Psalms 103 — Overview

Matthew Henry's Commentary on the Whole Bible · Matthew Henry (1662–1714) · Public Domain

This psalm calls more for devotion than exposition; it is a most excellent psalm of praise, and of general use. The psalmist, I. Stirs up himself and his own soul to praise God (ver. 1, 2) for his favour to him in particular (ver. 3-5), to the church in general, and to all good men, to whom he is, and will be, just, and kind, and constant (ver. 6-18), and for his government of the world, ver. 19. II. He desires the assistance of the holy angels, and all the works of God, in praising him, ver. 20-22. In singing this psalm we must in a special manner get our hearts affected with the goodness of God and enlarged in love and thankfulness.

Cheerful Praise.

A psalm of David.

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Psalms 103 — OverviewPsalms 103 · Treasury of Scripture KnowledgePsalms 103:1, An exhortation to bless God for his mercy, Psalms 103:15, and for the constancy thereof.Psalms 103 — OverviewPsalms 103 · John Gill's Exposition of the Entire BiblePsalm of David. The Targum adds,"spoken in prophecy,''as doubtless it was, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. Some think it was written by David, after a fit of illness, and his recovery from it, since he speaks…Psalms 103:1-5Psalms 103:1-5 · Matthew Henry's Commentary on the Whole BibleDavid is here communing with his own heart, and he is no fool that thus talks to himself and excites his own soul to that which is good. Observe, I. How he stirs up himself to the duty of praise, v. 1, 2. 1. It…Psalms 103:1Psalms 103:1 · The Pulpit CommentaryBless the Lord, O my soul. Repeated in Psalms 103:2; also at the end of the psalm; and again in Psalms 104:1, Psalms 104:35. To "bless" is more than to praise; it is to praise with affection and gratitude. The psalmist…Psalms 103:1-5Psalms 103:1-5 · The Pulpit CommentaryGod's goodness to ourselves. The psalmist begins by addressing himself; he has before him his own personal experience during a long (or lengthening) life; and he finds ample reason for full, heartfelt gratitude. Of the…Psalms 103:1-5Psalms 103:1-5 · The Pulpit CommentaryA pattern of praise. This psalm is all praise; there is no supplication in it. It has helped myriads to praise God, and the secret of such help is that the psalmist was himself filled with the spirit of praise, and it…

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