mh_parser/vol_split/19 - Psalms/Chapter 103.xml

<div2 id="Ps.civ" n="civ" next="Ps.cv" prev="Ps.ciii" progress="57.01%" title="Chapter CIII">
<h2 id="Ps.civ-p0.1">P S A L M S</h2>
<h3 id="Ps.civ-p0.2">PSALM CIII.</h3>
<p class="intro" id="Ps.civ-p1">This psalm calls more for devotion than
exposition; it is a most excellent psalm of praise, and of general
use. The psalmist, I. Stirs up himself and his own soul to praise
God (<scripRef id="Ps.civ-p1.1" osisRef="Bible:Ps.102.1-Ps.102.2" parsed="|Ps|102|1|102|2" passage="Ps 102:1,2">ver. 1, 2</scripRef>) for his
favour to him in particular (<scripRef id="Ps.civ-p1.2" osisRef="Bible:Ps.102.3-Ps.102.5" parsed="|Ps|102|3|102|5" passage="Ps 102:3-5">ver.
3-5</scripRef>), to the church in general, and to all good men, to
whom he is, and will be, just, and kind, and constant (<scripRef id="Ps.civ-p1.3" osisRef="Bible:Ps.102.6-Ps.102.18" parsed="|Ps|102|6|102|18" passage="Ps 102:6-18">ver. 6-18</scripRef>), and for his government
of the world, <scripRef id="Ps.civ-p1.4" osisRef="Bible:Ps.102.19" parsed="|Ps|102|19|0|0" passage="Ps 102:19">ver. 19</scripRef>. II.
He desires the assistance of the holy angels, and all the works of
God, in praising him, <scripRef id="Ps.civ-p1.5" osisRef="Bible:Ps.102.20-Ps.102.22" parsed="|Ps|102|20|102|22" passage="Ps 102:20-22">ver.
20-22</scripRef>. In singing this psalm we must in a special manner
get our hearts affected with the goodness of God and enlarged in
love and thankfulness.</p>
<scripCom id="Ps.civ-p1.6" osisRef="Bible:Ps.103" parsed="|Ps|103|0|0|0" passage="Ps 103" type="Commentary"/>
<scripCom id="Ps.civ-p1.7" osisRef="Bible:Ps.103.1-Ps.103.5" parsed="|Ps|103|1|103|5" passage="Ps 103:1-5" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Bible:Ps.103.1-Ps.103.5">
<h4 id="Ps.civ-p1.8">Cheerful Praise.</h4>
<div class="Center" id="Ps.civ-p1.9">
<p id="Ps.civ-p2">A psalm of David.</p>
</div>
<p class="passage" id="Ps.civ-p3">1 Bless the <span class="smallcaps" id="Ps.civ-p3.1">Lord</span>,
O my soul: and all that is within me, <i>bless</i> his holy name.
  2 Bless the <span class="smallcaps" id="Ps.civ-p3.2">Lord</span>, 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
<i>things; so that</i> thy youth is renewed like the eagle's.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.civ-p4">David is here communing with his own heart,
and he is no fool that thus talks to himself and excites his own
soul to that which is good. Observe,</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.civ-p5">I. How he stirs up himself to the duty of
praise, <scripRef id="Ps.civ-p5.1" osisRef="Bible:Ps.103.1-Ps.103.2" parsed="|Ps|103|1|103|2" passage="Ps 103:1,2"><i>v.</i> 1, 2</scripRef>.
1. It is the Lord that is to be blessed and spoken well of; for he
is the fountain of all good, whatever are the channels or cisterns;
it is to his name, his holy name, that we are to consecrate our
praise, <i>giving thanks at the remembrance of his holiness.</i> 2.
It is the soul that is to be employed in blessing God, <i>and all
that is within</i> us. We make nothing of our religious
performances if we do not make heart-work of them, if that which is
within us, nay, if <i>all that is within</i> us, be not engaged in
them. The work requires the inward man, the whole man, and all
little enough. 3. In order to our return of praises to God, there
must be a grateful remembrance of the mercies we have received from
him: <i>Forget not all his benefits.</i> If we do not give thanks
for them, we do forget them; and that is unjust as well as unkind,
since in all God's favours there is so much that is memorable. "O
my soul! to thy shame be it spoken, thou hast forgotten many of his
benefits; but surely thou wilt not forget them all, for thou
shouldst not have forgotten any."</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.civ-p6">II. How he furnishes himself with abundant
matter for praise, and that which is very affecting: "Come, my
soul, consider what God has done for thee." 1. "He has pardoned thy
sins (<scripRef id="Ps.civ-p6.1" osisRef="Bible:Ps.103.3" parsed="|Ps|103|3|0|0" passage="Ps 103:3"><i>v.</i> 3</scripRef>); he has
forgiven, and <i>does forgive, all thy iniquities.</i>" This is
mentioned first because by the pardon of sin that is taken away
which kept good things from us, and we are restored to the favour
of God, which bestows good things on us. Think what the provocation
was; it was iniquity, and yet pardoned; how many the provocations
were, and yet all pardoned. <i>He has forgiven all our
trespasses.</i> It is a continued act; he is still forgiving, as we
are still sinning and repenting. 2. "He has cured thy sickness."
