Bible Version: New International Version (NIV)
Application Notes: Life Application Study Bible (NIV)
PSALMS 103
Of David.
1 Praise the Lord, my soul;
all my inmost being, praise his holy name.
2 Praise the Lord, my soul,
and forget not all his benefits—
3 who forgives all your sins
and heals all your diseases,
4 who redeems your life from the pit
and crowns you with love and compassion,
5 who satisfies your desires with good things
so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.
6 The Lord works righteousness
and justice for all the oppressed.
7 He made known his ways to Moses,
his deeds to the people of Israel:
8 The Lord is compassionate and gracious,
slow to anger, abounding in love.
9 He will not always accuse,
nor will he harbor his anger forever;
10 he does not treat us as our sins deserve
or repay us according to our iniquities.
11 For as high as the heavens are above the earth,
so great is his love for those who fear him;
12 as far as the east is from the west,
so far has he removed our transgressions from us.
13 As a father has compassion on his children,
so the Lord has compassion on those who fear him;
14 for he knows how we are formed,
he remembers that we are dust.
15 The life of mortals is like grass,
they flourish like a flower of the field;
16 the wind blows over it and it is gone,
and its place remembers it no more.
17 But from everlasting to everlasting
the Lord’s love is with those who fear him,
and his righteousness with their children’s children—
18 with those who keep his covenant
and remember to obey his precepts.
19 The Lord has established his throne in heaven,
and his kingdom rules over all.
20 Praise the Lord, you his angels,
you mighty ones who do his bidding,
who obey his word.
21 Praise the Lord, all his heavenly hosts,
you his servants who do his will.
22 Praise the Lord, all his works
everywhere in his dominion.
Praise the Lord, my soul.
Application Notes
103:1-22 David's praise focuses on all the good God was doing for him. It's easy to find reasons to complain about life, but David's list gives us plenty for which to praise God: He forgives our sins, heals our diseases, redeems us from death, crowns us with love and compassion, satisfies our desires, and gives righteousness and justice. We receive all of these without deserving any of them. No matter how difficult your life's journey, you can always count your blessings—past, present, and future. When you feel as though you have nothing for which to praise God, read David's list.
103:7 God's law was given first to Moses and the people of Israel. God's law presents a clear picture of his character and will for his people. It was God's training manual to prepare his people to serve him and to follow his ways. Review the Ten Commandments (Exodus 20) and the history of how they were given, asking God to show you his will and his ways through them.
103:12 East and west can never meet. This is a symbolic portrait of God's forgiveness—when he forgives our sin, he separates it from us so that it can never come back to condemn us. God forgives and forgets, so we don't need to wallow in the past. God forgives us totally, repeatedly, and lavishly, not because he has to, but because he is good and loves us. We tend to dredge up the ugly past, but God has wiped the record clean. If we are to follow God, we must accept his forgiveness and encourage others to do the same. When we forgive someone, we must treat them as though we have actually forgotten their sin. Otherwise, we have not truly forgiven them.
103:13-14 We are fragile, but God's care is eternal. Too often we focus on God as Judge and Lawgiver, ignoring his compassion and concern for us. When God examines our lives, he remembers our human condition. Our weakness should never be used as a justification or an excuse for sin. But his mercy takes all our weaknesses into account. God will deal with you compassionately. Trust him.
103:13 God is like a father—tender and compassionate. Not every child has a tender and compassionate father, however. Too often, sadly, cycles of abuse and dysfunction rob children of loving fathers. If that is your situation, God offers himself to you to be the Father you never had or perhaps felt you never needed. Of course, you can't go fishing or play soccer with God or be held physically by him, but you can receive his love in your heart by means of his Holy Spirit (Romans 5:5). God can tenderly heal any deep loss you have suffered.
103:20-22 Everything and everyone everywhere is to praise the Lord. That includes us! Even the mighty angels praise him. This gives us more than just a poetic picture. God rules in heaven today, so we can be confident that he is in control even if we cannot see it (Revelation 5:11-13). Praising God means remembering all he has done for us (Psalm 103:2), fearing him and obeying his commands (103:17-18), and doing his will (103:21). Does your life praise the Lord?
Taken from Life Application Study Bible - Third Edition - (NIV)