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Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Psalms 103:1-5

David is here communing with his own heart, and he is no fool that thus talks to himself and excites his own soul to that which is good. Observe, I. How he stirs up himself to the duty of praise, Ps. 103:1, 2. 1. It is the Lord that is to be blessed and spoken well of; for he is the fountain of all good, whatever are the channels or cisterns; it is to his name, his holy name, that we are to consecrate our praise, giving thanks at the remembrance of his holiness. 2. It is the soul that is to be... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 103:2

Bless the Lord, O my soul ,.... Which is repeated to show the importance of the service, and the vehement desire of the psalmist, that his soul should be engaged in it: and forget not all his benefits ; not any of them; the least of them are not to be forgotten, being such as men are altogether unworthy of; they flow not from the merit of men, but from the mercy of God; and they are many, even innumerable; they are new every morning, and continue all the day; and how great must the sum... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 103:2

Forget not all his benefits - Call them into recollection; particularize the chief of them; and here record them for an everlasting memorial. read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 103:2

Verse 2 2.And forget not any of his benefits Here, he instructs us that God is not deficient on his part in furnishing us with abundant matter for praising him. It is our own ingratitude which hinders us from engaging in this exercise. In the first place, he teaches us that the reason why God deals with such liberality towards us is, that we may be led to celebrate his praise; but at the same time he condemns our inconstancy, which hurries us away to any other object rather than to God. How is... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 103:1-5

God's goodness to ourselves. The psalmist begins by addressing himself; he has before him his own personal experience during a long (or lengthening) life; and he finds ample reason for full, heartfelt gratitude. Of the "benefits" he has received, he gives— I. A RECITAL OF THEM . They include: 1 . The Divine mercy when he has sinned ( Psalms 103:3 ). These sins have been 2 . Divine restoration. ( Psalms 103:3 , latter part, and 4.) And this is inclusive of 3 . ... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 103:1-5

A pattern of praise. This psalm is all praise; there is no supplication in it. It has helped myriads to praise God, and the secret of such help is that the psalmist was himself filled with the spirit of praise, and it is the blessed contagion of that spirit that helps us today as in the days of old. And it is a pattern of all true praise. It is so in these ways. I. IN ITS OBJECT . 1 . It is praise of the Lord. All is addressed to him, and is for him. 2 . And in his... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

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 103:2

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

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