What does it mean that youth is renewed like the eagle's (Psalm 103:5)?

Have I mentioned to you the beautiful reading which seems to give the best sense to verse 5 of Psalm 103, "Who satisfieth thy prime, or old age, with good; thy youth renewed like the eagle" (not "eagle's"). It is wonderful that we may count upon the goodness of our God for this. "The mouth with good things" would be comparatively very poor, if conveying any sense.

When the day of Jehovah comes, how will they not rejoice in what grace will give them! Israel will then sing, "Bless Jehovah, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits; Who forgives all thine iniquities; Who hears all thy diseases; Who redeems thy life from destruction; Who crowns thee with loving-kindness and tender mercies; Who satisfies thy mouth with good things, so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle's." As His earthly people they will enjoy the reversal of their old uncleanness, and infirmities, along with soul blessing and external power. As heavenly, the Christian is called to suffer now, yet knowing himself one spirit with the Lord, and awaiting His coming to be with Him in the mansions of the Father's house, as well as to share His exaltation over all things. The contrast is great: God has provided concerning us some better thing, not only than Israel's millennial place, but even than the elders who receive the promise in that day, though they will be perfected together in the bright day of blessing on all sides.

Oh, that young believers would learn to use God's renewings. There are, alas! so many old ones whose love and devotedness have grown cold and whose life is stunted, that young ones begin to think it is a necessity to get thus impoverished and spiritually decrepit. Oh! it is not so. Only start with God, and go on with God. "As ye have, therefore, received CHRIST JESUS THE LORD, so walk ye in Him" (Col. 2:6). Spread out your roots by the ever-flowing river, and your leaf shall be green, and each fruit will grow in its season. Get anointed with fresh oil, and your lives will be burning and shining for Him. Get your souls satisfied with His good things, and your youth will be renewed as the eagle's. Wait on the Lord and He will renew your strength, and you will go from strength to strength, from victory unto victory. You shall receive abundance of grace, and your path will be as the shining light, shining more and more unto the perfect day.

This is the well-beloved Psalm, because God's people love it for its precious and beautiful expressions, telling out the full salvation of our Saviour Lord and the gracious compassion which He manifests towards His own. But we must not overlook the prophetic aspect, which but few believers have recognized. It is really the hymn of Praise which will be sung by redeemed and restored Israel. Theirs will be a whole-souled praise. Their iniquities are forgiven, their diseases are healed, their life is redeemed from the pit, they are crowned with lovingkindness and tender mercies. Their youth is renewed like the eagle's (Isaiah 40:28-31), which will be fulfilled then. And then the riches of mercy towards His beloved people! His Throne and His kingdom are seen in the closing verses and everything blesses Him.

Nationally and individually, their life is now redeemed from destruction; and more, they find, more completely than Abraham their father, a renewal of youth. "As the days of a tree shall be the days of My people, and mine elect shall long enjoy the work of their hands" (Isa. 65:22).

How encouraging for the weary, how cheering for the weak, how heartening for the heavily burdened, for those who faint by the way, to know that they may renew their spiritual energy and strength. Many a man whose health and physical strength are gone would give much to be sure of such a renewal. It is of great importance for the children of God to understand God’s way of renewal for themselves.

The praising psalmist sang, “Bless the Lord, O my soul: … thy youth is renewed like the eagle’s!” He experienced the reality of it. Again he sang, “Bless the Lord, O my soul. O Lord my God, Thou art very great. Thou renewest the face of the earth.” Creation experiences it likewise. When, however, we think of the new creation to which we belong, we may well ask, “Is renewal to be known there too?” Certainly, for we are told in Colossians 3:10, we “have put on the new man, which is renewed” also.

The youth who trusts merely in his own vigour faints and grows weary. The young man who seems so tireless in his natural energy shall fall. But those that wait upon God find strength unfailing. Nature fails, but God fails not. Weariness and fainting are unknown to Him; and it is He who gives strength to those that look to Him alone; so that they may rise above the distractions of this world; or better still, run through them without any weariness; or still better, walk in quietness with God in spite of them, and not faint (v. 31). There it is:—Waiting and its consequences;—mounting up, running and walking in new strength from God! Oh, may my soul know this change of strength in an increasing measure! Therefore will I say to my soul: “Wait on the Lord: be of good courage, and He shall strengthen thine heart; wait, I say, on the Lord.”

Further, we learn that if God is the giver of strength, and we need strength, it is those who “wait upon the LORD” that are the receivers of strength. Finally we learn the blessed result of being strengthened by the LORD. Such will “mount up with wings as eagles.” they will rise above the sorrows of earth to see the glory that is coming. Moreover, they will “run and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.”

1916 27 It is well when Christians in conscious weakness (for indeed, we are as water spilt upon the ground which cannot be gathered up again) "wait upon the Lord," for "in the Lord Jehovah is everlasting strength;" and we are told "he that waiteth upon his Master shall be honoured." At the time Isaiah spoke, all was weakness and confusion in Israel; but although their condition was so sad in the Lord's sight, yet in the riches of God's grace the prophet was given to utter by the Holy Spirit these memorable and reassuring words, "Hast thou not known? hast thou not heard, that the everlasting God, Jehovah, the Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary? There is no searching of his understanding. He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength." Thus He recalled them to the inexhaustible source of strength to be found alone in Himself. Their youths and young men, in whom strength and vitality would naturally be looked for, had utterly failed, and everything was in a state of complete prostration. Then came the blessed and definite promise (surely not less for us than for Israel) "they that wait upon Jehovah shall renew, or change their strength. They shall mount up as with the wings of eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint." Faintness and weariness are thus overcome, and power given to run in His service, and strength imparted to walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, to all those who wait upon the Lord.

Let not one of those whom God calls “My people” say “My way is hid from the Lord, and my judgment is passed over from my God” (v. 27). The everlasting God does not change, He cares for all His own and faints not. Even the very hairs of their heads. Even the very hairs of their heads are all numbered by Him. No detail of their lives is too small for His notice. He bears with their waywardness and frailty and wearies not. If you feel your weakness and are brought to your wits’ end it is that you might prove what His power is. “He gives power to the faint; and to them that have no might He increases strength.” Every resource that man has apart from God will fail. “Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall.” “But they that wait on their Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run and not be weary, and they shall walk and not faint”. They shall rise on the strong wings of faith above the gloom of this world with its false hopes and sure disappointments and glory in the love of God which has given them a hope of which they shall never be ashamed (Rom. 5:5), they shall run the errands of the Lord, carrying messages of comfort to tried and troubled hearts, and not be weary (1 Thess. 1:8), and they shall walk worthy of God who has called them unto His Kingdom and glory, and not faint (1 Thess. 2:12).