**** PSALM 103

103 Bless the Lord, O my soul; And all that is within me, bless His holy name! 2 Bless the Lord, O my soul, And forget not all His benefits: 3 Who forgives all your iniquities, Who heals all your diseases, 4 Who redeems your life from destruction, Who crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies, 5 Who satisfies your mouth with good things, So that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.

6 The Lord executes righteousness And justice for all who are oppressed. 7 He made known His ways to Moses, His acts to the children of Israel. 8 The Lord is merciful and gracious, Slow to anger, and abounding in mercy. 9 He will not always strive with us, Nor will He keep His anger forever. 10 He has not dealt with us according to our sins, Nor punished us according to our iniquities.

11 For as the heavens are high above the earth, So great is His mercy toward those who fear Him; 12 As far as the east is from the west, So far has He removed our transgressions from us. 13 As a father pities his children, So the Lord pities those who fear Him. 14 For He [a]knows our frame; He remembers that we are dust.

15 As for man, his days are like grass; As a flower of the field, so he flourishes. 16 For the wind passes over it, and it is [b]gone, And its place remembers it no more. 17 But the mercy of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting On those who fear Him, And His righteousness to children’s children, 18 To such as keep His covenant, And to those who remember His commandments to do them.

19 The Lord has established His throne in heaven, And His kingdom rules over all.

20 Bless the Lord, you His angels, Who excel in strength, who do His word, Heeding the voice of His word. 21 Bless the Lord, all you His hosts, You [c]ministers of His, who do His pleasure. 22 Bless the Lord, all His works, In all places of His dominion.

Bless the Lord, O my soul!

Psalms II: Chapters 42–106 (King James Version) (Psalm 103: When You Become Deeply Aware of God’s Mercy and Goodness, 103:1–22)

(103:1–22) Introduction: the simplest but, perhaps most profound definition of God’s mercy and grace is this: grace is God’s giving us what we do not deserve, and mercy is God’s not giving us what we do deserve. Truly, we sinners do not deserve God’s salvation and all the blessings that accompany it. We do deserve God’s judgment and punishment for our sins. Nevertheless, God, in His great mercy, judged and punished His Son in our place. So when we repent and genuinely believe in Christ, our sins are forgiven and we stand justified before God. Or, as has often been said, God views us “just as if we had never sinned.”

God’s mercy is the theme of Psalm 103. In this psalm, David expresses a deep awareness of God’s great mercy in his life. He had committed terrible sin—adultery and murder—and although he had suffered the devastating consequences of his sin, God had forgiven and restored him. In previous psalms, David talked about the inescapable guilt that gripped his soul because of his despicable sins. But nowhere in this psalm does he mention that guilt. God, in His boundless mercy and goodness, had not only forgiven David, but He had also healed him of the self-inflicted wounds on his own spirit (v. 12).

Before we can fully appreciate God’s mercy, we first have to understand how serious and contemptible our sin is in God’s eyes (1 Ti. 1:15–17). When we do, then the greatness and the extent of God’s mercy become clear to us. And when we clearly see God’s mercy, we will praise Him with everything that is within us (v. 1).

This is, When You Become Deeply Aware of God’s Mercy and Goodness, 103:1–22.

1. Praise the LORD with your whole being (vv. 1–5).

2. Acknowledge the LORD’s works (vv. 6–18).

3. Call for universal praise to the LORD (vv. 19–22).

1 (103:1–5) Praise the LORD with your whole being.

David began with an eruption of praise to the LORD. To bless the LORD is to praise and express love and gratitude for all that God is and all that He does. With all that was within him—his whole being, the depths of his innermost self—David blessed God for who He is and for His unlimited goodness to His people.

a. Praise His holy name (v. 1).

First, David blessed and exalted the holy name of the LORD. Yahweh or Jehovah is God’s personal name. More than any of His other names, it reveals His heart and what He is like. It is the name by which He revealed Himself to His people and established His covenant with them (Ex. 6:2–8). As the LORD, He is the God who makes and keeps His covenant (His promises) with His people, pledging to them His unfailing love and faithfulness.

God’s name is holy—sacred, hallowed, consecrated. It is to be so revered, so honored, that God commanded His people never to take His name in vain—never to use it commonly, casually, or insincerely (Ex. 20:7). We are to set God’s name apart, never daring to use it in any way that demeans or takes away from its sacredness.

b. Praise Him for all His goodness (vv. 2–5).

