Think of the provocation; it was sin, and yet pardoned: how many the provocations, yet all pardoned! I haven't been down to Newport for a long time. (1.) WebThis one hundred and third Psalm has ever seemed to us to be the Monte Rosa of the divine chain of mountains of praise, glowing with a ruddier light than any of the rest. "And forget not all his benefits." Its terminology has entered into the speech of all generations. God remembers that.Man has a tendency to magnify his body. Now we don't remember that ourselves often. How he pitiesas a father pities his children, and does them good as there is occasion. Another unwarranted assumption that labels many psalms "liturgical" is also very untrustworthy. 1 Bless the Lord, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name. By submitting your email address, you understand that you will receive email communications from Bible Gateway, a division of The Zondervan Corporation, 3900 Sparks Drive SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49546 USA, including commercial communications and messages from partners of Bible Gateway. EXPOSITION. 2; also at the end of the We are not to forget them. of They are his angels, and ministers of hishis, for he made them, and made them for himselfhis, for he employs them, though he does not need themhis, for he is their owner and Lord; they belong to him and he has them at his beck. It is a Psalm of inimitable sweetness and excellence; contains the most affectionate sentiments of gratitude to God for his mercies; and the most consoling motives to continue to trust in God, and be obedient to him. [Note: Wiersbe, The . 16 For the wind passeth over it, and it is gone; and the place thereof shall know it no more. 5. But in the midst of this universal praise, each individual has special cause to praise him (22). 1.Bless Jehovah, O my soul! By his ways we may understand his precepts, the ways he requires us to walk in; and his promises and purposes. They are willing to do their work: They do his commandments ( v. 20); they do his pleasure (v. 21); they dispute not any divine commands, but readily address themselves to the execution of them. "So that thy youth is renewed like the eagle" (Psalms 103:5). "And all that is within me, bless his holy name." New King James Version (NKJV). Bless the LORD, all his works in all of the places of his dominion: bless the LORD, O my soul ( Psalms 103:17-22 ). The Psalmist strikes the best key-note when he begins with stirring up his inmost self to magnify the Lord. Verse Psalms 103:5. Who satisfieth thy mouth . And all that is within me, bless His holy name! - Bless the Lord, O my soul. Mirrors, all over the walls. Let others bless themselves and their idols, but do thou bless the Lord. In singing this psalm we must in a special manner get our hearts affected with the goodness of God and enlarged in love and thankfulness. 34:6, 7; Num. "He has pardoned thy sins (v. 3); he has forgiven, and does forgive, all thy iniquities." Or was he now doubly sensible of the importance, the imperative necessity of adoration? 3 b Who forgives all your iniquities, . to those that reverence him ( Psalms 103:17 ). The superscription identifies this as a Psalm of David; and, "Nothing in it forbids the supposition that he was the author. 4 Who redeems your life from destruction, . [1.] The Christian life is far from a negative experience and too many people are only emphasizing the negative aspects. Facts can't change. (2.) 30:5; Is. WebPsalm 103 Bless the Lord, O My Soul. He knows we are but dust. He concludes by invoking all creatures to unite in his song. Copyright Statement These files are public domain. To report dead links, typos, or html errors or suggestions about making these resources more useful use the convenient, Baker Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology, The Hawker's Poor Man's Concordance And Dictionary, Watson's Biblical & Theological Dictionary, International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, "So that thy youth is renewed like the eagle". We make nothing of our religious performances if we do not make heart-work of them, if that which is within us, nay, if all that is within us, be not engaged in them. 2 O my soul, come, praise the Etern The psalmist, I. Stirs up himself and his own soul to praise God (ver 1, 2) for his favour to him in particular (ver 3-5), to the church in general, and to all good men, to whom he is, and will be, just, and kind, and constant (ver 6-18), and for his government of the world, ver 19. He is slow to anger, not extreme to mark what we do amiss nor ready to take advantage against us. It is a companion to Then David lists several good things that God does for His people. Think of the provocation; it was sin, and yet pardoned: how many the provocations, yet all pardoned! [2.] We were driving down to Newport Beach the other night and this place down there. Now you have heard people say, "Well, there is the God of the Old Testament and the God of the New Testament. 17 But the mercy of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting upon them that fear him, and his righteousness unto children's children; 18 To such as keep his covenant, and to those that remember his commandments to do them. Now there is some scientific discussion as to just how high that might be. And you'll find that the same God is revealed in both the Old Testament and the New Testament, who is a God of love, a God of mercy, a God of patience, but also a righteous, holy God who is absolutely just. (2.) He says, "You didn't disappoint Me. and his righteousness to the children's children [that's my grandkids]; And to such as keep his covenant, and to those that remember his commandments to do them. Let all his works praise him (v. 22), all in all places of his dominion; for, because they are his works, they are under his dominion, and they were made and are ruled that they may be unto him for a name and a praise. 