A Brief Explication of the Last Fifty Psalms, Psalm 103
PSALM CIII.
THis is a Psalme of praise and thanksgiving to God, for his grace to his people, wherein the believer stirreth up himself, and by his own example others also to praise God, v. 1, 2. And that for seventeen reasons or arguments of praise; some of them taken from mercies shewen to himself, some from mercies to all believers, and some taken from his sovereign dominion over all, unto v. 20. and in the last three verses, there is an exhortation to all the creatures, to joyne in Gods praises with the Prophet.
Ver. 1. BLesse the LORD, O my soule: and all that is within me, blesse his holy Name.
2. Blesse the LORD, O my soule, and forget not all his benefits.
In the Pro…hets stirring up of himself to praise God; Learn, 1. The sense of Gods goodnesse to a believer is very blessednesse felt, flowing from God the fountain and cause of blessednesse: Blesse the LORD, O my soul. 2. When a believer is satisfied with Gods goodnesse, he cannot satisfie himself in the expression of his sense of it, or of his discharge of thankfulnesse for it, but stirreth up his own dull spirit to the work of praise: Blesse the LORD, O my soul. 3. In praising God, special care is to be had of the sincerity of our heart and affections; All that is within me, blesse his holy Name. 4. Whatsoever is said of God, will be found really to be true of him, and the believer will subscribe unto the unstained glory of his Name, and may say, All that is w…thin me, blesse his holy Name. 5. Albeit we do not obtain of our heart at first what we would, yet must we still insist in the stirring up of the grace of God in us, for any service we are about; Blesse the LORD, O my soul, saith he the second time. 6. God hath put so many obligations upon every believer, as may furnish reasons of praise and thanksgiving; Blesse the Lord abundantly and forget not his benefits. 7. As oblivion is always unthankful, so the remembrance and calling to minde what the Lord hath bestowed upon us, with a due estimation of the meanest benefit, is a point of upright thankfulnesse: Blesse the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits, that is, forget not any of his benefits, as the forme of speech in the Original doth import.
Vers. 3. Who forgiveth all thine iniquities: who healeth all thy diseases.
The first reason of thanksgiving is for remission of sinnes: the second reaason is for healing specially of spiritual maladies. Whence learn, 1. Saving grace bestowed upon us, should have the first room in our thanksgiving unto God, because it is the evidence of Gods special love to us: for this doth the order of the Prophets thanksgiving teach us. 2. The most holy of Gods servants are not justified by their good works, but by gracious remission of their evil works: Blesse the LORD, who forgiveth thy iniquities. 3. The remission of sin is a perfect taking away of the guiltinesse, not of some only, but of all sins: Who forgiveth all thine iniquities. 4. After remission of sin, and justification of our persons, there remaineth much inbred corruption, and many not only bodily, but also and especially sinful infirmiti…s, diseases and maladies of our soules, whereby we become unable to do the good which we would, or to eschew the evil which we would not do: and of these diseases God becometh a Physician to heale them all, by his Spirit of Sanctification bestowed upon all whom he justifieth; Who healeth all thy diseases.
Vers. 4. Who redeemeth thy life from destruction: who crowneth thee with loving kindnesse, and tender mercies.
The third reason of thanksgiving, is for delivering of him graciously, from perishing: and the fourth reason is, for giving unto him mercifully many good things; By destruction here he meaneth, not only the danger of being killed by his enemies, but also and especially the state of condemnation and perishing in Gods wrath, from which the man justified is redeemed by the Mediator. Whence learn, 1. The benefit of preservation from eternal death, is given unto the man, to whom all iniquity is forgiven; for here these benefits are joyned the one with the other. 2. The deliverances which are given to believers, as well bodily as spiritual, temporal as well as everlasting, do come to us in the way of Redemption, made by our kinde and faithful Kinsman Jesus Christ; Who redeemeth thy life from destruction. 3. A man must be sensible of the merit of sin, and see himself in the state of perdition for sin, before he can put a right estimation upon his delivery, he must count himself a lost man, till the LORDS Redeemer deliver him, as we may perceive in the Prophet, saying, He hath redeemed thy life from destruction. 4. The favour which God bestoweth upon a believer, is not in giving unto him one or two, or some few evidences of his love and merciemercy, but in a constant compassing of him on every hand, in every thing: so that he shall turn him about to what A…t he will, he is circled round about with love and mercy, supplying wants, preventing… or mitigating and seasoning his troubles, reclaiming him from sin, and directing him in Gods way; Who crowneth thee with loving kindnesse and tender mercies. 5. The evidences of Gods kindnesse and merciemercy to a man, is not only a meanes to glorifie God, but also a meanes to put respect and honour; yea, and a crown of glory on the head of the believer, in the sight of all who look upon him; therefore saith he, Who crowneth thee with loving kindnesse and tender mercies.