The corruption of nature is the sickness of the soul; it is its
disorder, and threatens its death. This is cured in sanctification;
when sin is mortified, the disease is healed; though complicated,
it is all healed. Our crimes were capital, but God saves our lives
by pardoning them; our diseases were mortal, but God saves our
lives by healing them. These two go together; for, as for God, his
work is perfect and not done by halves; if God take away the guilt
of sin by pardoning mercy, he will break the power of it by
renewing grace. Where Christ is made righteousness to any soul he
is made sanctification, <scripRef id="Ps.civ-p6.2" osisRef="Bible:1Cor.1.30" parsed="|1Cor|1|30|0|0" passage="1Co 1:30">1 Cor. i.
30</scripRef>. 3. "He has rescued thee from danger." A man may be
in peril of life, not only by his crimes, or his diseases, but by
the power of his enemies; and therefore here also we experience the
divine goodness: <i>Who redeemed thy life from destruction</i>
(<scripRef id="Ps.civ-p6.3" osisRef="Bible:Ps.103.4" parsed="|Ps|103|4|0|0" passage="Ps 103:4"><i>v.</i> 4</scripRef>), from the
destroyer, <i>from hell</i> (so the Chaldee), from the second
death. <i>The redemption of the soul is precious;</i> we cannot
compass it, and therefore are the more indebted to divine grace
that has wrought it out, to him who has <i>obtained eternal
redemption for us.</i> See <scripRef id="Ps.civ-p6.4" osisRef="Bible:Job.33.24 Bible:Job.33.28" parsed="|Job|33|24|0|0;|Job|33|28|0|0" passage="Job 33:24,28">Job
xxxiii. 24, 28</scripRef>. 4. "He has not only saved thee from
death and ruin, but has made thee truly and completely happy, with
honour, pleasure, and long life." (1.) "He has given thee true
honour and great honour, no less than a crown: <i>He crowns thee
with his lovingkindness and tender mercies;</i>" and what greater
dignity is a poor soul capable of than to be advanced into the love
and favour of God? <i>This honour have all his saints.</i> What is
the crown of glory but God's favour? (2.) "He has given thee true
pleasure: <i>He satisfies thy mouth with good things</i>"
(<scripRef id="Ps.civ-p6.5" osisRef="Bible:Ps.103.5" parsed="|Ps|103|5|0|0" passage="Ps 103:5"><i>v.</i> 5</scripRef>); it is only
the favour and grace of God that can give satisfaction to a soul,
can suit its capacities, supply its needs, and answer to its
desires. Nothing but divine wisdom can undertake to <i>fill its
treasures</i> (<scripRef id="Ps.civ-p6.6" osisRef="Bible:Prov.8.21" parsed="|Prov|8|21|0|0" passage="Pr 8:21">Prov. viii.
21</scripRef>); other things will surfeit, but not <i>satiate,</i>
<scripRef id="Ps.civ-p6.7" osisRef="Bible:Eccl.6.7 Bible:Isa.55.2" parsed="|Eccl|6|7|0|0;|Isa|55|2|0|0" passage="Ec 6:7,Isa 55:2">Eccl. vi. 7; Isa. lv.
2</scripRef>. (3.) "He has given thee a prospect and pledge of long
life: <i>Thy youth is renewed like the eagle's.</i>" The eagle is
long-lived, and, as naturalists say, when she is nearly 100 years
old, casts all her feathers (as indeed she changes them in a great
measure every year at moulting time), and fresh ones come, so that
she becomes young again. When God, by the graces and comforts of
his Spirit, recovers his people from their decays, and fills them
with new life and joy, which is to them an earnest of eternal life
and joy, then they may be said to <i>return to the days of their
youth,</i> <scripRef id="Ps.civ-p6.8" osisRef="Bible:Job.33.23" parsed="|Job|33|23|0|0" passage="Job 33:23">Job xxxiii.
25</scripRef>.</p>
</div><scripCom id="Ps.civ-p6.9" osisRef="Bible:Ps.103.6-Ps.103.18" parsed="|Ps|103|6|103|18" passage="Ps 103:6-18" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Bible:Ps.103.6-Ps.103.18">
<h4 id="Ps.civ-p6.10">Goodness and Compassion of
God.</h4>
<p class="passage" id="Ps.civ-p7">6 The <span class="smallcaps" id="Ps.civ-p7.1">Lord</span>
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 <span class="smallcaps" id="Ps.civ-p7.2">Lord</span> <i>is</i> merciful and gracious, slow to
anger, and plenteous in mercy.   9 He will not always chide:
neither will he keep <i>his anger</i> 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,
<i>so</i> great is his mercy toward them that fear him.   12
As far as the east is from the west, <i>so</i> far hath he removed
our transgressions from us.   13 Like as a father pitieth
<i>his</i> children, <i>so</i> the <span class="smallcaps" id="Ps.civ-p7.3">Lord</span> pitieth them that fear him.   14 For
he knoweth our frame; he remembereth that we <i>are</i> dust.