11 As high as the sky is above the earth, Under such a weight of obligation the lips can do little; the soul and all its powers must be engaged. When God, by the graces and comforts of his Spirit, recovers his people from their decays, and fills them with new life and joy, which is to them an earnest of eternal life and joy, then they may be said to return to the days of their youth,Job 33:23. And all that is within me - All my powers and faculties; all that can be employed in his praise: the heart, the will, the affections, the emotions. Hence the heavens are said to rule (Dan 4 26), and we are led to consider this by the influence which even the visible heavens have upon this earth, their dominion, Job 38 33; Gen 1 16. Psalm 103:1. 2. By the pardon of sin, that is taken away which kept good things from us, and we are restored to the favor of God, who bestows good things on us. 3 b Who forgives all your iniquities, . Though there is no real connection between this psalm and the preceding one, this one expresses thanks for answered prayer, which Psalms 102 requested. Then again, as he started the psalm, he ends it, "Bless the Lord, O my soul." Our crimes were capital, but God saves our lives by pardoning them; our diseases were mortal, but God saves our lives by healing them. We have found him so; we, for our parts, must own that he has not dealt with us after our sins, v. 10. He soliloquizes, holds self-communion and exhorts himself, as though he felt that dulness would all too soon steal over his faculties, as, indeed, it will over us all, unless we are diligently on the watch. How long and lasting God's mercy is to his people (v. 17, 18): it will continue longer than their lives, and will survive their present state. As far as our days, we are as the grass: or like a flower in the field ( Psalms 103:15 ). The Lord has saved us with a great salvation, shall we render no recompense? The scripture says a great deal of the mercy of God, and we may all set to our seal that it is true, that we have experienced it. He knows our frame; He knows we are but dust.Which means that God doesn't really expect as much out of me as I expect out of myself. There was an ancient fable of the eagle renewing its youth in old age, similar to the fable of the Phoenix; but as Briggs noted, "It is doubtful whether there is any allusion here to the fable; but at all events it is the fulness of the life and vigor of the eagle that is thought of."[5]. It contains no requests. Under such a weight of obligation the lips can do little; the soul and all its powers must be engaged. David then begins to list those benefits. "He has cured thy sickness." I knew you were dust all the time." No one of his faculties or powers should be exempt from the duty and the privilege of praise. The organization of this psalm appears to be: (1) a self-exhortation to praise God (Psalms 103:1-5); (2) Israel exhorted to bless God (Psalms 103:6-13); (3) God's consideration for man's frailty (Psalms 103:14-18); and (4) all in God's kingdom to bless Him (Psalms 103:19-22). This is mentioned first because by the pardon of sin that is taken away which kept good things from us, and we are restored to the favour of God, which bestows good things on us. They are able; for they excel in strength; they are mighty in strength (so the word is); they are able to bring great things to pass, and to abide in their work without weariness. First, To their souls, which are immortal; to them the mercy of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting; from everlasting in the councils of it to everlasting in the consequences of it, in their election before the world was and their glorification when this world shall be no more; for they are predestinated to the inheritance (Eph 1 11) and look for the mercy of the Lord, the Lord Jesus, unto eternal life. 32:18; Jon. II. 11 For as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is his mercy toward them that fear him. WebPsalm 103 . How unlike are those to God who always chide, who take every occasion to chide, and never know when to cease! Secondly, To their seed, which shall be kept up to the end of time (Ps 102 28): His righteousness, the truth of his promise, shall be unto children's children; provided they tread in the steps of their predecessors' piety, and keep his covenant, as they did, then shall mercy be preserved to them, even to a thousand generations. ., p. 5:10; Neh. [Note: Brueggemann, p. Man's life is not only wasting of itself, but its period may be anticipated by a thousand accidents. And you better perhaps read the fourteenth chapter of the book of Revelation, when the cup of the indignation of the wrath of God is overflowing and He pours out His judgment upon this Christ-rejecting earth. 1 Bless a the LORD, O my soul; And all that is within me, bless His holy name! Many-sided is the character of our heavenly Father, for, having forgiven as a judge, he then cures as a physician. 33 I will sing to the Lord as long as I live; I will sing praise to my God while I have my being. That is one dimension of it, but from another dimension, it's from everlasting to everlasting, from the vanishing point to the vanishing point, God's mercy. 50+ premium resources (>$2,400 value!). 1. See Isa 40 6, 7. 