Ps. 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, Ps. 103:1–2; who forgiveth his sins, Ps.

Let all my thoughts and affections be engaged, and united, and stirred up to the highest pitch in and for this work.

Either, 1. Spiritual diseases, lusts or corruptions, which he subdues and purgeth out by his grace; as this phrase is used, Ps. 41:4, Isa. 6:10, Isa. 53:5. Or, 2. Corporal diseases or miseries, of which this word is used, 2 Chron. 21:18–19, Jer. 14:18, Jer. 16:4.

From destruction, both temporal and eternal; from deadly dangers and miseries. Crowneth thee, i.e. encompasseth and adorneth thee, as a crown doth.

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.

Which being a singular perfection, and that wherein most of the princes of the world were and are defective, is justly celebrated in God.

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, Ex.

Slow to anger; not speedily punishing sinners, but patiently waiting for their repentance.

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 Lev. 19:18, Jer.

He hath punished us less than our iniquities have deserved, as was confessed, Ezra 9:13.

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 Ps. 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.

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, Jer. 31:34, Heb. 10:17.

Our frame; either, 1. The corruption of our natures; which God is pleased sometimes to make an argument to pity and spare men, as Gen. 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…

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.

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.

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 Ps. 103:11.

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…

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.

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.

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 Gen. 32:2, 1 Kings 22:19, 2 Chron. 18:18, Luke 2:13, Rev.

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.