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Scripture Mapping

Psalms 103

World English Bible

WEB

1By David. Praise Yahweh, my soul! All that is within me, praise his holy name! 2Praise Yahweh, my soul, and don’t forget all his benefits, 3who forgives all your sins, who heals all your diseases, 4who redeems your life from destruction, who crowns you with loving kindness and tender mercies, 5who satisfies your desire with good things, so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s. 6Yahweh executes righteous acts, and justice for all who are oppressed. 7He made known his ways to Moses, his deeds to the children of Israel. 8Yahweh is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abundant in loving kindness. 9He will not always accuse; neither will he stay angry forever. 10He has not dealt with us according to our sins, nor repaid us for our iniquities. 11For as the heavens are high above the earth, so great is his loving kindness toward those who fear him. 12As far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us. 13Like a father has compassion on his children, so Yahweh has compassion on those who fear him. 14For he knows how we are made. He remembers that we are dust. 15As for man, his days are like grass. As a flower of the field, so he flourishes. 16For the wind passes over it, and it is gone. Its place remembers it no more. 17But Yahweh’s loving kindness is from everlasting to everlasting with those who fear him, his righteousness to children’s children, 18to those who keep his covenant, to those who remember to obey his precepts. 19Yahweh has established his throne in the heavens. His kingdom rules over all. 20Praise Yahweh, you angels of his, who are mighty in strength, who fulfill his word, obeying the voice of his word. 21Praise Yahweh, all you armies of his, you servants of his, who do his pleasure. 22Praise Yahweh, all you works of his, in all places of his dominion. Praise Yahweh, my soul!

World English Bible, 2020 stable text edition. Public domain; “World English Bible” is a trademark of eBible.org. eBible.org

Overview

Psalms 103 is a beautiful hymn of praise that emphasizes the mercy and grace of God. The psalmist begins by calling his soul to bless the Lord and to remember all His benefits. This includes the forgiveness of sins, healing of diseases, redemption from destruction, and the crowning of believers with lovingkindness and tender mercies (#forgiveness, #healing, #redemption). The psalmist highlights God's compassion, stating that He does not deal with us according to our sins, but rather as a loving father who shows mercy to his children. This reflects the deep understanding of God's character as one who is slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love (#compassion, #mercy).

The psalm continues to extol the greatness of God's love and faithfulness, comparing it to the height of the heavens above the earth. It reassures believers that God's love is everlasting and that His righteousness extends to future generations. The psalmist also reminds us of our human frailty, likening our lives to grass that withers, yet God's word endures forever. The chapter concludes with a call for all of creation, including angels and heavenly hosts, to join in the praise of the Lord, emphasizing the universal call to worship the Creator (#praise, #worship). This psalm serves as a powerful reminder of God's unchanging nature and His abundant grace towards His people.

Study

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Referenced by

  1. Exodus 34:6-7v8Exodus 34:6-7 describes God's character as merciful and gracious, which is echoed in Psalm 103:8-10, highlighting God's compassion and forgiveness.
  2. 2 Samuel 14:14v82 Samuel 14:14 speaks of God's desire to not take away life but to devise means so that the banished one may not remain an outcast. This reflects God's merciful nature as described in Psalm 103:8-14, where He is slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.
  3. Ezra 9:13v10Ezra 9:13 acknowledges that God has punished the people less than their sins deserved, which aligns with Psalm 103:10, where it is stated that God does not deal with us according to our sins nor repay us according to our iniquities.
  4. Psalms 30:1v1Psalm 30:1 begins with a call to extol the Lord for deliverance, similar to Psalm 103:1-4, where David blesses the Lord for His benefits, including healing and redemption.
  5. Psalms 104:1v1Both verses begin with a call to bless the Lord, emphasizing the psalmist's desire to praise God for His greatness and majesty.
  6. Psalms 116:12v2Both verses reflect on the psalmist's response to God's goodness, with Psalm 116:12 asking what can be given back to the Lord for His benefits, and Psalm 103:2 calling to bless the Lord and not forget His benefits.
  7. Isaiah 63:7v8Isaiah 63:7 recounts the steadfast love and mercy of the Lord, paralleling Psalm 103:8, which describes the Lord as merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.
  8. Micah 7:19v12Micah 7:19 speaks of God casting sins into the sea, similar to Psalm 103:12, which describes God removing our transgressions as far as the east is from the west, illustrating complete forgiveness.
  9. Nahum 1:3v8Nahum 1:3 states that the Lord is slow to anger and great in power, which parallels Psalm 103:8-9, emphasizing God's patience and His willingness to not always chide or keep His anger forever.
  10. Luke 15:20v13The father's compassion in Luke 15:20 mirrors the compassion of the Lord towards those who fear Him, as described in Psalm 103:13.
  11. Hebrews 8:12v12Hebrews 8:12 promises that God will be merciful to their unrighteousness and remember their sins no more, echoing Psalm 103:12 where God removes our transgressions as far as the east is from the west.

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