UNDERSTANDING PSALMS 103:5

A Word Study

By George Clouse

Many times we have heard Psalms 103 quoted or read it ourselves and were blessed as we read it. Still there is a lot there for many of us do not understand the entire context of the passage. I will tell this story and then maybe you can see just what I feel the Lord had in mind when this was included in the Bible.

THE EAGLE STORY

The eagle has the longest life span of any of the creatures of its' species. It can live up to a total of 70 years. But to reach this age, the eagle must make a hard decision. In its' forties, its' long and flexible talons can no longer grab prey which serves as its' food. Its' long and sharp beak becomes bent and sometimes cracked. Its' old (aged) and heavy wings, due to their thick feathers (slimy), become stuck to its' chest and make it very difficult for it to fly.

At this point, the eagle is left with only two options: die or go through a painful process of change which last 150 days. The process requires that the eagle fly to a mountain top and sit on its' nest. (Did you realize there is a reason the eagle builds his nest on a mountain top or rock cliff? There is more than one reason, but this is one of them).

There, on the mountain top, the eagle knocks its' beak against a rock until it plucks it out (or completely breaks it off). After plucking it out, the eagle will wait patiently for a new beak to grow back and then it will start plucking out its' talons.

When its' new talons grow back, the eagle starts plucking out its' old slimy feathers.
Then, viola, after 5 months, the eagle takes its' famous flight of rebirth and lives for 30 more years.

Psalms 103:1-5; "Bless the Lord, O my soul; And all that is within me, bless His holy name! Bless the Lord, O my soul, And forget not all His benefits, Who forgives all your iniquities, Who heals all your diseases, Who redeems your life from destruction, Who crowns you with loving kindness and tender mercies, Who satisfies your mouth with good things, So that your youth is renewed like the eagle's".

Why is change needed? Many times, in order to survive, we have to start a change process. We sometimes need to get rid of old memories, habits and other past traditions. Only when freed from past burdens can we take advantage of the present.

Other teachings we have on this page speak of how to break off the past. The teaching on "The Reality of Attitude Adjustment" is a complete story that will tell you how you must change your mind to make a change. You need to change your mind and think on the things of God, not the things of the world. In other words, you must renew your mind.

As we are told in the first 4 verses of the scripture above, we must bless the Lord, don't forget His benefits, for He forgives our iniquities, and above all, He heals all our diseases. He redeems our life from destruction, and crows us with kindness and mercy. He gives us good things to eat and as we recognize these things, thank Him for them, them HE RENEWS OUR YOUTH LIKE THE EAGLE'S

Romans 12:2 says: "And do not be conformed to this world but be transformed by the renewing of your mind." Just remember the eagle and then renew yourself just as he did and continue to live again just as it says in verse 5 of Psalms 103.