Ver. 5. Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things: so that thy youth is renewed like the Eagles.
The fifth reason of thanksgiving is, not only for blessing the use of the creatures unto him, but also and especially for feeding him with spiritual food, and giving comfortable refreshments to his Church, set forth under the similitude of corporal …eeding upon dainties. The sixth reason is for comforting his spirit, and reviving it in its dead condition, as the Eagle is revived and renewed after casting her bill. Whence learn, 1. The blessing of God upon the believer, maketh the use of Gods benefits, and his ordinary meales and morsels, savourie and sweet, because he hath all that is given to him, with Gods allowance and good-will; Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things. 2. The Lord after spiritual hunger and thirst, giveth such satisfaction to the soul of the believer, as banquet-chear and dainties do give to a hungry and thi…sty man, as the similitude here sheweth; Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things. 3. As the Eagle decayeth and groweth lean, when her bill or beak groweth so long and crooked as she cannot eat for it, and when she casteth her bill, and her beak is now fitted better to take her food, then she is revived and strengthened, and as it were groweth young again: so fareth it with the soul of the believer, which sometimes is so exercised and troubled, as it refuseth comfort, and lieth in a dead condition; but when the Lord reneweth the sense of his love, it is a new life, and the inner man is revived again; Thy youth is renewed as the Eagle. 4. It is an act of thanksgiving unto God, to give account to our selves, and to reckon over to our own soules, what the Lord hath bestowed on us, and done for us, as appeareth in the Prophets practice here, speaking all this to his own soul, in reckoning over the benefits.
Ver. 6. The LORD executeth righteousnesse and judgement for all that are oppressed.
He goeth on in his thanksgiving, and ascendeth from the mercies shewn to himself, unto the praising of Gods righteousnesse and mercifulnesse toward all believers, as well as toward himself, according as every ones need doth require: and here is the seventh reason of Gods praise, for maintaining the cause of all his oppressed people. Whence learn, 1. The sight of Gods goodnesse towards our selves, should lead us to the observation of Gods goodnesse to all his children in common, and unto his righteous, holy and gracious nature, as the example of the Psalmist teacheth us. 2. As to be oppressed was not Davids lot alone, but is the common condition whereunto the godly in all ages are subject: so to have God the defender and the avenger of those that oppresse them, was not the priviledge of David alone, but common to him and all Gods children; For the Lord executeth righteousnesse and judgement for all that are oppressed.
Ver. 7. He made known his wayes unto Moses, his acts unto the children of Israel.
The eighth reason of Gods praise, is, for his revealing of his will and works to his Prophet Moses, and to the people of Israel; Whenee learn, 1. The knowledge of Gods will, of his way of dealing with men, and of his works, are mysteries which men cannot understand, till the Lord reveal all to them; It is he who maketh his wayes known. 2. As God hath the choosing of people to whom, so also of the men by whom he will reveal himself and his wayes; He made known his wayes unto Moses, his acts to the children of Israel. 3. As the revealing of Gods way, wherein he will walk with us, and of his way wherein he will have us to walk before him, is no small merciemercy to his Church: so is it no small obligation put upon his people, and matter of praise and thanks unto God; for this is made here the matter of the Churches thanks, and of Gods praise, That he made known h…s wayes to Moses, and made Israel to see that he wrought as he had spoken; He made known his acts to the children of Israel.
Ver. 8. The LORD is merciful and gracious: slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy.
The ninth reason of Gods praise is, for his merciful and gracious nature expressed in sundry titles. Whence learn, 1. The Lord is compassionate toward us in our miseries, and ready to pardon our sins; The Lord is merciful. 2. The Lord is not hindered by our unworthinesse to do us good, when we come unto him, but is ready to shew favour to such as acknowledge themselves to be unworthy, and do seek nothing but of his free love; The Lord is gracious. 3. The Lord doth not easily let forth the evidence of his anger, even when he is provoked; He is slow to anger. 4. Even in wrath he remembreth mercy, and doth not let forth the effects of his wrath in full measure, but tempereth his chastisements, so as we may endure them, and mixeth mitigations in the most bitter cups; He is plenteous in mercy.
Ver. 9. He will not alwayes chide: neither will he keep his anger for ever.
The tenth reason of praise is, for the short continuance of the effects of his wrath. Whence learn, 1. Albeit the Lord be ready to live as a reconciled God and father with us his children, yet we are given to strife, and do frequently offend and grieve him, and give reason to him to rebuke us, as his not chiding of us doth import. 2. When he hath debated his controversie by words, and by the rod, and hath made our conscience challenge and chide us, he doth not entertain the controversie long; He will not alwayes chide. 3. Albeit the tokens of Gods anger endure longer then we would, yet shall they be removed at length, he will not pursue his quarrel furrher then our real humiliation; Neither will he keep his anger for ever.
