Title. “A Psalm of David.” Doubtless by David; it is in his own style when at its best, and we should attribute it to his later years when he had a higher sense of the preciousness of pardon, because of a keener sense of sin, than in his younger days. As in the lofty Alps some peaks rise above all others, so among even the inspired psalms there are heights of song which overtop the rest. This one hundred and third psalm has ever seemed to us to be the Monte Rosa of the divine chain of the mountains of praise, it is “the apple tree among the trees of the wood.”
Division. First the psalmist sings of personal mercies which he had himself received – verses 1-5; then he magnifies the attributes of Jehovah as displayed in his dealings with his people – verses 6-19: and he closes by calling upon all the creatures in the universe to adore the Lord and join with himself in blessing Jehovah, the ever gracious.
Whole Psalm. It is observed that no petition occurs throughout the entire compass of these twenty-two verses. Not a single word of supplication is in the whole psalm addressed to the Most High. Prayer - fervent heartfelt prayer - had doubtlessly been previously offered on the part of the psalmist, and answered by his God. Innumerable blessings had been showered down from above in acknowledgement of David’s supplications; therefore, an overflowing gratitude now bursts forth from their joyful recipient. He touches every chord of his harp and of his heart together, and pours forth a spontaneous melody of sweetest sound and pure praise.
Verse 1. “Bless the Lord, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name.” What work so fitting for a “soul” as this, and who so fitting for this work as “my soul?” My body, God knows, is gross and heavy and very unfit for so sublime a task. No, it is my soul that must do it; and, indeed, what else has my soul to do? — it is the very work for which it was made. If to “bless the Lord” meant nothing more than to say, “Lord, Lord,” then my tongue alone would be sufficient for it, and I should not need to trouble any other parts about it. But to bless the Lord is an eminent work, and requires not only many, but very able agents to perform it. Therefore, my soul, when thou goest about that work, go not alone but, take with thee, “all that is within me.” All the forces in the whole army, whether it be my heart or my spirit; whether my will or my affections; whether my understanding or my memory – take them all with thee, and “bless the Lord.”
Verse 1. “… all that is within me …” Let your conscience bless the Lord by unvarying fidelity. Let your judgment bless Him, by decisions in accordance with His Word. Let your imagination bless Him, by good and holy musings. Let your desires bless Him, by seeking always His glory. Let your memory bless Him, by not forgetting any of His benefits. Let your hope bless Him, by longing and looking for the glory that is to be revealed at the appearing of Jesus Christ. Let your every sense bless Him by its faithfulness, your every word by its truthfulness, your every act by its integrity.
Verse 3. “Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases.” In this lovely and well-known psalm, we have great fulness of expression in reference to the vital subject of redemption. “Who forgiveth all thine iniquities.” It is not “some,” or “many” of thine iniquities. This would never do. If so much as the very smallest iniquity – in thought, word, or act – were left unforgiven, we should be just as badly off, just as far from God, just as unfit for heaven, just as exposed to hell, as though the whole weight of our sins was yet upon us. Let the reader ponder this deeply. It does not say, “who forgiveth thy sins previous to conversion.” There is no such notion as this in scripture. When God forgives, he forgives like himself! The source, the power, the channel, and the standards of forgiveness are all divine. When God cancels a man’s sins, he does it according to the measure in which Christ bore those sins. Now, Christ not only bore some, or many of the believer’s sins, he bore them all; and therefore, God forgives “all.” God’s forgiveness stretches to the length of Christ’s atonement, and Christ’s atonement stretches to the length of every one of the believer’s sins – past, present, and future. “The blood of Jesus Christ, his Son, cleanses us from all sin.” 1st John 1:7.
(To Be Continued.)