Rejuvenated!

In the first five verses of Psalm 103, King David praises the Lord and urges us to “forget not all his benefits.” The author then lists some of these benefits saying that the Lord forgives our iniquities, heals our diseases, redeems us from destruction, and crowns us with love, kindness and tender mercies. That is an impressive list that causes much gratitude and rejoicing, but King David goes on to state one more benefit that is not as commonly thought about. His last benefit is that the Lord satisfies us with good things so that our youth is renewed like an eagle’s.
Eagles are referred to in the Bible more than any other bird which may be related to the fact that an enormous amount of eagle mythology has been perpetuated throughout history. Ancient myths claimed eagles could fly close to the sun, burn off their feathers, then regrow new feathers. Modern myths are just as absurd claiming that eagles come to a point where they can choose to die or to undergo a five month reclusive period where they lose their beaks, talons, and all their feathers but emerge younger than before.
Perhaps David was drawing of the ancient myths when he used the metaphor of being renewed like an eagle, but more likely he realized that eagles live longer than most birds and molt yearly so that they constantly are growing and replacing their feathers. This is, after all, a kind of rejuvenation which keeps the eagle a flight and looking young. Whatever source David drew upon for his metaphor the important thing for us to realize is that the good things that come from the Lord will renew us.
Many people today pay a lot of money to look and feel younger, but as King David recognized, when we draw close to the Lord and partake of all the goodness he offers we feel and act younger and more vibrant. Like the eagle who yearly grows new feathers, we are literally rejuvenated by partaking of the Lord’s goodness!