He restores my soul

Kirksville Daily Express

Pastor Glenn Archer

September 26, 2010

Faith Baptist Church

He restores my soul.

“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 thy diseases; who redeems thy life from destruction; who crowns thee with loving-kindness and tender mercies; who satisfies thy mouth with good things; so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle’s.” (Ps 103:1-5)

The Psalmist did not say, “He restores my body.” He said, “He restores my soul.” As David spoke in Psalm 103, he addressed his soul, saying, “Bless the LORD, O my soul.” Speaking to his soul he remarks, “Forget not all His benefits.” He then began to enumerate the benefits the Lord had bestowed upon His soul.

First and foremost in the bag of benefits was, “He forgives all your iniquities.” Forgiveness is our greatest need. We have all sinned and come short of the glory of God. If we are to approach God, it must be that He has found some way to forgive us. This He has done through His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, “in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins.” (Ephesians 1:7)

The second benefit he mentions was that the Lord had healed all his soul’s diseases. We fret because of disease in our bodies. Billions are spent trying to correct these problems. In spite of all we do for them, they are but headed for the grave. David was concerned with the disease of his soul. His prayerlessness, his lust and greed, his dishonesty, his pride, his covetousness; these were the things that troubled him. God not only forgives us, but He cleanses us as well. He heals the diseases of our souls. “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (1John 1:9)

A third benefit was that God had redeemed his life of from destruction. The fear of Hell had been removed. He was no longer afraid to meet God. The blood of Jesus prevails to remove the enmity that existed between God and the sinner. We now have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. We know that “God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto Himself.” (2Corinthians 5:19)

David understood that God had crowned his life with loving-kindness and tender mercies. His mouth had been satisfied with good, until his youth had been renewed like the eagles. How good and how gracious is the Lord our God. “Though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day.” (2Corinthians 4:16) David understood that “The things which are seen are temporary; but the things which are not seen are eternal.” (2Corinthians 4:18)

Are we willing to devote our lives to that which is but ‘a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away” James 4:14)? Is it not better to live for that which is eternal? Who is the object of our respect? To whom are our lives devoted? Where did we come from? Where are we going? Who is our Judge?

“Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near:” (Isaiah 55:6)

Morning and Evening

Charles H. Spurgeon
September 28, 2010

Morning Reading

The Lord looketh from heaven; He beholdeth all the sons of men.

—Psalm 33:13

Perhaps no figure of speech represents God in a more gracious light than when He is spoken of as stooping from His throne, and coming down from heaven to attend to the wants and to behold the woes of mankind. We love Him, who, when Sodom and Gomorrah were full of iniquity, would not destroy those cities until He had made a personal visitation of them. We cannot help pouring out our heart in affection for our Lord who inclines His ear from the highest glory, and puts it to the lip of the dying sinner, whose failing heart longs after reconciliation. How can we but love Him when we know that He numbers the very hairs of our heads, marks our path, and orders our ways? Specially is this great truth brought near to our heart, when we recollect how attentive He is, not merely to the temporal interests of His creatures, but to their spiritual concerns. Though leagues of distance lie between the finite creature and the infinite Creator, yet there are links uniting both. When a tear is wept by thee, think not that God doth not behold; for, "Like as a father pitieth his children, so the Lord pitieth them that fear Him." Thy sigh is able to move the heart of Jehovah; thy whisper can incline His ear unto thee; thy prayer can stay His hand; thy faith can move His arm. Think not that God sits on high taking no account of thee. Remember that however poor and needy thou art, yet the Lord thinketh upon thee. For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect towards Him.

Oh! then repeat the truth that never tires;
No God is like the God my soul desires;
He at whose voice heaven trembles, even He,
Great as He is, knows how to stoop to me.

Evening Reading

Go again seven times.

—1 Kings 18:43

Success is certain when the Lord has promised it. Although you may have pleaded month after month without evidence of answer, it is not possible that the Lord should be deaf when His people are earnest in a matter which concerns His glory. The prophet on the top of Carmel continued to wrestle with God, and never for a moment gave way to a fear that he should be non-suited in Jehovah's courts. Six times the servant returned, but on each occasion no word was spoken but "Go again." We must not dream of unbelief, but hold to our faith even to seventy times seven. Faith sends expectant hope to look from Carmel's brow, and if nothing is beheld, she sends again and again. So far from being crushed by repeated disappointment, faith is animated to plead more fervently with her God. She is humbled, but not abashed: her groans are deeper, and her sighings more vehement, but she never relaxes her hold or stays her hand. It would be more agreeable to flesh and blood to have a speedy answer, but believing souls have learned to be submissive, and to find it good to wait for as well as upon the Lord. Delayed answers often set the heart searching itself, and so lead to contrition and spiritual reformation: deadly blows are thus struck at our corruption, and the chambers of imagery are cleansed. The great danger is lest men should faint, and miss the blessing. Reader, do not fall into that sin, but continue in prayer and watching. At last the little cloud was seen, the sure forerunner of torrents of rain, and even so with you, the token for good shall surely be given, and you shall rise as a prevailing prince to enjoy the mercy you have sought. Elijah was a man of like passions with us: his power with God did not lie in his own merits. If his believing prayer availed so much, why not yours? Plead the precious blood with unceasing importunity, and it shall be with you according to your desire.