Second, David blessed the LORD for His goodness to His people. He admonished himself never to forget God’s benefits (gemul)—all of the blessings God bestows in His dealings with us (Ps. 13:6). David listed seven benefits that God, in His lavish goodness, freely gives us:

⮚ Forgiveness of our sins (v. 3a)

⮚ Healing of our diseases (v. 3b)

⮚ Redemption of our lives from destruction, death, or the pit—a picture of our enslaving sin and its deadly consequences (v. 4a)

⮚ Lovingkindness (chesed)—His steadfast, unfailing love (v. 4b)

⮚ Compassion or tender mercies—excessive acts of love with which the LORD crowns us because we are His royal sons and daughters (v. 4c)

⮚ Satisfaction of our desires, especially our spiritual longings (v. 5a; Ps. 107:9; Mt. 5:6; Jn. 6:35)

⮚ Physical and spiritual renewal, like the restored strength the eagle receives when it sheds its old feathers in the molting process (v. 5b Is. 40:31)

Thought 1. A lack of thankfulness and praise to God is the result of taking His blessings for granted. All too often, we can only see the difficult circumstances facing us or the things that we do not have, completely overlooking all that we have in Christ. On our very worst days—if we have genuinely trusted Christ—we are forgiven and redeemed. We are sons and daughters of God, recipients of His unfailing love and tender mercies. We have a peace and inner satisfaction that this world cannot offer.

The challenges of life are merely temporary, but the benefits of God’s goodness and mercy are eternal (2 Co. 4:17). We need to take our eyes off of the things we can see—the afflictions and difficulties of this life—and focus on those things we cannot see: the eternal blessings God has so mercifully given us (2 Co. 4:18). When we do, like David, we will overflow with praise to the LORD.

“Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort” (2 Co. 1:3).

“I will bless the LORD at all times: his praise shall continually be in my mouth” (Ps. 34:1).

“I will extol thee, my God, O king; and I will bless thy name for ever and ever” (Ps. 145:1).

2 (103:6–18) Acknowledge the LORD’s works.

David reflected on the great things God had done for him personally and for His people, the nation of Israel. He acknowledged the LORD’s wonderful works, praising Him for His righteousness, mercy, and love.

a. He provides justice for His people and punishes their oppressors (v. 6).

David testified that God is faithful to His people and that He works in their behalf against those who persecute and oppress them. In His righteousness, God provides justice for them by carrying out judgment against their oppressors. God had faithfully demonstrated this throughout the years of David’s life. He had delivered David many times, beginning with the giant Philistine, Goliath, who mocked the LORD and His people. Again and again, David had witnessed God’s judging those who oppressed him, including the jealous Saul, and, tragically, his rebellious son Absalom.

God had also proven Himself to be just in His dealings with His people. The greatest example of this is God’s deliverance of Israel from Egyptian bondage. When they were oppressed by Pharaoh, God miraculously set them free, judging Egypt’s proud king, his nation, and his armies.

b. He revealed Himself—His ways and works—to the world: Revealed through Moses and Israel (vv. 7–16).

Having been forgiven much, David exalted the LORD for His loving and merciful ways. God had revealed Himself—His ways and works—through Moses and His people, Israel (v. 7). David referred back to a specific episode in Israel’s history. Out of a burning desire to know and understand the LORD, Moses humbly asked God to reveal His ways to Him. God graciously promised to grant his request (Ex. 33:12–23). The next morning, Moses ascended Mount Sinai and the LORD passed by, revealing Himself to Israel’s leader (Ex. 34:1–9). Then, the LORD made a promise to Moses and the people of Israel: He pledged to do marvelous works in their behalf, miracles never before seen in all the world (Ex. 34:10–27).

David recalled that God had revealed Himself to Moses as a merciful judge. He quoted what God had proclaimed about Himself to Moses: He is compassionate, understanding, gracious, slow to anger, and overflowing with mercy (v. 8; Ex. 34:6).

Continuing to exalt God’s mercy, David declared that the LORD does not constantly accuse us nor does He harbor anger when we do wrong (v. 9). Certainly, He does not punish or repay us as much as our sins deserve (v. 10). His love for all who truly fear Him—who reverence, submit to, and obey Him—soars above the highest heavens (v. 11). He completely forgives our sins and removes them from us, casting them far away forevermore (v. 12).

Note that the LORD does not remove our sins as far as the north is from the south but as far as the east is from the west. Why is this significant? Because the north and the south eventually meet. You can travel north only so far—to the North Pole of the earth—and then you will begin travelling south. A person travelling east, however, can travel east infinitely. He could circle the earth again and again, all the while heading east. Just as east and west never meet, we who are forgiven by God’s grace will never again meet with our sins. What amazing grace!

David described God as a compassionate father who knows His children and understands their weaknesses. He is ever tender, loving, and caring toward all who genuinely fear and revere Him (v. 13). As our Creator, God knows our exact nature. He understands that we are mere dust (v. 14). Like the grass and flowers of the field, we are subject to the laws and limitations of nature. We flourish for a time, but only for a brief time. Disease and age strike rapidly, and then our brief lives on earth come to an end (vv. 15–16).

c. He showers His eternal love and righteousness on all who fear Him (vv. 17–18).

