Bible Commentaries
Psalms 103

Verses 1-22

Psalms 103

Praise For God’s Graciousness

Scripture v. 1-22:

Verses 1, 2 are David’s call to his own soul to bless the Jehovah God with all his soul, not with a divided soul, and all his inward emotions, forgetting not all His benefits; This corresponds with the Mosaic form of blessing of Numbers 6:24-26. For His name is holy, Psalms 22:3. And in prosperity men are warned to "forget not all His benefits;" All good things are given of God, forget it not, Deuteronomy 6:12; Deuteronomy 8:11; Deuteronomy 8:14; Deuteronomy 32:15; Psalms 13:6; Psalms 119:17; 2 Chronicles 32:25.

Verse 3 acknowledges two of these gracious benefits from Jehovah to be: 1) forgiveness (repeatedly) of all ones iniquities, and 2) repeated healing of all ones diseases, as described, a) Psalms 130:8; Isaiah 33:14; Matthew 9:2; Matthew 9:6; Mark 2:5; Mark 2:10-11; Luke 7:47; and b) Exodus 15:26; Psalms 147:3; Jeremiah 17:14; Ephesians 1:7.

Verse 4 asserts also that the gracious Jehovah continually redeems ones life from the powers of destruction, or the pit, and crowns one with loving kindness and tender mercies, Isaiah 59:20. So shall He crown Israel at His coming, Psalms 65:11; Psalms 102:11; Psalms 102:23; Psalms 68:20; Psalms 78:3; Psalms 25:6; Psalms 40:11.

Verse 5 asserts that He too sends two further benefits: 1) by satisfying the mouth with good things, Psalms 63:5; Psalms 68:11; Psalms , 2) renewing his youth like the eagle’s. The eagle is an emblem of vigor, as suggested, Isaiah 40:31; La 5:21.

Verses 6, 7 declare that the Lord Jehovah executes His righteousness and judgment on behalf of all who are oppressed, as illustrated in disclosing His ways of truth to Moses, and his caring acts toward the children of Israel, as a father of the orphans and judge of widows, Psalms 68:5; Exodus 33:13; Psalms 25:4; Isaiah 9:11; Exodus 34:10.

Verses 8, 9 extol the Lord as: 1) merciful, 2) gracious, 3) slow to anger, and 4) plenteous in mercy, as expressed Exodus 34:6; Numbers 14:18; Deuteronomy 5:10; Nehemiah 9:17; Jeremiah 32:18.
Verse 9 adds that "He will not always chide, chastise, or scold; Neither will He keep (continue) His anger for ever against His people; Though it is reserved for the wicked, Isaiah 57:16; Leviticus 19:18; Jeremiah 3:5; Jeremiah 30:5; Micah 7:18.

Verse 10 declares that the Lord has not dealt with us according to our sins, nor rewarded us (in chastisement) according to our iniquities, as threatened, Leviticus 26:23-24; Psalms 130:3; Ezra 9:13. He does execute His threat against hardened transgressors, v. 11,13, 17.

Verses 11, 12 describe how far the Lord has removed the transgressions of the redeemed from them, from those who have been objects of His mercies, and respectfully fear Him. The distance is said to be as far as the heaven is high above the earth, so far that it cannot be measured, and as the east is from the west, Infinite points that can not be fixed, or reached, Isaiah 43:25; Ephesians 1:7. See too Micah 7:18-19.

Verse 13 explains that just as the father continually pitieth his children, so the Lord "continually pities them that fear him," Numbers 11:12; Deuteronomy 8:5; Isaiah 63:15-16; Malachi 3:17.

Verse 14 adds "For he knows our frame (the misery of our state in sin); He remembers that we are dust," or deathly beings, Romans 5:12.

Verses 15, 16 further emphasize that man’s days of life are like grass, or a flower of the field that flourishes, temporarily; For the wind passes over it, in a dry blast, and it (the grass and flower) is soon gone; and it shall be found there in its place no more. So is the brevity and limitation of the life of men on earth, Psalms 8:4; Psalms 37:2; Psalms 90; Psalms 5, 6; Job 14:1-2; Genesis 41:6; Genesis 41:23; Job 7:10; Job 20:9.

Verse 17 asserts that the mercy and righteousness of the Lord exists from everlasting to everlasting.