More on Josiah Humbling Himself before the Lord

Day By Day By Grace
Bob Hoekstra
September 28, 2010

Thus says the LORD God of Israel: "Concerning the words which you have heard—because your heart was tender, and you humbled yourself before God when you heard His words against this place and against its inhabitants, and you humbled yourself before Me, and you tore your clothes and wept before Me, I also have heard you," says the LORD…"your eyes shall not see all the calamity which I will bring on this place and its inhabitants." (2 Chronicles 34:26-27)

King Josiah was a godly ruler, who purged the land of idolatrous activities. When the neglected word of God was discovered in the temple, he responded humbly as he heard it read. "Now it happened, when the king heard the words of the Law, that he tore his clothes." He thereby escaped the judgment that was deserved by the rebellious people. Also, this appropriate wrath was postponed until after his reign.

These blessings of grace came because of Josiah's humble response to God's word. His heart was soft when he heard the word of the Lord: "Concerning the words which you have heard—because your heart was tender." The attitude of the heart toward the Scriptures is pivotal if a person is to experience God's grace at work in his life. A hardhearted response to the word of God does not receive the grace of God. The Israelites in Zechariah's day were a sad example of this. The Lord sent His word to them, "But they refused to heed, shrugged their shoulders, and stopped their ears so that they could not hear. Yes, they made their hearts like flint, refusing to hear the law and the words which the LORD of hosts had sent by His Spirit through the former prophets. Thus great wrath came from the LORD of hosts" (Zechariah 7:11-12).

Josiah's attitude was a vivid contrast. "You humbled yourself before God when you heard His words against this place and against its inhabitants." He did what James would later call God's people to do. "Receive with meekness the implanted word" (James 1:21). Josiah's humility was so evident. "You humbled yourself before Me, and you tore your clothes and wept before Me." The result was that Josiah would enjoy the grace of God. His time of leadership would not have to go through the wrath that the people deserved from their previous rebellion and hardheartedness. "Your eyes shall not see all the calamity which I will bring on this place and its inhabitants."

Dear Lord, I confess that I have not always responded in humility before Your word. I thank You for Your forgiving grace. Yet, even more, I hunger for Your transforming grace. Shape my heart into a tender vessel that will meekly receive Your holy word, day by day, for Your honor and glory, Amen.

I am continually with thee

Daily Promises
Blue Letter Bible
September 28, 2010

Nevertheless I [am] continually with thee: thou hast holden [me] by my right hand. Thou shalt guide me with thy counsel, and afterward receive me [to] glory. (Psalms 73:23-24)

My Prayer: Gracious Father, thank You for continually being present within my life! Thank You for loving me with such unconditional adoration! Make me worthy of Your wonderful devotion toward me that I may give You honour and praise. Cause me to have a passionate desire toward Your word that I may please You in all I do and say. May I desire nothing on this desolate earth but the future glory with You!

A few more throbbings of this aching heart!

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

(John MacDuff, "The Faithful Promiser")

"The days of your mourning shall be ended!" Isaiah 60:20

Christ's people are a weeping band--though there is much in this lovely world to make them joyous and happy. Yet when they think of sin--their own sin, and the unblushing sins of a world in which their God is dishonored--need we wonder at their tears? Are we surprised that they should be called "Mourners," and that their pilgrimage is a "Valley of Tears?" Sickness, bereavement, poverty and death following the track of sin--add to their mourning experience! And with many of God's best beloved children, one tear is scarcely dried--when another is ready to flow!

Mourners! rejoice!

When the reaping time comes--the weeping time ends!

When the white robe and the golden harp are bestowed--every remnant of the sackcloth attire is removed. The moment the pilgrim, whose forehead is here furrowed with woe, bathes it in the crystal river of life--that moment the pangs of a lifetime of sorrow are eternally forgotten!

Reader! if you are one of these careworn ones, take heart--the days of your mourning are numbered! A few more throbbings of this aching heart--and then sorrow, and sighing, and mourning, will be forever past!

"He will wipe every tear from their eyes! There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain!" Revelation 21:4