Thankfully, God’s love extends beyond the fleeting moments of our short lives. His mercy or unfailing love knows no bounds. His love is the essence of who God is and what He is like. Therefore, like God, His love is from everlasting to everlasting—infinite, unlimited, and eternal (v. 17). The LORD showers His eternal love and righteousness on all who fear Him, proving Himself faithful to their families for generations.

David further explained that God showers His unfailing love on all who are faithful to His covenant and obedient to His commandments (v. 18). While God’s love is unconditional, many of His blessings are conditional depending on our obedience. This was the case regarding God’s covenant with Israel. His love and faithfulness to His chosen people is unchanging and eternal. However, some of the promises of the covenant were directly tied to the people’s faithfulness and obedience to Him.

Thought 1. Everything that we are and have is attributable to God’s mercy and goodness toward us (1 Co. 15:10). Where would we be were it not for God’s wonderful work in our lives? Where would we be without His mercy and unfailing love?

God’s works are the fruit of His ways. The LORD wants us to understand what He is like. He is merciful, compassionate, and forgiving. His love for us is beyond our comprehension (Ep. 3:17–19). God is not an angry tyrant but rather a kind, understanding father. He knows what we are like; He understands our weaknesses. Just as significant, His Son became one of us in order to identify with us as frail human beings. Because Christ lived facing the trials and temptations of life, He is able to help us when we are tempted and tried (He. 2:16–18; 4:15–16).

In countless ways, God is good to us, blessing us in spite of our unworthiness. In addition, as a loving Father, God also delights in rewarding us when we are obedient to Him. The full measure of His blessings is reserved for those who fear Him: those who reverence Him and submit to His Word. This promise should stir us to wholly dedicate ourselves to Him and to walk in complete obedience to His commandments.

“It is of the LORD’s mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not” (La. 3:22).

3 (103:19–22) Call for universal praise to the LORD.

David concluded his celebration of God’s mercy and goodness with a call for universal praise to the LORD. He summoned God’s angels and everything God created to join him in blessing the holy name of the LORD.

a. Because He has established His kingdom throughout the heavens and He rules over all (v. 19).

David directed our praise to God’s throne in heaven, where He reigns over the entire universe. We should praise Him because He is LORD of all: He has made His kingdom in the heavens and, in His sovereignty, He rules there over His entire creation.

b. Because He is worthy of all worship (vv. 20–22).

As the eternal, sovereign, merciful God, the LORD is worthy of all worship. David called upon God’s mighty angels who serve Him in His celestial court to bless the LORD (vv. 20–21). All the heavenly hosts should worship Him.

Scripture tells us relatively little about what angels are like. In three parallel statements, the Holy Spirit used David to give us a significant portion of what the Bible reveals about them:

⮚ Angels excel in strength (v. 20a); they are exceedingly mighty, the most powerful of all God’s created beings.

⮚ Angels do what God commands them to do; they obey His voice (v. 20b).

⮚ Angels are God’s heavenly hosts (tsabah), His heavenly army that wars against Satan’s demonic forces (v. 21a).

⮚ Angels are God’s ministers or servants (v. 21b).

⮚ Angels do God’s pleasure—what pleases Him, His will. They labor to accomplish God’s will on earth (v. 21c).

In addition to the angels, David called upon all God’s works—everything that God created—to praise and worship Him (v. 22a). “In all places of His dominion” means every place that God rules. In other words, it speaks of the entire universe.

David ended Psalm 103 exactly as he began it: by charging his own soul to bless the LORD (v. 22b). Every one of us, every single individual, should join David in praising and worshipping the LORD.

Thought 1. Everything that God made He created for His glory. David understood this and called for all of God’s works—angels included—to give Him praise. David’s call is a call to us, most undeserving of His grace. It is through us sinful human beings that God chose to most vividly display His glory. We are His workmanship, His masterpieces (Ep. 2:8–10). As great as God’s work in creation is, His work in salvation is even greater. All of His works will praise His name, but we whose lives have been redeemed and transformed by His goodness and mercy should proclaim His glory the loudest.

“That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ” (Ep. 1:12).

“Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen” (Ep. 3:21).

“And every creature which is in heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth, and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, heard I saying, Blessing, and honour, and glory, and power, be unto him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever” (Re. 5:13).

“Thine, O LORD, is the greatness, and the power, and the glory, and the victory, and the majesty: for all that is in the heaven and in the earth is thine; thine is the kingdom, O LORD, and thou art exalted as head above all” (1 Chr. 29:11).

“All thy works shall praise thee, O LORD; and thy saints shall bless thee” (Ps. 145:10).