15As for man, (L)his days are like grass;As a flower of the field, so he flourishes.16(M)For the wind passes over it, and it is [b]gone,And (N)its place remembers it no more.17But the mercy of the Lord is from everlasting to everlastingOn those who fear Him,And His righteousness to childrens children,18(O)To such as keep His covenant,And to those who remember His commandments to do them. Psalm 103:12 New Living Translation (NLT) 12 He has removed our sins as far from us as the east is from the west. Why do I feel upset? All rights reserved. And all that is within me - All my powers and faculties; all that can be employed in his praise: the heart, the will, the affections, the emotions. God has been merciful to us. Here David begins his list of blessings received, which he rehearses as themes and arguments for praise. WebMatthew Henry's Concise Commentary 103:1-5 By the pardon of sin, that is taken away which kept good things from us, and we are restored to the favor of God, who bestows good things on us. 4 Ways the Parable of the Sower Encourages Spiritual Growth. 1. We make nothing of our religious performances if we do not make heart-work of them, if that which is within us, nay, if all that is within us, be not engaged in them. 35 May sinners be consumed from the earth, II. What is the crown of glory but God's favour? How he stirs up himself to the duty of praise, Psalms 103:1; Psalms 103:2. (2.) We think, "Man, I can stand, you know. Why are you cast down? This honour have all his saints. You may unsubscribe from Bible Gateways emails at any time. Thus fairly does God deal with us. 22 Bless the Lord, all his works in all places of his dominion: bless the Lord, O my soul. Sign up now for the latest news and deals from Bible Gateway! 2. See Job 33:24; Job 33:28. 1 Bless the LORD, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name. Man, in his best estate, seems somewhat more than grass; he flourishes and looks gay; yet then he is but like a flower of the field, which, though distinguished a little from the grass, will wither with it. "Bless the Lord, O my soul." According to the Talmud, Psalm 2 is a continuation of Psalm 1. "For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so high is His mercy over those that reverence Him. "As high is the heavens is above the earth." But God knew me, He knew me better than I knew myself. He considers the frailty of our bodies and the folly of our souls, how little we can do, and expects accordingly from us, how little we can bear, and lays accordingly upon us, in all which appears the tenderness of his compassion. "He has given thee a prospect and pledge of long life: Thy youth is renewed like the eagle's." The description of those to whom this mercy belongs. In Psalm 103, David praises the Lord for His abundant mercies. Matthew Henry Commentary on the Whole Bible (Complete). The distance of about 12,500 miles, that is, unless you are going straight through. Let others murmur, but do thou bless. Psalm 103, attributed in the superscription to David, is a psalm of praise for the wonderful goodness of God directed toward His people. He began with Bless the Lord, O my soul! WebHe touches the hills, and they smoke. Why am I feeling this way? He has never been rigorous and severe with us, but always tender, full of compassion, and ready to forgive. Sin, sickness and the prospect of a hopeless death have been replaced by forgiveness, good health and a renewed enjoyment of life (3-5).The constant love of God for his people is seen in the history of Israel. How he stirs up himself to the duty of praise, v. 1, 2. What's wrong, soul? God is portrayed as loving with motherly affection (4, 13) as well Webantithetic parallelism in psalms. Bless the Lord, O my soul; And all that is within me, bless His holy name! II. Nothing but divine wisdom can undertake to fill its treasures (Prov 8 21); other things will surfeit, but not satiate, Eccl 6 7; Isa 55 2. d Who crowns you with lovingkindness and tender Till iniquity is forgiven, healing, redemption, and satisfaction are unknown blessings. . WebMatthew Henry's Concise Commentary 103:6-14 Truly God is good to all: he is in a special manner good to Israel. For less than $5/mo. 57:16]; Jer. and, when he had penned and sung this excellent hymn to his honour, he does not say, Now, O my soul! This psalm calls more for devotion than exposition; it is a most excellent psalm of praise, and of general use. How well qualified they are for the post they are in. Bless the Lord, O my soul - The word bless, as applied to God, means to praise, implying always a strong affection for him as well as a sense of gratitude. 2 Bless the Lord, O my soul, . He has secured the happiness of his peculiar people by promise and covenant, but the order of mankind, and the world in general, he secures by common providence. He is all things to us, as our needs call for him, and our infirmities do but reveal him in new characters. Who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies; Who satisfieth thy desire with good things, So that thy youth is renewed like the eagle.". "He has given thee true honour and great honour, no less than a crown: He crowns thee with his lovingkindness and tender mercies;" and what greater dignity is a poor soul capable of than to be advanced into the love and favour of God? This is cured in sanctification; when sin is mortified, the disease is healed; though complicated, it is all healed. 103:1-5 By the pardon of sin, that is 1. ". Observe, (1.) ; Psalm 103:3 tn This relatively rare And God looks down upon us and He is, number one, merciful, because we reverence Him. Come, let us read our diaries and see if there be not choice favours recorded there for which we have rendered no grateful return. Wisdom . 11For as the heavens are high above the earth,So great is His mercy toward those who fear Him;12As far as the east is from the west,So far has He (J)removed our transgressions from us.13(K)As a father pities his children,So the Lord pities those who fear Him.14For He [a]knows our frame;He remembers that we are dust.