Pastor Welton Watson, Central Baptist Church
Psalm 68:19 “Blessed be the Lord, who daily loadeth us with benefits, even the God of our salvation. Selah.”
I remember when Arlene and I were first married (over 55 years ago), that we wanted to buy something that we did not have the money to buy. I don’t even recall what it was, but we decided to finance it through Beneficial Finance. Well, it turned out not to be beneficial, because in the long run it took forever to get that loan paid off, and it cost twice as much as if I had waited and saved the money to pay cash.
When the scripture says, “The Lord daily loadeth us with benefits,” that’s just what it means.
The word “benefit” is defined as an advantage or profit, so the scripture this morning is saying that what the Lord gives us every day is to and for our advantage or profit. I have found this to be true in my own personal life. The Lord is in the blessing business, and he does it well!
In considering some of the daily benefits from the Lord, I’m reminded of the fact of the eternal salvation that he gives. The last part of the verse verifies that: “even the God of our salvation. Selah.” When we accept the salvation that is offered by the Lord, then we have access to all the advantages and benefits that come from God. The word “Selah” at the end of the verse indicates a pause in the text and is symbolic of a musical notation which means to “raise the voice in praise” or “make the music louder.” This word is found numerous times throughout the Old Testament, mostly in the Psalms, and is always at the end of a verse that is worth pausing, meditating on, and then raising your voice in praise because of something the Lord has done, or is about to do. “Even the God of our salvation, Selah.” That portion of scripture right there is worth pausing at and considering all the benefits that you have received from the Lord since you were saved, the benefits you have been loaded with, what you are gaining now, and what lies in the future.
Psalm 34:7-10 speaks of one of the benefits of salvation, “The angel of the LORD encampeth round about them that fear him, and delivereth them. 8 O taste and see that the LORD is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him. 9 O fear the LORD, ye his saints: for there is no want to them that fear him. 10 The young lions do lack and suffer hunger: but they that seek the Lord shall not want any good thing.” This speaks of provision and protection. The apostle Paul said in Philippians 4:19 “But my God shall supply all your needs according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.”
Finally, in Psalm 36:7-9, we are encouraged to trust the Lord because it is beneficial: 7 “How excellent is thy lovingkindness O God! therefore the children of men put their trust under the shadow of thy wings. 8 They shall be abundantly satisfied with the fatness of thy house; and thou shalt make them drink of the river of thy pleasures. 9 For with thee is the fountain of life: in thy light shall we see light.”
Enjoy the benefit of life which the Lord gives you today, and pause and give him praise!