PSALM 103 THE ARGUMENT This Psalm contains a thankful commemoration and celebration of God's mercies to the psalmist himself, and to the people of Israel, and to all good men. David stirreth up himself to bless God, PSALMS 103:1,2; who forgiveth his sins, PSALMS 103:3, redeemeth and satisfieth his s... [ Continue Reading ]
No text from Poole on this verse.... [ Continue Reading ]
Either, 1. Spiritual diseases, lusts or corruptions, which he subdues and purgeth out by his grace; as this phrase is used, PSALMS 41:4 ISAIAH 6:10, ISAIAH 53:5. Or, 2. Corporal diseases or miseries, of which this word is used, 2 CHRONICLES 21:18,19 JER 14:18 16:4.... [ Continue Reading ]
FROM DESTRUCTION, both temporal and eternal; from deadly dangers and miseries. CROWNETH THEE, i.e. encompasseth and adorneth thee, as a crown doth.... [ Continue Reading ]
Who satisfieth all thy just desires and necessities. LIKE THE EAGLE S; either, 1. As the eagle reneweth her youth by casting all her old feathers, and getting new ones, whereby it seems to grow young again. But this, being common to all birds, would not have been appropriated to the eagle. Or rathe... [ Continue Reading ]
Which being a singular perfection, and that wherein most of the princes of the world were and are defective, is justly celebrated in God.... [ Continue Reading ]
HIS WAYS; either, 1. His laws, which are oft called God's ways. Or, 2. The manner and methods of his dealings with men, and especially with his people, called in the next clause his ACTS; his merciful and gracious nature and providence, which is particularly called God's way, EXODUS 33:13, compare... [ Continue Reading ]
SLOW TO ANGER; not speedily punishing sinners, but patiently waiting for their repentance.... [ Continue Reading ]
HE WILL NOT ALWAYS CHIDE, or _contend_, by his judgments with sinners, but is ready to be reconciled to them, to wit, upon their true repentance, as is manifest from innumerable texts, and from the whole scope and design of Scripture. ANGER; which word is understood here, as also LEVITICUS 19:18 JER... [ Continue Reading ]
He hath punished us less than our iniquities have deserved, as was confessed, EZRA 9:13.... [ Continue Reading ]
So much above their deserts and expectations, and above the mercy which one man showeth to another. TOWARD THEM THAT FEAR THEM; which clause he adds here, as also PSALMS 103:17,18, to prevent men's mistakes and abuses of God's mercy, and to dash the vain hopes of impenitent sinners in God's mercy.... [ Continue Reading ]
The guilt of our sins from our persons and consciences. The sense is, He hath fully pardoned them, so as never to remember them more, as he promiseth, JEREMIAH 31:34 HEBREWS 10:17.... [ Continue Reading ]
No text from Poole on this verse.... [ Continue Reading ]
OUR FRAME; either, 1. The corruption of our natures; which God is pleased sometimes to make an argument to pity and spare men, as GENESIS 8:21. So the sense is, He considereth that great and constant propension to evil which is naturally in all mankind, and that therefore if he should deal severely... [ Continue Reading ]
A FLOWER OF THE FIELD; which is more exposed to winds and other violences than the flowers of the garden, which are secured by the art and care of the gardener.... [ Continue Reading ]
A blasting or stormy wind bloweth upon it, and there is no more any appearance nor remembrance of it in the place where it stood and flourished.... [ Continue Reading ]
But though we quickly decay and perish, yet God's mercy to us doth not die with us; but as it was from eternity exercised in gracious purposes, so it will be continued unto eternity in that future and endless life. UPON THEM THAT FEAR HIM: see before on PSALMS 103:11. _His righteousness_; either his... [ Continue Reading ]
TO SUCH AS KEEP HIS COVENANT; to them that perform the condition of God's covenant, that sincerely love and obey him. Such restrictions are oft added, as in the general to overthrow the presumptuous hopes of ungodly men, so particularly to admonish the Israelites not to rest too much upon the privil... [ Continue Reading ]
PREPARED; or rather, _established_. Having celebrated God's mercy to his people, he now praiseth him for his excellent majesty and universal dominion. HIS THRONE IN THE HEAVENS which notes the eminency, glory, power, stability, and, in changeableness of God's kingdom. OVER ALL; over all creatures bo... [ Continue Reading ]
ANGELS; which, though glorious creatures, are but his ministers and messengers, as the word signifies. And inviting the angels to bless God, he quickens men to the same duty, as having more dependence upon God, and, obligation to him. That excel in strength; of which see evidence 2 KINGS 19:35. You... [ Continue Reading ]
ALL YE HIS HOSTS; ye angels; to whom he still continues his address, and whom he more particularly describes by the name of hosts, a title oft given to the angels, as GENESIS 32:2 1 KINGS 22:19 2 CHRONICLES 18:18 LUKE 2:13 REVELATION 19:14, in regard of their vast numbers, mighty power, unanimous co... [ Continue Reading ]
ALL HIS WORKS IN ALL PLACES OF HIS DOMINION; all creatures, both in heaven and earth, according to your several capacities. BLESS THE LORD, O MY SOUL; which thou hast special and abundant reason to do. Thus he ends the Psalm with the same words wherewith he began it.... [ Continue Reading ]