Nepaug Bible Church - http://www.nepaugchurch.org - Pastor's Adult Sunday School Notes - http://www.nepaugchurch.org/bb/bb19980301.htm

PSALMS: DIARIES OF GODLY OLD TESTAMENT SAINTS
Psalm One Hundred And Three - The Key To Enjoying God's Blessings HABITUALLY
(Psalm 103:1-22)
  1. Introduction
    1. All men have sinned according to Romans 3:23. In fact, even all believers in Christ have sinned according to 1 John 1:4, 10. As a result of sin, the Bible often teaches that man looses out on God's blessings.
    2. However, David records in Psalm 103:1-22 a great, comforting truth that in spite of the fact that all are sinners, certain people habitually enjoy God's blessings. The key to this habitual blessing regardless of being a sinner is provided in the psalm as follows:
  2. The Key To Enjoying God's Blessings HABITUALLY, Psalm 103:1-22.
    1. Three times through the content of Psalm 103, the phrase "those who fear Him" appears in repetitive, almost drumbeat style, see Ps. 103: 11, 13 and 17.
    2. This pounded phrase is followed by more climactic, parallel (somewhat repetitive) references in verse 18 of "those who keep His covenant" and "obey His precepts."
    3. Such an emphasis is copied in the theological formula of Psalm 128: there God's blessings come to a head of household who first fears the Lord which only then leads to his walking in God's ways, v. 1, 4.
    4. Thus, the blessings mentioned in Psalm 103 come to one who first "fears" the Lord, and that "fear" leads to his keeping His covenant to apply it to his life.
    5. These blessings are habitually enjoyed, and in a comprehensive way to all of one's life as follows:
      1. David began the psalm with an expression of great thanksgiving for God's blessings to him, Ps. 103:1-2.
      2. Then David enumerated them as follows, Ps. 103:3-19:
        1. He noted that God pardons all of his perversities and heals all of the diseases that come as a result of that sin in keeping with the Mosaic Covenant to Israel in Deut. 27-28, Ps. 103:3.
        2. He acknowledged that God redeemed his earthly life from the grave, blessing him abundantly with loyal love and compassion so that David likens the blessing to a coronation, Ps. 103:4.
        3. He witnessed that God satisfied his human desires with wholesome things, renewing his youth like the eagle's renewal, Ps. 103:5.
        4. David testified that God performed righteousness and justice for those who are oppressed, v. 6.
        5. He revealed that God had shown great compassion, grace, and slowness to wrath and loyal love since the days of Moses, Ps. 103:7-9.
        6. He noted that God does not fully deal out just wrath to his sins, but shows compassion in grace, 10.
        7. He forgives one's sins totally, removing them as far as the east is from the west, Ps. 103:11-12.
        8. God treats David like a father does his children, pitying them in observing their human limitations caused by their having originated from the earth's dust, Ps. 103:13-16 with Gen. 2:7; 3:19.
        9. God's loyal love stretches from eternity past to eternity future, covering generation after generation of His favored, blessed people, Ps. 103:17-18.
        10. God Who shows all of this goodness is sovereign over all to be able to do so, Ps. 103:19.
    6. Having enjoyed God's habitual blessings in life, David concluded this psalm with a call to praise the Lord:
      1. He called on the angels of God who did His bidding to bless the Lord, Ps. 103:20-21.
      2. David called on all of the works of His creative order everywhere in His dominion to praise Him for His great goodness, Ps. 103:22a.
      3. Finally, David repeated his challenge to himself to praise the Lord for His great goodness, Ps. 103:22b.
Lesson: To enjoy God's comprehensive blessings HABITUALLY, even as a frail, imperfect SINNER, one must (a) respect God (b) which will lead to his keeping and obeying God's Word as a way of life. (c) God in turn responds to forgive occasional si ns of the devout but imperfect party, and showers His lovingkindnesses and compassion upon him as an HABITUAL way of life.

Application: God wants us to know that as our loving Heavenly Father, He understands all about our weaknesses and sin natures! However, this tolerance VANISHES when we sport an ATTITUDE of DISRESPECT for Him, for that ATTITUDE leads to DISOBEDIENC E and a loss of habitual blessings! With GOD, ATTITUDE is the key to WHETHER or NOT we enjoy a LIFE of blessing!