Psalm 103:1-2 NIV

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 103:1-5

Gratitude for unbounded mercies. I. THE SOUL URGENTLY SUMMONED TO PRAISE GOD FOR HIS GOODNESS . Inward praise, not the praise of the lips, is here called for—spiritual, not bodily worship. II. THE WHOLE INWARD MAN IS TO RECOUNT TO ITSELF THE MERCIES OF GOD . 1 . Every power he has— memory, heart, and reason— is to assist in recognizing the Divine benefits he has received. 2 . Our temptation and danger are to forget. And we... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 103:1-22

The psalm divides itself into four portions: the first ( Psalms 103:1-5 ) an outburst of praise for blessings granted by God to each man severally; the second ( Psalms 103:6-14 ) an enumeration of his loving kindnesses towards his Church as a whole; the third ( Psalms 103:15-18 ) a representation of man's weakness and dependence on God; and the fourth ( Psalms 103:19-22 ) a glance at God's unchanging glory, and a call upon all his creation to bless and worship him. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 103:2

Bless the Lord, O my soul. Repetition, in Holy Scripture, is almost always for the sake of emphasis. It is not " vain repetition." Our Lord often uses it: "Verily, verily, I say unto you;" "My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? …. Feed my sheep … Feed my sheep." And forget not all his benefits (comp. Deuteronomy 6:12 ; Deuteronomy 8:11 , Deuteronomy 8:14 , etc.). Man is so apt to "forget," that he requires continual exhortation not to do so. read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Psalms 103:1

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. As used with reference to people, the word implies a “wish” that they may be blessed or happy, accompanied often with a prayer that they may be so. Such is the purport of the “blessing” addressed to a congregation of worshippers. Compare Numbers 6:23-27. The word “soul” here is equivalent to mind or heart: my mental and moral powers, as... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Psalms 103:2

Bless the Lord, O my soul - The repetition here denotes the intensity or earnestness of the wish or desire of the psalmist. It is an emphatic calling upon his soul, that is, himself, never to forget the many favors which God was continually conferring upon him.And forget not all his benefits - Any of his favors. This refers not to those favors in the aggregate, but it is a call to remember them in particular. The word rendered “benefits” - גמול gemûl - means properly an act, work, doing,... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Psalms 103:1-3

Psalms 103:1-3. All that is within me, bless his holy name Let all my thoughts and affections be engaged, united, and raised to the highest pitch in and for this work. Forget not all his benefits In order to our duty, praising God for his mercies, it is necessary we should have a grateful remembrance of them. And we may be assured we do forget the m, in the sense here meant by the psalmist, if we do not give sincere and hearty thanks for them. Who forgiveth all thine iniquities This is... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Psalms 103:1-22

Psalms 103:0 God’s great loveRealizing how easily people forget God, David reminds himself of the many blessings, physical and spiritual, that God has given him. Gratefully, he praises God for them all (1-2). 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. He cares for the oppressed and shows mercy on sinners (6-8). If God acted only... read more

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - Psalms 103:1

Title. of David: i.e. relating to the true David. Bless. Figure of speech Apostrophe. the LORD. Hebrew. Jehovah. with ' eth = Jehovah Himself. my soul = me myself. Hebrew. nephesh. App-13 . holy. See note on Exodus 3:5 . name. See note on Psalms 20:1 . read more

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - Psalms 103:2

all = any of. benefits = dealings. read more

James Burton Coffman

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - Psalms 103:1

PSALM 103PRAISING GOD FOR ALL OF HIS MERCIESThe superscription identifies this as a Psalm of David; and, "Nothing in it forbids the supposition that he was the author. However, nothing in the psalm or anywhere else enables us to determine the precise occasion on which it was written."[1]This is a perfect psalm, suitable to all times and situations. Christians more frequently turn to this psalm than to any other. Its terminology has entered into the speech of all generations. This writer... read more