Scripture
> Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits.
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> — Psalm 103:2 (ESV)
Devotional
It is a delightful and profitable occupation to mark the hand of God in the lives of ancient saints, and to observe his goodness in delivering them, his mercy in pardoning them, and his faithfulness in keeping his covenant with them. But would it not be even more interesting and profitable for us to remark the hand of God in our own lives? Ought we not to look upon our own history as being at least as full of God, as full of his goodness and of his truth, as much a proof of his faithfulness and veracity, as the lives of any of the saints who have gone before? We do our Lord an injustice when we suppose that he wrought all his mighty acts, and showed himself strong for those in the early time, but doth not perform wonders or lay bare his arm for the saints who are now upon the earth. Let us review our own lives. Surely in these we may discover some happy incidents, refreshing to ourselves and glorifying to our God. Have you had no deliverances? Have you passed through no rivers, supported by the divine presence? Have you walked through no fires unharmed? Have you had no manifestations? Have you had no choice favours? The God who gave Solomon the desire of his heart, hath he never listened to you and answered your requests? That God of lavish bounty of whom David sang, “Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things,” hath he never satiated you with fatness? Have you never been made to lie down in green pastures? Have you never been led by the still waters? Surely the goodness of God has been the same to us as to the saints of old. Let us, then, weave his mercies into a song. Let us take the pure gold of thankfulness, and the jewels of praise and make them into another crown for the head of Jesus. Let our souls give forth music as sweet and as exhilarating as came from David’s harp, while we praise the Lord whose mercy endureth forever.
Reflection
Spurgeon calls us to review our own lives as carefully as we study the lives of Bible saints. God’s hand is just as present in our deliverances, mercies, and providences. We dishonor Him when we act as though His mighty acts were only for ancient times. Our personal history is full of reasons to bless the Lord and not forget His benefits.
What we might miss is that this review is meant to produce a song of praise that adorns Christ with the crown of our gratitude.
Goad
Have you recently reviewed your own life to mark God’s hand, or do you live as though His faithfulness belongs only to the past? What would it look like today to deliberately “weave His mercies into a song” and crown Jesus with your praise?
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