Psalm 103:2-4 NIV

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

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 103:3

Who forgiveth all thine iniquities. This is the first and greatest of "benefits," and is therefore placed first, as that for which we ought, above all else, to bless God. God's forgiveness of sin is a frequent topic with the psalmists (see Psalms 25:11 , Psalms 25:18 ; Psalms 32:1 ; Psalms 51:9 ; Psalms 85:2 ; Psalms 86:5 , etc.). Who healeth all thy diseases. This is best understood literally—not as mere "parallelism." Among the greatest blessings which we receive of God is... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 103:3

God the Healer of disease. Though this psalm is one of the most familiar, both its authorship and its particular occasion are quite unknown. Early in the psalm this text comes. It is part of a review of God's personal mercies to the psalmist, but it is doubtful whether the psalmist referred to times of bodily disease and bodily healing, or to the soul diseases which answer to "iniquities." In view of the way in which Eastern poets loved to repeat their thought with slightly altered... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 103:4

Who redeemeth thy life from destruction. When sickness seems about to be mortal, or when danger threatens from foes, God often steps in and "redeems" men— i.e , saves them, rescues them (see Psalms 56:13 ; Psalms 116:8 ; Isaiah 38:16 , Isaiah 38:20 ). Who crowneth thee with loving kindness and tender mercies (comp. Psalms 8:5 ; Psalms 18:50 ; Psalms 23:6 , etc.). read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 103:4

The Divine crown on man. "Who crowneth thee with loving kindness and tender mercies." What various answers could be given to the question—What is the true crown of a man's life?" No doubt the term "crown" may be used in a variety of senses. The psalmist seems here to think of the crown as that which bedecks and beautifies; and he makes us think of the crown of flowers on the May queen, rather than of the jewelled crowns on wealthy kings. So the question comes to be—What is the true... 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

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 103:1-5

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 103:1-5

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 103:1-5

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 103:1-22

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 103:2

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 103:3

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 103:3

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 103:4

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 103:4

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

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