Psalms 103:6

THE EXHORTATION FOR ISRAEL

"Jehovah executeth righteous acts,

And judgment for all that are oppressed.

He made known his ways unto Moses,

His doings unto the children of Israel.

Jehovah is merciful and gracious,

Slow to anger, and abundant in lovingkindness.

He will not always chide,

Neither will he keep his anger forever.

He hath not dealt with us after our sins,

Nor rewarded us after our iniquities.

For as the heavens are high above the earth,

So great is his lovingkindness toward them that fear him.

As far as the east is from the west,

So hath he removed our transgressions from us.

Like as a father pitieth his children,

So Jehovah pitieth them that fear him."

That the children of Israel are the ones particularly addressed in these lines is evident from the mention of Moses and the specific mention of them in Psalms 103:7.

"For all that are oppressed" (Psalms 103:6). The meaning of this may not be restricted to a minority of unfortunates, because the whole nation of Israel is meant. "The whole nation was once in bondage; and the thought here is retrospective to the days of Moses."[6]

"Slow to anger, and abundant in lovingkindness" (Psalms 103:8). Here are given two of the "Thirteen Attributes of God" as revealed in Exodus 34:6-7; Joel 2:13. Jonah named five of these in his prayer (Jonah 4:2).

"Thou hast not dealt with us after our sins, etc." (Psalms 103:10). "Just take a look at what the holy and righteous God did to the fallen angels, the antediluvian world, Sodom and Gomorrah, and the lost generation of Israel in the wilderness, and marvel at how leniently God has dealt with you; and this will surely deepen your gratitude and appreciation for the Divine mercy toward you."[7]

"As the heavens are high above the earth" (Psalms 103:11). Bold as this simile is, it is nevertheless inadequate, because God's kindness to them that love him is infinite.

"As far as the east is from the west" (Psalms 103:12). How far is this? Again, we have a suggestion of infinity, because, there is no such thing as getting to the end either of the east or the west. The genius of this simile is that the same thing is not true of the north and the south. When God forgives the sins of his children, he even forgets them (Jeremiah 32:31-35).

"Like as a father pitieth his children" (Psalms 103:13). God's pity of his human children is fully merited. The frailty and infirmities of life, its astounding brevity, the pressing necessities of work for survival, the prevalence of temptations, the weakness, uncertainties, doubts, fears and anxieties that continually encroach upon the thoughts of God's children, as well as the inherent danger in the implacable hatred of the righteous by the Evil One, are far more than enough to deserve pity, even from God.