Psalms 103

1 ipsi David benedic anima mea Domino Domine Deus meus magnificatus es vehementer confessionem et decorem induisti

2 amictus lumine sicut vestimento extendens caelum sicut pellem

3 qui tegis in aquis superiora eius qui ponis nubem ascensum tuum qui ambulas super pinnas ventorum

4 qui facis angelos tuos spiritus et ministros tuos ignem urentem

5 qui fundasti terram super stabilitatem suam non inclinabitur in saeculum saeculi

6 abyssus sicut vestimentum amictus eius super montes stabunt aquae

7 ab increpatione tua fugient a voce tonitrui tui formidabunt

8 ascendunt montes et descendunt campi in locum quem fundasti eis

9 terminum posuisti quem non transgredientur neque convertentur operire terram

10 qui emittis fontes in convallibus inter medium montium pertransibunt aquae

11 potabunt omnes bestiae agri expectabunt onagri in siti sua

12 super ea volucres caeli habitabunt de medio petrarum dabunt vocem

13 rigans montes de superioribus suis de fructu operum tuorum satiabitur terra

14 producens faenum iumentis et herbam servituti hominum ut educas panem de terra

15 et vinum laetificat cor hominis ut exhilaret faciem in oleo et panis cor hominis confirmat

16 saturabuntur ligna campi et cedri Libani quas plantavit

17 illic passeres nidificabunt erodii domus dux est eorum

18 montes excelsi cervis petra refugium erinaciis

19 fecit lunam in tempora sol cognovit occasum suum

20 posuisti tenebras et facta est nox in ipsa pertransibunt omnes bestiae silvae

21 catuli leonum rugientes ut rapiant et quaerant a Deo escam sibi

22 ortus est sol et congregati sunt et in cubilibus suis conlocabuntur

23 exibit homo ad opus suum et ad operationem suam usque ad vesperum

24 quam magnificata sunt opera tua Domine omnia in sapientia fecisti impleta est terra possessione tua

25 hoc mare magnum et spatiosum *manibus; illic reptilia quorum non est numerus animalia pusilla cum magnis

26 illic naves pertransibunt draco iste quem formasti ad inludendum ei

27 omnia a te expectant ut des illis escam in tempore

28 dante te illis colligent aperiente te manum tuam omnia implebuntur bonitate

29 avertente autem te faciem turbabuntur auferes spiritum eorum et deficient et in pulverem suum revertentur

30 emittes spiritum tuum et creabuntur et renovabis faciem terrae

31 sit gloria Domini in saeculum laetabitur Dominus in operibus suis

32 qui respicit terram et facit eam tremere qui tangit montes et fumigant

33 cantabo Domino in vita mea psallam Deo meo quamdiu sum

34 iucundum sit ei eloquium meum ego vero delectabor in Domino

35 deficiant peccatores a terra et iniqui ita ut non sint benedic anima mea Domino

Psalms 103 Commentary

Chapter 103

An exhortation to bless God for his mercy. (1-5) And to the church and to all men. (6-14) For the constancy of his mercy. (15-18) For the government of the world. (19-22)

Verses 1-5 By the pardon of sin, that is taken away which kept good things from us, and we are restored to the favor of God, who bestows good things on us. Think of the provocation; it was sin, and yet pardoned: how many the provocations, yet all pardoned! God is still forgiving, as we are still sinning and repenting. The body finds the melancholy consequences of Adam's offence, it is subject to many infirmities, and the soul also. Christ alone forgives all our sins; it is he alone who heals all our infirmities. And the person who finds his sin cured, has a well-grounded assurance that it is forgiven. When God, by the graces and comforts of his Spirit, recovers his people from their decays, and fills them with new life and joy, which is to them an earnest of eternal life and joy, they may then be said to return to the days of their youth, ( Job 33:25 ) .

Verses 6-14 Truly God is good to all: he is in a special manner good to Israel. He has revealed himself and his grace to them. By his ways we may understand his precepts, the ways he requires us to walk in; and his promises and purposes. He always has been full of compassion. How unlike are those to God, who take every occasion to chide, and never know when to cease! What would become of us, if God should deal so with us? The Scripture says a great deal of the mercy of God, and we all have experienced it. The father pities his children that are weak in knowledge, and teaches them; pities them when they are froward, and bears with them; pities them when they are sick, and comforts them; pities them when they are fallen, and helps them to rise; pities them when they have offended, and, upon their submission, forgives them; pities them when wronged, and rights them: thus the Lord pities those that fear him. See why he pities. He considers the frailty of our bodies, and the folly of our souls, how little we can do, how little we can bear; in all which his compassion appears.

Verses 15-18 How short is man's life, and uncertain! The flower of the garden is commonly more choice, and will last the longer, for being sheltered by the garden-wall, and the gardener's care; but the flower of the field, to which life is here compared, is not only withering in itself, but exposed to the cold blasts, and liable to be cropt and trod on by the beasts of the field. Such is man. God considers this, and pities him; let him consider it himself. God's mercy is better than life, for it will outlive it. His righteousness, the truth of his promise, shall be unto children's children, who tread in the footsteps of their forefathers' piety. Then shall mercy be preserved to them.

Verses 19-22 He who made all, rules all, and both by a word of power. He disposes all persons and things to his own glory. There is a world of holy angels who are ever praising him. Let all his works praise him. Such would have been our constant delight, if we had not been fallen creatures. Such it will in a measure become, if we are born of God. Such it will be for ever in heaven; nor can we be perfectly happy till we can take unwearied pleasure in perfect obedience to the will of our God. And let the feeling of each redeemed heart be, Bless the Lord, O my soul.

Chapter Summary

INTRODUCTION TO PSALM 103

\\<>\\. The Targum adds, ``spoken in prophecy,'' as doubtless it was, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. Some think it was written by David, after a fit of illness, and his recovery from it, since he speaks of his diseases being healed, and his youth renewed; for which reason the Syriac interpreter suggests it was written in his old age; for he makes the subject of the psalm to be, ``concerning coldness which prevailed upon him in old age;'' but rather he wrote it when his heart was warm with a sense of the love of God, and spiritual blessings of grace flowing from thence; and in it celebrates and sings the benefits of New Testament times; and it is a psalm suitable to be sung by every believer, under a quick sense of divine favours: wherefore the above interpreter better adds, ``also an instruction and thanksgiving by men of God;'' whom the psalmist may very well be thought to personate, even in Gospel times; and much rather than the Jews in captivity, as Kimchi thinks.