Vers. 10. He hath not dealt with us after our sinnes; nor rewarded us according to our iniquities.
The eleventh reason of Gods praise is, for the common experience which the Saints have had already of his mercy. Whence learn, 1. What the Word saith of Gods grace, mercy, long-suffering, and other titles of his goodnesse, the common experience of his children, yea, and of all the members of the visible Church may bear witnesse unto it: He hath not dealt with us after our sinnes. 2. The felt mercies of the Lord should not extenuate our sinnes, but rather make us aggravate our faults, and weigh our misdeservings in the balance of the Sanctuary; for not by the weight of judgements, (which oft-times are laid aside, or are gently inflicted) but by the Word must we judge of our iniquities; For he hath not rewarded us according to our iniquities.
Ver. 11. For as the heaven is high above the earth: so great is his mercy toward them that feare him.
The twelfth reason of Gods praise is, for the unmeasurablenesse nf his mercy toward his servants, compared to the unmeasurable height of the heaven above the earth. Whence learn, 1. Our minde cannot finde out a comparison too la…ge, for expressing the superabundant mercy of the Lord toward his people, For as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is his mercy toward them that feare him. 2. Those are the children of God, who howsoever they are not free of sin, yet they are careful to please God, and loath to offend him; They are persons that feare him. 3. The consolations of God, and the riches of his mercy, are not appointed to foster sin or security in any man, but to cherish the hearts of those that stand in awe to offend God, and study to please him: Great is his mercy to them that feare him.
Ver. 12. As far as the east is from the west: so far hath he removed our transgressions from us.
The thirteenth reason of Gods praise is, for compleat fulnesse of remission of sin unto the believer in him. Whence learn, 1. Albeit sins hinder our accesse to God, yet they do not hinder Gods approaching unto them, on whom he will have mercy; for sin is not removed, till Christ come to the sinner, as here is imported. 2. Remission of sin is a gift, full and compleat, given by God unto every believer in Christ, and the guiltinesse and debt of sin, is so far and so fully removed, that it can never be imputed unto the believer, nor come near to hurt him; As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us. Understand this of the believer, who doth not turne the grace of God into wantonnesse, but maketh use of grace, to strengthen him in his battel against the body of sin in himself.
Ver. 13. Like as a father pitieth his children, so the LORD pitieth them that feare him.
The fourteenth reason of Gods praise is, for his fatherly pity toward all his weak children, who would heartily serve him better then they do. Whence learn, 1. The course of renewed pardon of sin, and daily removing of sin from the penitent believer, doth flow from the Lords adopting of believers to be his children, as the similitude taken from a father doth shew unto us▪ 2. The love which nature teacheth a father to bear toward his obedient childe, is but a shadow of the love of God to believers: Like as a father pitieth his children, so the Lord pitieth them that fear him. 3. As none of the Lotds children want their own infirmities, short comings in duties, and fallings into transgressions; so all of them are looked on by God, in as tender pity as ever father did shew to children: Like as a father pitieth his children, so the Lord pitieth them that feare him. Understand this of such as do esteem their sinful inclination, their greatest misery.
Ver. 14. For he knoweth our frame; he remembreth that we are dust.
The fifteenth reason of Gods praise, is his discretion in moderating his dealing with us, so as our weaknesse may beare; and this reason serveth to clear and confirme the former. Whence learn, 1. There is no more strength in man of himself, then there is in the matter he was made of; We are but dust. 2. The Lord knoweth our weaknesse perfectly, and what we are able …o endure: He knoweth our frame, what stuffe we are made of, and how fraile our natural constitution is. 3. It is not for our worthinesse in us, that God dealeth gently with us, but out of his own goodnesse, free-love and pity; He pitieth them that fear him; for he knoweth our frame.
Ver. 15. As for man, his dayes are as grasse: as a flower of the field, so he flourisheth.
16. For the winde passeth over it, and it is gone, and the place thereof shall know it no more.
17. But the mercy of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting upon them that feare him: and his righteousnesse unto childrens children:
