This very beautiful psalm is entitled “A Psalm of David.” Nothing in the psalm forbids the supposition that he was its author, although nothing in the psalm or elsewhere enables us to ascertain the precise occasion on which it was written. It seems to have been composed after some signal manifestati... [ Continue Reading ]
BLESS THE LORD, O MY SOUL - The word “bless,” as applied to God, means to praise, implying always a strong affection for him as well as a sense of gratitude. As used with reference to people, the word implies a “wish” that they may be blessed or happy, accompanied often with a prayer that they may b... [ Continue Reading ]
BLESS THE LORD, O MY SOUL - The repetition here denotes the intensity or earnestness of the wish or desire of the psalmist. It is an emphatic calling upon his soul, that is, himself, never to forget the many favors which God was continually conferring upon him. AND FORGET NOT ALL HIS BENEFITS - Any... [ Continue Reading ]
WHO FORGIVETH ALL THINE INIQUITIES - Pardoning all thy sins. That is, It is a characteristic of God to pardon sin, and I have evidence that he has done it in my own case, and this is a ground for praise. It is observable that this is the first thing in view of the psalmist - the first of the “benefi... [ Continue Reading ]
WHO REDEEMETH THY LIFE FROM DESTRUCTION - That is, who saves it from death when exposed to danger, or when attacked by disease. The word “destruction” or “corruption” here is equivalent to the grave, since it is there that the body returns to corruption. Compare the notes at Psalms 16:10. WHO CROWN... [ Continue Reading ]
WHO SATISFIETH THY MOUTH WITH GOOD THINGS - The word translated “thy mouth” here is rendered in the Chaldee “thy age;” in the Arabic, the Septuagint, and the Latin Vulgate, “thy desire;” in the Syriac, “thy body;” DeWette renders it, “thy age.” So also Tholuck. The Hebrew word - עדי _‛__ădı̂y_ - is... [ Continue Reading ]
THE LORD EXECUTETH RIGHTEOUSNESS AND JUDGMENT - That is, “justice.” He sees that justice is done to the oppressed. He is on their side. His law, his commands, his judicial decisions, his providential interpositions, are in their favor. This does not mean that it will he done at once; or that there w... [ Continue Reading ]
HE MADE KNOWN HIS WAYS UNTO MOSES - This is another ground of praise - that God had “revealed his will;” that this had been done in an indubitable manner to Moses; and that these revelations had been recorded by him for the instruction and guidance of his people. The word “ways” here means his laws;... [ Continue Reading ]
THE LORD IS MERCIFUL AND GRACIOUS - See the notes at Psalms 78:38. The idea here is derived evidently from Exodus 34:6 - that great and glorious statement of God himself in regard to his own character. Our world is a different world under that statement from what it would be if that and kindred decl... [ Continue Reading ]
HE WILL NOT ALWAYS CHIDE - Rebuke; contend; strive; for so the Hebrew word means. He will not always contend with people, or manifest his displeasure. See the notes at Isaiah 57:16; notes at Psalms 78:38. This implies that he may chide or rebuke his people, but that this will not be forever. He will... [ Continue Reading ]
HE HATH NOT DEALT WITH US AFTER OUR SINS - All may say this, and this “is” a ground of thanksgiving and praise. It is a matter for which we should render unceasing praise that God has not done to us as our sins deserved. Who of us can fail to stand in awe and to tremble when we think what God “might... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR AS THE HEAVEN IS HIGH ABOVE THE EARTH - See the notes at Psalms 57:10. Compare the notes at Isaiah 55:9. The literal translation of the phrase here would be, “For like the height of the heavens above the earth.” The heavens - the starry heavens - are the highest objects of which we have any know... [ Continue Reading ]
AS FAR AS THE EAST IS FROM THE WEST - As far as possible; as far as we can imagine. These are the points in our apprehension most distant from each other, and as we can conceive nothing beyond them, so the meaning is, that we cannot imagine our sins could be more effectually removed than they are. T... [ Continue Reading ]
LIKE AS A FATHER PITIETH HIS CHILDREN - Hebrew, “Like the compassion of a father for his children.” See the notes at Matthew 7:7. God often compares himself with a father, and it is by carrying out our ideas of what enters into the parental character that we get our best conceptions of the character... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR HE KNOWETH OUR FRAME - Our formation; of what we are made; how we are made. That is, he knows that we are made of dust; that we are frail; that we are subject to decay; that we soon sink under a heavy load. This is given as a reason why he pities us - that we are so frail and feeble, and that we... [ Continue Reading ]
AS FOR MAN - literally, “Man; like the grass are his days!” The thought is fixed on man: man so frail and weak; man, not only made originally of earth, but man delicate, feeble, soon to pass away like the springing grass, or like the fading flower. HIS DAYS ARE AS GRASS - See the notes at Psalms 90... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR THE WIND PASSETH OVER IT, AND IT IS GONE - Margin, as in Hebrew, “it is not.” The reference is either to a hot and burning wind, that dries up the flower; or to a furious wind that tears it from its stem; or to a gentle breeze that takes off its petals as they loosen their hold, and are ready to... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT THE MERCY OF THE LORD - The favor of the Lord; or, his loving-kindness. IS FROM EVERLASTING TO EVERLASTING - Is from the eternity past to the eternity to come. It had its foundation in the eternal decrees of God; it has its security in his purpose that where it is conferred, it shall not be with... [ Continue Reading ]
TO SUCH AS KEEP HIS COVENANT - To such as adhere to the arrangements of his covenant, or who are faithful on their part. God will be faithful to his part of the covenant; and where there is fidelity on the part of his people, the blessings implied in the covenant will be conferred on them and on the... [ Continue Reading ]
THE LORD HATH PREPARED HIS THRONE IN THE HEAVENS - He has “fixed” his throne there. This is the ground of the security that his blessing will be imparted to those who fear him, and to their children’s children, or that it will be transmitted to coming generations. God is a Sovereign. His throne is f... [ Continue Reading ]
BLESS THE LORD - The psalm began Psalms 103:1 with an exhortation to “bless the Lord.” That exhortation was, however, then addressed by the psalmist to his own soul, and was especially founded on the benefits which he had himself received. The psalm closes also with an exhortation to “bless the Lord... [ Continue Reading ]
BLESS YE THE LORD, ALL YE HIS HOSTS - His armies; the vast multitudes of holy beings, arranged and marshalled as hosts for battle, in all parts of the universe. Compare the notes at Isaiah 1:9; notes at Ephesians 1:21. YE MINISTERS OF HIS - The same beings referred to by the word “hosts,” and all o... [ Continue Reading ]
BLESS THE LORD, ALL HIS WORKS - All that he has made, animate and inanimate, intelligent and brute. It is not uncommon to call on the inanimate creation to join with intelligent beings in praising God. Compare Psalms 148:1. The same thing is often found in the “Paradise Lost,” and in fact occurs in... [ Continue Reading ]