Psalms 103:13

13 As a father has compassion for his children, so the LORD has compassion for those who fear him.

Psalms 103:13 Meaning and Commentary

Psalms 103:13

Like as a father pitieth his children
When in any affliction, disorder, or distress: the Lord stands in the relation of a Father to his people; they are his children by adopting grace, through the covenant of grace with them; by a sovereign act of his own will he puts them among the children, predestinates them to the adoption of children; and sends his Son to redeem them, that they might receive it, and his Spirit to bear witness to their spirits, that they are his children; and towards these he has all the affections of a tender parent.

So the Lord pitieth them that fear him;
not with a servile fear, which is unsuitable to the relation of children; but with reverence and godly fear, with a fear of him and his goodness, and on account of that; a filial fear, such a reverence as children should have of a father: and this character belongs to all the saints of all nations, Jews or Gentiles; and seems to be here given an purpose to include all; and that the divine pity and compassion might not be thought to be restrained to any particular nation. And, as the fruit of his tender mercy, he looks upon his children in their lost estate, and brings them out of it; he succours them under all their temptations; he sympathizes with them under all their afflictions: being full of compassion, he forgives their iniquities; and in the most tender manner receives them when they have backslidden, and heals their backslidings. The Targum in the king of Spain's Bible is,

``so the Word of the Lord pities,''

&c. See ( Hebrews 4:15 ) .

Psalms 103:13 In-Context

11 As high as the heavens are above the earth-- that is how vast his mercy is toward those who fear him.

12 As far as the east is from the west-- that is how far he has removed our rebellious acts from himself.

13 As a father has compassion for his children, so the LORD has compassion for those who fear him.

14 He certainly knows what we are made of. He bears in mind that we are dust.

15 Human life is as short-lived as grass. It blossoms like a flower in the field.