Psalms 103:7-17

7 He showed Moses how he went about his work, opened up his plans to all Israel.

8 God is sheer mercy and grace; not easily angered, he's rich in love.

9 He doesn't endlessly nag and scold, nor hold grudges forever.

10 He doesn't treat us as our sins deserve, nor pay us back in full for our wrongs.

11 As high as heaven is over the earth, so strong is his love to those who fear him.

12 And as far as sunrise is from sunset, he has separated us from our sins.

13 As parents feel for their children, God feels for those who fear him.

14 He knows us inside and out, keeps in mind that we're made of mud.

15 Men and women don't live very long; like wildflowers they spring up and blossom,

16 But a storm snuffs them out just as quickly, leaving nothing to show they were here.

17 God's love, though, is ever and always, eternally present to all who fear him, Making everything right for them and their children

Psalms 103:7-17 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO PSALM 103

\\<>\\. 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 of his diseases being healed, and his youth renewed; for which reason the Syriac interpreter suggests it was written in his old age; for he makes the subject of the psalm to be, ``concerning coldness which prevailed upon him in old age;'' but rather he wrote it when his heart was warm with a sense of the love of God, and spiritual blessings of grace flowing from thence; and in it celebrates and sings the benefits of New Testament times; and it is a psalm suitable to be sung by every believer, under a quick sense of divine favours: wherefore the above interpreter better adds, ``also an instruction and thanksgiving by men of God;'' whom the psalmist may very well be thought to personate, even in Gospel times; and much rather than the Jews in captivity, as Kimchi thinks.