Bible Commentaries
Psalms 103

Verses 1-22

Psalms 103:0

Psalms 103:1 (A Psalm of David.) Bless the LORD, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name.

Psalms 103:1 “bless his holy name” Comments - Matthew 6:9 says that the Lord’s name is holy. No one else in all the universe has the name of the Lord (YHWH).

Matthew 6:9, “After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.”

Psalms 103:2 Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits:

Psalms 103:2 “and forget not all his benefits” - Comments - As I was praying in Philippians 4:6 one morning about not being anxious, the Lord quickened to me “forget not all His benefits.” As I go throughout this day, I am to be always mindful of what He has done for me. As I read through this psalm that morning, I felt a praise swell in my heart and I began singing praises to my Lord, much as David must have experienced as the Lord gave him these very words.

Philippians 4:6, “Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.”

Psalms 103:3 Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases;

Psalms 103:4 Who redeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies;

Psalms 103:4 “who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies” Comments - The Hebrew word “lovingkindness is “hesed” ( חֵסֵד ) (H2617). This is the agape love of the Old Testament. The Lord has tender mercy upon us because He loves us.

Psalms 103:5 Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things; so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle's.

Psalms 103:5 “so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle's” Comments - Gesenius, commenting on the Hebrew word for “eagle” ( נְשַׁר ) (H5404), tells us that Psalms 103:5 is a reference to the molting that an eagle goes through, as do many other birds, to renew its wing feathers so that it is able to fly continually.

Psalms 103:5 Scripture Reference - We see another reference to the renewal of strength and the flight of an eagle in Isaiah 40:31, “But they that wait upon the 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.”

Psalms 103:6 The LORD executeth righteousness and judgment for all that are oppressed.

Psalms 103:7 He made known his ways unto Moses, his acts unto the children of Israel.

Psalms 103:8 The LORD is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy.

Psalms 103:9 He will not always chide: neither will he keep his anger for ever.

Psalms 103:9 Comments - The Lord does not always keep His anger. Note that God asks us to do the same thing in Ephesians 4:26.

Ephesians 4:26, “Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath:”

Psalms 103:10 He hath not dealt with us after our sins; nor rewarded us according to our iniquities.

Psalms 103:11 For as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is his mercy toward them that fear him.

Psalms 103:12 As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us.

Psalms 103:12 “As far as the east is from the west” - Comments - An airline pilot once noted that an airplane can fly so far north that it begins to fly south, but it can never fly so far east that it begins to go west. Thus, the north meets the south, but the east will never meet the west. Their distance apart is infinite.

Psalms 103:12 Scripture References - Note similar verses:

Isaiah 43:25, “I, even I, am he that blotteth out thy transgressions for mine own sake, and will not remember thy sins.”

Isaiah 44:22, “I have blotted out, as a thick cloud, thy transgressions, and, as a cloud, thy sins: return unto me; for I have redeemed thee.”

Psalms 103:15 As for man, his days are as grass: as a flower of the field, so he flourisheth.

Psalms 103:15 Scripture References - Note the same thought in James 1:10-11.

James 1:10-11, “But the rich, in that he is made low: because as the flower of the grass he shall pass away. For the sun is no sooner risen with a burning heat, but it withereth the grass, and the flower thereof falleth, and the grace of the fashion of it perisheth: so also shall the rich man fade away in his ways.”

Psalms 103:20 Bless the LORD, ye his angels, that excel in strength, that do his commandments, hearkening unto the voice of his word.

Psalms 103:20 Comments - Benny Hinn understands Psalms 103:20 to mean that the angels hearken unto the voice of God’s servants as well when they speak the words of God. [102]

[102] Benny Hinn, “Sermon,” at Fire Conference, 5-6 June 2009, Miracle Center Cathedral, Kampala, Uganda.

Psalms 103:21 Bless ye the LORD, all ye his hosts; ye ministers of his, that do his pleasure.

Psalms 103:22 Bless the LORD, all his works in all places of his dominion: bless the LORD, O my soul.