Psalm 103:4-5

In vv. 1-2 David encouraged himself to praise God wholeheartedly and to not forget the benefits of all God’s goodness. That same admonishment is for us today. In v. 3 he began to give reasons to praise God, mentioning His benefits of forgiveness and healing. He continued with the admonition to praise God, “Who redeems your life from destruction, Who crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies” (v.4). Yes, we are selfish, sinful creatures, and “our lives are like a puff of smoke, which appears for a moment and then disappears” (James 4:14c GNT). Yet, because He is our creator and redeemer, His love for us endures forever. He delivers us from troubles of this old world and from eternal destruction. He is compassionate and cares for His creation; therefore, He crowns us with His benefits of lovingkindness and tender mercies.

The psalmist continued to declare His reasons to not forget to praise God, “Who satisfies your mouth with good things, So that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s” (v.5). As children of God, He “satisfies your mouth” with His truth; His word is truth (Jn.17:17b). “Wise words satisfy like a good meal; the right words bring satisfaction” (Prov.18:20). The Lord promises that He will not withhold any good thing from those who do what is right (Ps. 84:11). God blesses you with all the good things you desire “So that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.” Don’t forget the benefits of all God’s goodness.

Lift your voice and shout, “Glory!”

Psalm 103:1-3

God is our Creator and worthy to be praised for all His benefits with which He has blessed us. David began his writing by encouraging himself: “Bless the Lord, O my soul” (v.1a). David didn’t merely bless the Lord as if it was lip service, but He said, “And all that is within me, bless His holy name” (v.1b)! We are commanded to love the Lord our God with all our heart, with all our soul, and with all our might (Deut. 6:5 ESV). Like David our praise for the Lord ought to be from the depth of our heart. The psalmist repeated: “Bless the Lord, O my soul,” (v.2a) stressing his belief in giving God wholehearted praise: “And forget not all His benefits (v.2b). Who is it that loves the Lord will forget to praise Him for all He has done?

The psalmist stated that the Lord forgives all your iniquities and 
heals all your diseases (v.3). Forgiveness and healing go together; they offer us the promises of spiritual and physical wellness. When we desire to be saved through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, God forgives us in order to bring us back in right relationship with Him. Also, forgiveness helps bring healing to broken relationships with our fellow man. “Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you” (Eph. 4:32 ESV). Because our physical bodies house the Holy Spirit from God, we are to take care of it and treat it with the utmost respect. 

Today, let your living reflect the benefits of God’s forgiveness and healing. 

Lift your voice and shout, “Glory!”

Matthew 8:27

After Jesus got up and rebuked the winds and sea, the storm’s fury ceased immediately. The Amplified Bible says: “…there was [at once] a great and wonderful calm [a perfect peacefulness]” (v.26b). Some decades ago, a popular slogan on television said “When E.F. Hutton speaks, everyone listens.” The slogan was powerful, effective, and served its purpose, but it was no comparison to the power of Jesus. “God, who made the world and everything in it, is Lord of heaven and earth …” (Acts 17:24 GNT). Jesus’ rebuke: “Peace, be still” (Mark 4:39) calmed the dangerous storm. 

The disciples cried out for Jesus to save them because if the storm was left unchecked, their fear was: “We’re going to drown” (v. 25)! Since we live in a fallen world, until Jesus comes back, storms will arise, causing hostility and sometimes life-threatening situations. Like Jesus’ disciples, we may be fearful and have little faith. However, if we listen to and trust and obey the Lord, He will bring that perfect peace that only comes from Him. 

But the men marveled, saying, “What manner of man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey him” (v.27)! The disciples were in awe of Jesus’ authority over nature. In Matthew 1:21-23 the angel prophesied that virgin Mary will conceive a child of the Holy Ghost. She will have a son, and Joseph was to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins. This identifies what manner of man the disciples marveled about; He is the Son of God.

Lift your voice and give God glory!

Matthew 8:26

Because of man’s disobedience, we live in a fallen world and have to contend with storms – life and nature. Storms do arise, creating disruption and unpleasant chaos. James said that when we face troubles of any kind, we should consider it all joy. Believers will be tested so they can build up endurance and grow in their faith and spiritual maturity. 

On the Sea of Galilee, a great storm arose and disrupted the calm of Jesus’ disciples. Jesus was sleeping peacefully; His disciples were anxious from fear of the storm. They woke Him up, urging Him to save them from dying. Their cry to be saved indicated their need to be rescued right then from the storm of nature and the spiritual need for soul salvation. Jesus responded to His disciples’ cry to be saved with a profound question: “Why are you fearful, O you of little faith?” (v.26). 

Now these disciples had witnessed Jesus performing miracles of healing and casting out demons. They must have believed that Jesus could save them though they were fearful and exercised little faith. It is important for believers to know who Jesus is and trust Him in all situations. Jesus continued addressing His disciples’ fear and little faith by exercising His authority over nature: “Then He arose and rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was a great calm.” Jesus’ authority over nature illustrates that it is for certain if we trust Him, He will bring us comfort and peace in the midst of life’s storms. 

Lift your voice and give God glory!

 

 

Matthew 8:23-25

Throughout Galilee, large crowds followed Jesus as news spread about His teachings and miracles of healing (Matt. 4:23-25). In Matthew 8:18 a large crowd surrounded Him, and He commanded his disciples to go to the other side of the sea.

Here Jesus entered a ship, and his disciples followed him (v.23). “And behold, there arose a great tempest in the sea, insomuch that the ship was covered with the waves: but he was asleep” (v.24). Vine’s Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament Words says tempest comes from the Gr. seismos, a shaking, a shock, translated earthquake. When we hear earthquake, fear coupled with confusion usually grip us. I imagine when that powerful storm arose and the waves covered the ship, beating furiously against its deck, Jesus’ disciples were frantic. They knew there was trouble in the water, and danger surrounded them and Jesus. They were disciples fearful while Jesus was peacefully sleeping. This signified that as Lord over all of creation, we should trust Him to provide what we need when we need it. We trust Him to rule over and calm storms of nature because we live by faith. This is the same reason we must trust Him in our daily lives, calming storms that arise, causing fears, challenges, heartaches and pains, and so on. 

Jesus’ disciples awoke him, saying, Lord, save us: we perish (v.25). They were fearful of the danger and possible outcome of the storm, but they knew to call Him in the time of trouble. The disciples awoke Him with an urgency; they recognized His Lordship and pleaded for Him to save them from dying.

Today, trust the Lord to calm the storms of your life. Give Him glory!