Psalm 103:1-5, Forget Not All His Benefits

I want to use today’s post to catch you up on our trip. 

Yesterday’s reading in Psalm 103 was a blessing to me.  In the opening verses (103:1-5) I was challenged to remember the benefits of the LORD and to bless Him for them.  I will not kid you.  The last part of v5 caught my attention.  It is not a prayer request but rather is one of those blessings you experience when other things take place.  I have been having a struggle (this is to be expected, given my age and a knee that has it’s issues) getting around.  I certainly have desired that my “youth” might be “renewed like the eagle’s.”  But in the context this happens when the LORD “satisfies your mouth with good things.”  Our approach to the evening meal is not to do half board at the hotels (2 meals, breakfast and supper) but rather to eat a meal together in a restaurant.  That means ordering off a menu.  Which also means, asking the LORD for direction in what I need at that moment, given the travel and increased exercise issues that being in Israel bring. 

May I say as well that these dinner times, when we are relaxed in terms of having no other appointments except for the hotel and bed, provide some wonderful fellowship opportunities.  In the Bible meals are fundamental to fellowship.  Really.  A meal was usually part of sacrifices in the OT.  The Lord’s Table is the privilege of believers in the NT.  We are expected to eat together.  Don’t apologize for always having a meal with your brothers and sisters in Christ.  Just make sure that it is not simply a gastronomical event; make it a festival of love.

The benefits of God in Ps. 103 are forgiveness, healing, redemption, grace and mercy.  We are praying that these benefits will be more appreciated after our time in Israel.  We always are asking the Lord not to allow this to be a mere tourist event.  And I believe, from the conversations in the car to this point, that God is answering this prayer.  Yesterday (Sunday) we were at Machpela, the Cave of the Patriarchs.  I have been there often, but for the rest of the group it was their first time.  The idea of the “reality” of Biblical stories hit home, as it had the day before in the Valleys of the Shephela (Lowlands; Elah, David and Goliath; Soreq, Samson and Delilah, Ayalon, the sun stood still; Lachish, God judging His people for their unfaithfulness).  Later on Sunday we were at Tel Beersheba, where we had a worship service.  And the Tel Arad, before the long drive through the Negev to Eilat.  At each of these places there were comments about the reality of events and especially the sin of idolatry that was Israel’s downfall. 

I must tell you that a great part of my blessing on this trip is to be with family: 2 sons and their wives, parents of one of the wives, a granddaughter, 3 people who are like family to us (and a fellow pastor, his parents, a congregant and another sister in Christ who is fast becoming a good friend).  At the same time, a real sadness is that my own wife is at home recovering from back surgery.  She has always accompanied me on our Israel (and Ukraine) travels and been a true partner in ministry.  There has been conversation among the family members that we may have to do this again when Cindy can be with us. 

The word “benefits” (103:2) refers to the perfectly apt things God gives to His people.  Always what we need.  We are praying that the realities of redemption will be more and more apparent in our journeys.  We see a lot of evidence of idolatry in ancient (and modern) Israel; but God is faithfully keeping His word to this day.  We see the wonderful land He promised to Israel, so that He could satisfy their mouths with good things.  We see a nation God destroyed, in the midst of a nation that is trying to make it’s own way these days.  And we will end up in Jerusalem, Lord willing, where redemption will come to it’s conclusion at Golgotha and an empty tomb. 

Here are a few photos. 

First morning, 16 people, all short on sleep, but happy to be in Israel, beginning the journey together.

Dinner at Eilat.  What joy at the table of believers.

Picnic Lunch at Beit Guvrin (Biblical Marashah); what joy at the table!

The GPS lady tried to send us into this quagmire trying to get to Tel Gezer; a man nearby told us a better way to get there ... thank you Lord!

Morning devotions with Pastor Joe

Two of our 3 sons and 4 children, with their wives, met up in Athens on the way to Israel.  The joy of being with them as family and spiritual family is deep.