The Book of Psalms
Psalm 103
Psalm CIII · Vol. II, p. 1054
1 An exhortation to bless God for his mercy, 15 and for the constancy thereof.
A psalm of David.
4 Whoe redeemeth thy life from destruction; whog crowneth thee with loving-kindness and tender mercies;
9 Hen will not always chide; neither will he keep his anger for ever.
n Ps.30.5. Is.57.16. Je.3.5. Mi.7.18,19.
15 Ass for man, his days are as grass; tas a flower of the field, so he flourisheth.
t Job 14.1,2. Ja.1.10,11.
17 Butx the mercy of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting upon them that fear him, and yhis righteousness unto children's children;
18 To zsuch as keep his covenant, and to those that remember his commandments to do them.
z Ex.20.6. De.7.9. Is.64.5; 3.10. 1 Co.15.58. 2 Ti.4.7,8. Ro.2.7,10.
20 Blessb the LORD, ye his angels, that excel in strength,5 that cdo his commandments, hearkening unto the voice of his word.6
21 Bless ye the LORD, all ye dhis hosts; ye ministers of his, that do his pleasure.
d Da.7.10. Ge.32.2. 1 Ki.22.19. Ps.104.4. 2 Ch.18.18. Lu.2.13. He.1.14.
22 Blesse the LORD, all his works in all places of his dominion: bless the LORD, O my soul.7
e Ps.150.6; 148.1-14; 145.10. Is.42.10-12; 44.23.
7 For sublimity of conception, beauty of expression, and ennobling sentiment, this psalm is not surpassed by any in the book. It is adapted for all times, it is suited to all classes, and it is calculated at once to humble the soul before God, to elevate it above the vanities of earth, and to raise it heavenward.—P.
Notes
Ver. 2. Forget not all his benefits. A large portion of 'childhood and youth' are truly 'vanity,' are spent in much ignorance of God, and pass into forgetfulness of his mercies. He whose eye saw, and whose memory records, 'all the mercies' of Jehovah, can be no other than the all-perfect Son of God. C.
Ver. 5. Like the eagle's. This is no mere adoption of a popular opinion about the eagle's moulting in old age; nor any mere poetical ornament, which would be utterly inconsistent with simple and unchanging truth. Does not the entire difficulty arise from departing from the literal translation and natural position of the original? Literally translated and placed, the passage would read thus:—'shall be renewed (not as an eagle's, but) as an eagle, thy youth.' That is, thy youthful strength, Is. 40. 31, shall be renewed; and, as an eagle spurns the earth, soars above the clouds, and hides him in the sunbeams; so, on wings of heavenly devotion, thou shalt mount, and, while yet on earth, establish thy conversation in heaven. C.
Ver. 14. From ver. 10, the true 'children of Israel' make full acknowledgment of the preceding character of God, and especially in the total removal of their sins (ver. 12), effected by the blood of the Lamb. The east and west can never meet, no more can the justified believer again encounter his sins. The waters of mercy have passed over them, and their remembrance is gone for ever. C.
Ver. 17. Righteousness here signifies that just, good, and gracious way in which he deals with all those that are his true children. He deals justly with them in Christ their Saviour, counting them justified by his blood; he manifests his goodness to them in providing for all their wants, preserving them amid all dangers, enabling them to overcome all temptations; he deals graciously in showering down spiritual mercies, fulfilling to them promises, and cherishing them with bright and glorious hopes. P.
Ver. 18. Covenant. This is not that covenant of works which saith, 'Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things written in the book of the law, to do them;' but that covenant of grace, recorded by Paul, He. 8. 8-12, wherein the cleansing of the believer lies in the Redeemer's blood, 1 Jn. 1. 7, and his completeness and acceptance in the Redeemer's righteousness, Col. 2. 10; Ep. 1. 6. C.
Reflections.—Our hearts need to be much encouraged and excited, even to the most proper and most delightful exercises. And in dealing with God our hearts ought to be wholly engaged. But how shameful is it that we ever forget, that we so early forget, his mercies!—his mercies so great, so necessary, so numerous, so connected, so everlasting!—his unbounded compassion to us who are so mean, so frail, so polluted!—his free, full, and everlasting pardons should humble our hearts, and animate us to holy fear, love, and obedience. And while all his creatures in heaven and earth concur to bless and serve him, surely we, above all, whom Christ hath redeemed by his blood, should never be silent, never be slothful!