makes a name for himself by the records he breaks and the amazing statistics that his activities produce. The Lord, our God, however, does not make a name for Himself. He does reveal His name to us in wonderful works; but He competes with no one, does not develop in skills and abilities. He is today what He eternally is. His name, therefore, is eternal and eternally the same. That name is holy because it is set apart from all other names of creatures, since of Him, through Him, and unto Him are all things. He is high above all creation.

David, in Psalm 103:1, tells us to bless His name, and then in verse 2 continues: "Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits." Here he brings us another amazing truth, namely, His name declares Him to be the one from Whom all that we are and have came. Name something you have that pleases you — it came from God, and you have a reason to bless and thank Him. You just cannot mention an earthly object that you have that did not come from Him. Every day and every minute of your life came from Him, and calls for you to bless Him.

We avoid this and fail to do so. We have joyful experiences. We have much that we call benefits. But we fail to see God in them. Sometimes we will utter a few hasty words of thanks: but the moments wherein we have this joyful experience are hundreds of times more than those in which we blessed God for giving them to us. Or the experience itself is so delightful that God, the Giver, never enters into our thoughts. Well, then may we listen to the psalmist as he writes and we sing (PRC Psalter):

    O praise and bless the Lord, my soul,
    And ever thankful be;
    Forget not all His benefits
    He has bestowed on thee.

Learn these words. Commit them to memory and put them into practice. There is a reason why David begins the first two verses with the call to bless the Lord, and then ends the Psalm with the last three verses also exhorting not only angels but all His works to bless the Lord. There is so much for which to bless God and so much that reveals that His name is holy as our Great benefactor.

Read: Psalm 104
Psalter versification: #277:2
(Words and Music of the Psalter)

Meditations on the Heidelberg Catechism

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Song for Meditation: Psalter #233
Why not sing along??

Through the Bible in One Year
Read today:
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Isaiah 37; Isaiah 38:1-22
Galatians 5:13-26
Psalm 64:1-10
Proverbs 23:24

Quote for Reflection:

"As long as we consider the things of this present life, the success and progress, the advancement and the prosperity of the wicked well-doer, as blessings of God upon him, gifts of His grace which the Most High bestows upon him in order that he should enjoy them for a time; as long as we separate the things of this present time from their eternal purpose and end, we shall never understand that even the reward of the wicked well-doer is a curse. But as soon as we see all things in their true light and relation, this becomes very clear. For, when the wicked well-doer is successful, increases his wealth, enlarges his place, gains in power and influence, he merely enhances his obligation to serve God. For the things of this present time are God’s capital, entrusted to us, placing us under the obligation to serve and glorify the Most High with it all. But the wicked cannot and will not employ all things in His service. To him the things of this present time are means to satisfy the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, the pride of life. And, therefore, the more he increases his substance and position, the greater sinner he becomes, the more he aggravates his judgment, the severer will be his eternal punishment" ("The Curse-Reward of the Wicked Well-Doer", p. 19). -- Herman Hoeksema