Psalm 103:2

Verse 2. Bless the Lord, O my soul. David found some dulness and drowsiness; hence he so often puts the thorn to his breast; hence he so impetuously instigateth his soul, as one here phraseth it. John Trapp.

Verse 2. Forget not. This touches the secret spring of so much ingratitude -- forgetfulness, the want of re-collection, or gathering together again of all the varied threads of mercy. Compare Deuteronomy 6:12 ; Deuteronomy 8:11 Deuteronomy 8:14 . "Si oblivisceris, tacebis" (If thou forgettest, thou wilt be silent). J. J. S. Perowne.

Verse 2. Forget not all his benefits. That is, forget not any of his benefits, as the form of speech in the original doth import. David Dickson.

Verse 2. Benefits. The word rendered "benefits" -- lwmg gemul, means properly an act, work, doing, whether good or evil, Psalms 137:8 ; and then, desert, or what a man deserves for his act; recompense. It is rendered deserving in Judges 9:16 ; benefit, as here, in 2 Chronicles 32:25 ; desert, Psalms 28:4 ; reward, Psalms 94:2 Isaiah 3:11 Obadiah 1:15 ; recompense, Proverbs 12:14 Isaiah 35:4 59:18 66:6 Jeremiah 51:6 Lamentations 3:64 Joel 3:4 Joel 3:7 . The proper reference here is to the Divine dealings, to what God had done, as a reason for blessing his name. His dealings with the Psalmist had been such as to call for praise and gratitude. What those dealings particularly were he specifies in the following verses. Albert Barnes.

HINTS FOR PASTORS AND LAYPERSONS

Verse 2. Inquire into the causes of our frequent forgetfulness of the Lord's mercies, show the evil of it, and advise remedies.