Psalm 103: Limitless Mercy for Fragile Humans
Psalm 103 (and its twin 104) contain the famous call to “bless Yahweh, O my soul.” It clearly presents a theology of God’s grace and mercy, well before the Christ came to atone for our sin. The descriptive imagery surrounding God’s limitless mercy and the fragility of the human condition act as the backdrop for the famous self-directed call to worship God. They present a powerful case for why we should keep God’s love for us always on our hearts.
Bless the Blesser
God's Limitless Mercy
"He made known his ways to Moses, his acts to the people of Israel." - V. 7
This verse is referring to Moses’ prayer where he asked God to reveal his character (Exo. 33:13)2. Referring back to The Exodus, the central salvation event of Israel’s history, is a common motif in the Psalms. Here, the poet is not concerned about the actual events, but the character that was revealed.
“Yahweh is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in steadfast love.” – v. 8 (cf. Exo 34:6)
Verse 8 is a verbatim quote of God's self-revelation of his own character in Exodus 34:6 3 and contains the main “ways” that were revealed to Moses and Israel in the past. This psalm does not touch on God’s judgment, the second part of God’s self-revelation (Exo 36:7), but focuses only on his goodwill towards those who revere him. Verses 9-13 elaborate the depth of God’s mercy—he does not hold onto anger and he does not treat his people in the way they deserve. Using several similes, the poet explains how profound God’s mercy is,
“For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his love for those who fear him; for as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us.”– v. 11
Humanity's Temporary Fragility
“For he knows our frame, he remembers that we are dust.” – v. 14
“As for man, his days are like grass; he flourishes like a flower of the field; for the wind passes over, and it is gone, and its place knows it no more.” – v. 15
Plants can die off as quickly as the spring up, because it is their nature. Humans are the same way. The Lord knows we are fragile, so he cares for us; he doesn’t treat us harshly as if we were thick-barked trees.
These verses not only showcase the fragility of humanity, but also our transience; we are fragile and only last for a short term.
“But the steadfast love of Yahweh is from forever to forever on those who fear him, and his righteousness to the children’s children, to those who keep his covenant and remember to do his commandments.” – vs.17-18
There is a great contrast between the short-lived life of men against God’s forever love. Our lives have no guarantee of prosperity, but his loving-kindness lasts forever. This verse is an allusion to the Ten Commandments (Exo 20:5-6) and to God’s self-revelation4. Since God rules in heaven (v. 19), there is hope in God’s unfailing mercy amidst our own progressive decay.
- The Hebrew literally reads “who satisfies your mouth with good.”
- Expositor’s Bible Commentary: Psalms p. 738
- Except the subject Yahweh is in between וְחַנּוּן and אֶרֶךְ
- In both verses, “children’s children” refers to those who receive the punishment, here the psalmist changes this to be the subject of God’s forever love!
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