Psalm 103 KJV
King James Version, Holy Bible
1 Bless the Lord, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name.
2 Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits:
3 Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases;
4 Who redeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies;
5 Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things; so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle's.
6 The Lord executeth righteousness and judgment for all that are oppressed.
7 He made known his ways unto Moses, his acts unto the children of Israel.
8 The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy.
9 He will not always chide: neither will he keep his anger for ever.
10 He hath not dealt with us after our sins; nor rewarded us according to our iniquities.
11 For as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is his mercy toward them that fear him.
12 As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us.
13 Like as a father pitieth his children, so the Lord pitieth them that fear him.
14 For he knoweth our frame; he remembereth that we are dust.
15 As for man, his days are as grass: as a flower of the field, so he flourisheth.
16 For the wind 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 fear him, and his righteousness unto children's children;
18 To such as keep his covenant, and to those that remember his commandments to do them.
19 The Lord hath prepared his throne in the heavens; and his kingdom ruleth over all.
20 Bless the Lord, ye his angels, that excel in strength, that do his commandments, hearkening unto the voice of his word.
21 Bless ye the Lord, all ye his hosts; ye ministers of his, that do his pleasure.
22 Bless the Lord, all his works in all places of his dominion: bless the Lord, O my soul.
Key Takeaways from This Psalm:
Psalm 103:1
Verse: בָּרֲכִי נַפְשִׁי אֶת-יְהוָה
Transliteration: Barakhi nafshi et-Adonai
English: “Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless His holy name!”
Focus Word: נֶפֶשׁ (Nefesh)
- Root: נ-פ-שׁ (Nun-Peh-Shin)
- Meaning: “Soul,” “self,” “life.”
- Deeper Insight: Nefesh represents the whole person—emotion, desire, vitality, highlighting inner devotion to God.
Biblical Scholarss On This Chapter:
| Scholar (Institution & Dates) | Work | View on Psalm 103 |
|---|---|---|
| Thomas Scott (University of Edinburgh, 1747–1821) | Commentary on the Holy Bible | Scott emphasizes God’s abundant mercy, forgiveness, and healing as central themes. |
| John Owen (University of Oxford, 1616–1683) | A Commentary on the Psalms | Owen focuses on the covenantal aspect of God’s compassion and lovingkindness. |
| George Buchanan (St Andrews / Paris, 1506–1582) | Commentaries on the Psalms | Buchanan observes that gratitude naturally follows recognition of divine patience and mercy. |
| Philip Doddridge (Northampton Academy, 1702–1751) | Family Expositor | The Psalm teaches worshippers to respond to God’s goodness with heartfelt devotion. |
| John Brown (Edinburgh, 1722–1787) | Self-Interpreting Bible | Brown presents God’s mercy as a foundation for moral reflection and spiritual growth. |
| Scholar & Work | View |
|---|---|
| John Calvin – Commentary on the Psalms | Calvin sees the psalm as a call for the soul to remember God’s benefits. God’s mercy surpasses human understanding. His covenant love endures forever. |
| Matthew Henry – Exposition on the Psalms | Henry interprets the psalm as thanksgiving for forgiveness and compassion. God remembers human frailty. His mercy is everlasting. |
| Albert Barnes – Notes on the Psalms | Barnes views the psalm as celebration of divine goodness. God redeems, heals, and crowns with mercy. His compassion is paternal and abiding. |
| John Morison – Practical Exposition of the Psalms | Morison sees the psalm as the soul’s joyful remembrance of God’s kindness. His mercy is high as the heavens. He forgives and renews the faithful. |
| William Walford – Commentary on the Psalms | Walford interprets the psalm as proclaiming God’s compassionate nature. He removes sin far from His people. His throne rules in righteousness. |
| Andrew A. Bonar – Christ and His Church in the Psalms | Bonar views the psalm as Christ leading His people in thanksgiving. God’s mercy is immeasurable. His covenant love sustains His Church. |
| Joseph Parker – People’s Bible Notes | Parker sees the psalm as overflowing with gratitude. God’s mercy comforts the frail. His goodness renews strength. |
| Thomas Dale – Exposition of the Psalms | Dale interprets the psalm as summoning all creation to bless the Lord. His compassion is deep and enduring. God’s rule extends everywhere. |
| Horatius Bonar – Psalm Meditations | Bonar views the psalm as the soul lifting praise for divine mercy. God’s love is steadfast. His kindness refreshes the weary. |
| Christopher Wordsworth – Commentary on the Psalms | Wordsworth interprets the psalm as universal praise to God for His mercy. His forgiveness is abundant. His kingdom is everlasting. |
FORGET NOT HIS BENEFITS
Thought for the day: Living in His benefit is living in His fullness.
Message:
One of the reasons why people complain nowadays is that we quickly forget His benefits: He gave us life, hope, and even sent his son to die for us; remembering these things can strengthen your confidence in God and inspire you to learn more about Him. Let's have a look at the passage from the Bible.
Verse one pictured that every part of the body must be involved in praising the Lord, Many people today worship God while their mind is away, thinking of things God has not done; when you fail to dedicate all of yourself to praise God, the devil will take over your life and depression will set in.
From verse three we see great things that God did, let us check them
- He forgives your sin: what a privilege to have a God that cleanses away every sin, if not this, all souls would have rotten in hell, but your sins were forgiven by the precious blood of Jesus
- He healed your diseases: He didn’t only pay for your sin but He paid for your sickness, the bible confirmed that you were healed by His stripe, I decree now that healing is coming on your way in Jesus' name
- He saved you from destruction: Those times that you should have been involved in an accident, He didn’t allow it because you are too precious in His hand, I think you should praise Him for this
- He crowed you with mercy and His loving-kindness: Even when you don’t deserve it, He fight for you, even when you stayed away from Him, He looked for you
- He satisfied you with good things: He is providing for you daily
How many of His benefits can you count? He is faithful in all ways
My Counsel
Ø Count on His benefit today
Ø Don’t allow the devil to deceive you that God has not done anything
Declaration
Father forgive me for forgetting your benefit, I shall count on your benefit in Jesus' name.