18. To such as keep his covenant, and to those that remember his commandements to do them.
The sixteenth reason of Gods praise is, for his everlasting merciemercy, and constant fidelity in performing whatsoever he hath promised to every sincere beleever. Whence learn, 1. All the glory of man in his naturals, when he is adorned at the best, with learning, wisdome, beauty, strength, riches, honour, and whatsoever other ornaments he can have, is but like the glory of grasse and flowers, which are very tender and subject to many hazards, and eas…ly broken down or blasted; and albeit no harme should come to them from without, yet of themselves they endure but a very short season, and then do fade away: As for man, his dayes are as grasse, as a flower of the field so he flourisheth, for the winde passeth over it, and it is gone, &c. 2. Humane infirmities and mortality, serve indeed to humble a man, but do not hinder the humbled man to come and receive of God compleat mercy, that is, pardon of sinnes, supply of all wants, and life everlasting: Mans dayes are as the flower▪ the winde goeth over it, and it is gone, and the place thereof shall know it no more, but the merciemercy of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting. 3. The true believer and heire of the promises, is he, who in his greatest confidence in Gods everlasting merciemercy, doth stand in awe to offend God; The mercy of the Lord is upon them that feare him. 4. As merciemercy is decreed and prepared before the beginning of the world, for the beleever who feareth God; so is it let forth in actual application unto him in this life, and for evermore after this life is gone; The mercy of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting to them that feare him. 5. Such as out of love to God are loath to offend him; and out of faith in Gods mercy study to please him, shall have justice to be their friend, to themselves and to their children who follow their footsteps, from one generation to another, the Lords righteousnesse shall be for them, and not against them; all that is promised to the Saints, shall be done to them, and for them: His righteousnesse shall be unto his childrens children. 6. As God hath given the offer of his grace by Covenant, for reconciliation of enemies; so hath he given his Law and Commandments for a rule, to lead the reconciled man unto salvation, and he only is the heire of the promise of everlasting mercy and righteousnesse, who studieth to prove the sincerity of his faith, by his endeavouring of obedience: For the promise here is made to such as keep his Covenant, and to those that remember his commandments to do them.
Ver. 19. The LORD hath prepared his throne in the heavens: and his Kingdome ruleth over all.
The last reason of Gods praise, is his universal dominion over all the creatures, whereby a strong obligation is put upon Angels and men to glorifie him. Whence learn, 1. What God doth give unto Believers, he is able to preserve unto them; what he promiseth, he is able to performe unto them; whatsoever power in earth or in hell be against them, he is able to defend his Church and every Member of it: The Lord hath prepared his throne in beaven. 2. Whatsoever praise we owe to God for benefits, which we have received from him, fewer or more, greater or lesser; we must remember to praise him also for his glorious and great Majesty, and transcendent excellency over all the creatures: He hath established his throne in heaven, and his dominion is over all. 3. Whatsoever confusions do appear on earth; whatsoever re… lutions do fall in Church or State; whatsoever hardship Gods children do meet with, God guideth the whole businesse very orderly and well, and performeth all his own good pleasure: His Kingdome ruleth over all.
Ver. 20. Blesse the LORD, ye his Angels that excell in strength, that do his commandments, hearkening unto the voice of his word.
21. Blesse ye the LORD, all ye his hostes: ye ministers of his that do his pleasure.
22. Blesse the LORD, all his works in all places of his dominion: blesse the LORD, O my soul.
In the last three verses, he inviteth Angels and men and all creatures to joyne with his soul in prai…ng God: True it is, that the Angels need not to be exhorted to blesse God, and many of the Lords hostes and workes are not capable of our exhortation; yet this forme of speech signifieth, that all of them in their own kinde, and materially at least, do shew forth the blessednesse of God; and that if they were all endued with reason, able and fitted formally, expresly, and directly to glorifie God, they were all too few for the work, and could not either severally, or joyntly glorifie the Lord, as his deserving is. Whence learne, 1. The weight of the …ffering of praise unto God, is too heavy for men to lift; and as for Angels, it will take up all their strength, and their best abilities to go about it: Blesse the Lord, ye his Angels that excell in strength. 2. It is the commendation of Angels, that they obey all Gods commands readily, and we should follow their example, and aime at their perfection in service; that the will of God may be done on Earth, as it is in Heaven: For they do his Commandments, hearkening to the voice of his word. 3. All the several rankes of creatures, are so many mustered hosts, ready to execute Gods judgements, as they are directed; and are alwayes in their kinde setting forth on all hands, the glory and goodnesse of God: Blesse the Lord, all ye his hosts. 4. The family of Beleevers, the servants of the Lord, who know his will, and study to do it; and in speciall, his Ministers in the Church, servants in State, Pastors and Teachers of Gods people, have in a special obligation lying on them to blesse the Lord, who has intrusted them in his service, and made them do his will: Blesse the Lord, ye Ministers of his that do his pleasure. 5. There is none of Gods works in any part of the world; nothing which his hands hath made, how base and mean soever it may seem, which doth not contribute matter unto the song of Gods praise, and furnish reasons to glorifie and blesse the Maker: Blesse ye the Lord, all his works, in all places of his dominion. 6. When the Believer looketh on all the creatures in their own kinde, as contributers unto the glorifying of God, he shall finde his own particular obligation for special mercies bestowed upon himself, calling for particular praise and thanks at his hands; as David doth here, who when he hath set all the creatures on work to blesse God, concludeth thus: Blesse the Lord, O my soul.