Psalms 103:9

9 (102-9) He will not always be angry: nor will he threaten for ever.

Psalms 103:9 Meaning and Commentary

Psalms 103:9

He will not always chide
He sometimes does chide his children, though never but when they have done a fault; always for their sins, in order to bring them to a sense and acknowledgment of them, and to depart from them; not for chiding sake, as some parents, to gratify their passion and ill humour, who correct for their own pleasure; but the Lord chides and corrects for the profit of his children, that they may be partakers of his holiness; he ever does it for their good, but he will not always chide, or continue it ever: or "he will not always contend" F5, strive with them, litigate a point with them, hold out a controversy, not being able to stand before him; he knows their frame, their weakness, and frailty; see ( Isaiah 57:16 ) ,

neither will he keep his anger for ever;
though he does with the wicked, yet not with his own people; that endures but for a moment, and is rather seeming than real; and what does appear is soon turned away; he does not retain it long, he is quickly pacified towards them for all they have done, and smiles again upon them, ( Micah 7:18 ) .


FOOTNOTES:

F5 (byry) "contendet", Pagninus, Montanus; "litigat", Junius & Tremellius, Piscator; "litigabit", Vatablus, Gejerus, Michaelis.

Psalms 103:9 In-Context

7 (102-7) He hath made his ways known to Moses: his wills to the children of Israel.
8 (102-8) The Lord is compassionate and merciful: longsuffering and plenteous in mercy.
9 (102-9) He will not always be angry: nor will he threaten for ever.
10 (102-10) He hath not dealt with us according to our sins: nor rewarded us according to our iniquities.
11 (102-11) For according to the height of the heaven above the earth: he hath strengthened his mercy towards them that fear him.
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