ESV Global Study Bible :: Footnotes for Psalms 103

Psalm Ps. 103. This is a hymn of praise, celebrating the Lord’s abundant goodness and love for his people. It is the first of four psalms reflecting on God’s dealings with his people from creation to exile. Psalm 103 introduces the sequence by recalling that Israel’s survival in Moses’ time was due to God’s steadfast love. It begins with each individual singer exhorting his or her own soul to bless the Lord. It then lists the benefits that the soul should be careful not to forget. The crowning benefit is God’s enduring love to the descendants of the faithful, which leads the worshipers to encourage all the angelic hosts and all creation to join in blessing the Lord. These benefits come to the individual but benefit the wider community as well (vv. 6–14; 17–18).

Ps. 103:1–2 Each member of the worshiping congregation urges himself to bless the Lord, that is, to speak well of God for his abundant generosity. Thus forget not all his benefits is a crucial step in blessing the Lord. The body of the psalm lists these benefits in order to bring each singer to gratitude.

Ps. 103:3 Heals often refers to curing someone from a physical sickness, but it can also be used as a metaphor for restoring the moral and spiritual life (e.g., Isa. 6:10; 53:5; Jer. 3:22; Hos. 14:4). Since it is in parallel with forgives, the metaphorical use may be intended here. Thus iniquity is like diseases, which weaken and corrupt. It is God’s mercy that takes them away. These sentiments reflect David’s own experience of God’s forgiveness (see 2 Samuel 12; Psalm 51).

Ps. 103:6 Righteousness and justice are the blessings of protection from those who might cause harm (see 33:5; 97:2; Deut. 16:18; Isa. 5:7). The Lord extends these blessings to all who are oppressed, but especially to his own people (see Ps. 146:7).

Ps. 103:7 The Lord’s acts reveal his enduring commitment to his people. That is, they express his ways.

Ps. 103:8–13 The language of these verses (slow to anger, steadfast love, shows compassion) recalls Ex. 34:6, where the Lord proclaims his own name.

Ps. 103:14 he knows our frame. The Lord remembers the limitations of the human perspective (dust is not eternal or all-knowing). He is patient with his people.

Ps. 103:17–18 the steadfast love of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting. See 25:6; 100:5. Those who fear him (compare 103:11, 13) are the same as those who keep his covenant and remember to do his commandments. They are the faithful who believe the promises and obey the commands (Ex. 19:5; Deut. 7:9; see John 14:15, 21). The faithful expect that God sets his saving love on their children’s children. This is a great privilege: though their lives are short and appear almost insignificant, they may still contribute to the future well-being of God’s people by their godly and prayerful parenting.

Ps. 103:20–22 After listing all these benefits, the psalm returns to urging various creatures to bless the Lord, echoing vv. 1–2. He addresses the angels and mighty ones and even the material creation (all his works, in all places of his dominion; compare v. 19). The overflow of goodness and steadfast love that God’s works reveal compels his people to call on the angels and all of nature (see 19:1) to join in their celebration.