# Psalm 103 š: Bless the Lord, O My Soul
[[š Explore the Bible Books]]
[[-Psalm Overview]] | [[Psalm 102]] | [[Psalm 104]]
> [!info] Table of Contents
> [[#š Scripture Text (NET)]]
> [[#š Verse-by-Verse Commentary]]
> [[#š¤ Interesting Facts / Historical and Cultural Insights]]
> [[#š§ Chapter Summary]]
> [[#āļø Christ in This Chapter]]
> [[#š Key Principles / š Life Application]]
> [[#š¬ Discussion Questions]]
> [[#āļø Key Verses to Remember]]
> [[#š Related Passages/Cross Reference]]
> [[#š Devotional Reflection]]
> [[#š Internal Notes]]
## š Scripture Text (NET)
(The NET Bible: New English Translation. Biblical Studies Press, 2005)
[[#Verse 01.]]Ā Praise theĀ Lord, O my soul.
With all that is within me, praiseĀ his holy name.
[[#Verse 02.]]Ā Praise theĀ Lord, O my soul.
Do not forget all his kind deeds.
[[#Verse 03.]]Ā He is the one who forgives all your sins,
who heals all your diseases,
[[#Verse 04.]]Ā who deliversĀ your life from the Pit,
who crowns you with his loyal love and compassion,
[[#Verse 05.]]Ā who satisfies your life with good things,
so your youth is renewed like an eagleās.
[[#Verse 06.]]Ā TheĀ LordĀ does what is fair,
and executes justice for all the oppressed.
[[#Verse 07.]]Ā TheĀ LordĀ revealed his faithful actsĀ to Moses,
his deeds to the Israelites.
[[#Verse 08.]] TheĀ LordĀ is compassionate and merciful;
he is patientĀ and demonstrates great loyal love.
[[#Verse 09.]]Ā He does not always accuse,
and does not stay angry.
[[#Verse 10.]]Ā He does not deal with us as our sins deserve;
he does not repay us as our misdeeds deserve.
[[#Verse 11.]]Ā For as the skies are high above the earth,
so his loyal love towersĀ over his faithful followers.
[[#Verse 12.]]Ā As far as the eastern horizonĀ is from the west,
so he removes the guilt of our rebellious actionsĀ from us.
[[#Verse 13.]]Ā As a father has compassion on his children,
so theĀ LordĀ has compassion on his faithful followers.
[[#Verse 14.]]Ā For he knows what we are made of;
he realizesĀ we are made of clay.
[[#Verse 15.]]Ā A personās life is like grass.
Like a flower in the field it flourishes,
[[#Verse 16.]]Ā but when the hot windĀ blows, it disappears,
and one can no longer even spot the place where it once grew.
[[#Verse 17.]]Ā But theĀ LordĀ continually shows loyal love to his faithful followers,
and is faithful to their descendants,
[[#Verse 18.]]Ā to those who keep his covenant,
who are careful to obey his commands.
[[#Verse 19.]]Ā TheĀ LordĀ has established his throne in heaven;
his kingdom extends over everything.
[[#Verse 20.]]Ā Praise theĀ Lord, you angels of his,
you powerful warriors who carry out his decrees
and obey his orders.
[[#Verse 21.]]Ā Praise theĀ Lord, all you warriors of his,
you servants of his who carry out his desires.
[[#Verse 22.]]Ā Praise theĀ Lord, all that he has made,
in all the regionsĀ of his kingdom.
Praise theĀ Lord, O my soul.
## š Verse-by-Verse Commentary
###### Overall.
###### Verse 01.
###### Verse 02.
###### Verse 03.
###### Verse 04.
###### Verse 05.
###### Verse 06.
###### Verse 07.
###### Verse 08.
###### Verse 09.
###### Verse 10.
###### Verse 11.
###### Verse 12.
###### Verse 13.
###### Verse 14.
###### Verse 15.
###### Verse 16.
###### Verse 17.
###### Verse 18.
###### Verse 19.
###### Verse 20.
###### Verse 21.
###### Verse 22.
## š¤ Interesting Facts / Historical and Cultural Insights
1. The heading attributes Psalm 103 to David.
2. It opens and closes with the same call for David's soul to praise the Lord (103:1, 22).
3. Psalm 103 has 22 verses, the number of letters in the Hebrew alphabet, though it is not an alphabetic acrostic.
4. Verse 8 echoes God's self-description to Moses in Exodus 34:6.
5. The Hebrew word *hesed* (loyal love, steadfast love) appears four times (103:4, 8, 11, 17).
6. Being renewed like an eagle (103:5) pictures restored strength, an image also found in Isaiah 40:31.
7. "As far as the east is from the west" (103:12) describes a distance that can never be measured or closed.
8. "He knows we are dust" (103:14) points back to God forming man from the dust in Genesis 2:7.
9. The picture of human life as grass and flowers (103:15-16) is also found in Isaiah 40:6-8 and quoted in 1 Peter 1:24.
10. The psalm widens in circles of praise at the end: angels, heavenly armies, all His works, and finally David's own soul (103:20-22).
## š§ Chapter Summary
> [!note] š± Still growing. This section is on its way.
## āļø Christ in This Chapter
Christ is the One in whom God removes our transgressions as far as the east is from the west (103:12). In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins (Ephesians 1:7).
## š Key Principles / š Life Application
> [!note] š± Still growing. This section is on its way.
## š¬ Discussion Questions
1. David tells his own soul not to forget all God's benefits (103:2-5). Which of these benefits do you most need to remember this week?
2. God is compassionate like a father toward his children because He knows we are dust (103:13-14). How does that change the way you approach God when you fail?
3. Our lives are like grass, but the Lord's loyal love is from everlasting to everlasting (103:15-17). How does that truth put your worries in perspective?
## āļø Key Verses to Remember
- š verses 2-5: Do not forget the Lord's benefits: He forgives, heals, redeems, crowns, and satisfies.
- š verses 8-12: The Lord is compassionate and gracious, and removes our sins as far as the east is from the west.
- š verses 13-14: Like a father, He has compassion on those who fear Him, for He knows we are dust.
## š Related Passages/Cross Reference
- š [[Exodus 34#Verse 06.|Exodus 34:6-7]] - The Lord is compassionate and gracious.
- š [[Micah 07#Verse 18.|Micah 7:18-19]] - God hurls our sins into the depths of the sea.
- š [[Ephesians 01#Verse 07.|Ephesians 1:7]] - Redemption and forgiveness through His blood.
- š [[1 Peter 01#Verse 24.|1 Peter 1:24-25]] - All flesh is like grass, but the word of the Lord endures.
- š [[Luke 15#Verse 20.|Luke 15:20]] - The father's compassion for his returning son.
## š Devotional Reflection
š SOAP: [[Psalm 103- SOAP|Rehearse the Goodness of God]]
## š Internal Notes