  15 <i>As for</i> man, his days <i>are</i> 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 <span class="smallcaps" id="Ps.civ-p7.4">Lord</span> <i>is</i> 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.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.civ-p8">Hitherto the psalmist had only looked back
upon his own experiences and thence fetched matter for praise; here
he looks abroad and takes notice of his favour to others also; for
in them we should rejoice and give thanks for them, all the saints
being fed at a common table and sharing in the same blessings.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.civ-p9">I. Truly God is good to all (<scripRef id="Ps.civ-p9.1" osisRef="Bible:Ps.103.6" parsed="|Ps|103|6|0|0" passage="Ps 103:6"><i>v.</i> 6</scripRef>): He <i>executes
righteousness and judgment,</i> not only for his own people, but
<i>for all that are oppressed;</i> for even in common providence he
is the patron of wronged innocency, and, one way or other, will
plead the cause of those that are injured against their oppressors.
It is his honour to humble the proud and help the helpless.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.civ-p10">II. He is in a special manner good to
Israel, to every Israelite indeed, that is of a clean and upright
heart.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.civ-p11">1. He has revealed himself and his grace to
us (<scripRef id="Ps.civ-p11.1" osisRef="Bible:Ps.103.7" parsed="|Ps|103|7|0|0" passage="Ps 103:7"><i>v.</i> 7</scripRef>): <i>He
made known his ways unto Moses,</i> and by him <i>his acts to the
children of Israel,</i> not only by his rod to those who then
lived, but by his pen to succeeding ages. Note, Divine revelation
is one of the first and greatest of divine favours with which the
church is blessed; for God restores us to himself by revealing
himself to us, and gives us all good by giving us knowledge. He has
<i>made known his acts and his ways</i> (that is, his nature, and
the methods of his dealing with the children of men), that they may
know both what to conceive of him and what to expect from him; so
Dr. Hammond. Or by his <i>ways</i> we may understand his precepts,
the way which he requires us to walk in; and by his <i>acts,</i> or
<i>designs</i> (as the word signifies), his promises and purposes
as to what he will do with us. Thus fairly does God deal with
us.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.civ-p12">2. He has never been rigorous and severe
with us, but always tender, full of compassion, and ready to
forgive.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.civ-p13">(1.) It is in his nature to be so
(<scripRef id="Ps.civ-p13.1" osisRef="Bible:Ps.103.8" parsed="|Ps|103|8|0|0" passage="Ps 103:8"><i>v.</i> 8</scripRef>): <i>The Lord
is merciful and gracious;</i> this was his way which he made known
unto Moses at Mount Horeb, when he thus proclaimed his name
(<scripRef id="Ps.civ-p13.2" osisRef="Bible:Exod.34.6-Exod.34.7" parsed="|Exod|34|6|34|7" passage="Ex 34:6,7">Exod. xxxiv. 6, 7</scripRef>), in
answer to Moses's request (<scripRef id="Ps.civ-p13.3" osisRef="Bible:Exod.33.13" parsed="|Exod|33|13|0|0" passage="Ex 33:13"><i>ch.</i>
xxxiii. 13</scripRef>), <i>I beseech thee, show me thy way, that I
may know thee.</i> It is my way, says God, to pardon sin. [1.] He
is not soon angry, <scripRef id="Ps.civ-p13.4" osisRef="Bible:Ps.103.8" parsed="|Ps|103|8|0|0" passage="Ps 103:8"><i>v.</i>
8</scripRef>. He is <i>slow to anger,</i> not extreme to mark what
we do amiss nor ready to take advantage against us. He bears long
with those that are very provoking, defers punishing, that he may
give space to repent, and does not speedily execute the sentence of
his law; and he could not be thus <i>slow to anger</i> if he were
not <i>plenteous in mercy,</i> the very <i>Father of mercies.</i>
[2.] He is not long angry; for (<scripRef id="Ps.civ-p13.5" osisRef="Bible:Ps.103.9" parsed="|Ps|103|9|0|0" passage="Ps 103:9"><i>v.</i> 9</scripRef>) <i>he will not always chide,</i>
though we always offend and deserve chiding. Though he signify his
displeasure against us for our sins by the rebukes of Providence,
and the reproaches of our own consciences, and thus cause grief,
yet he will have compassion, and will not always keep us in pain
and terror, no, not for our sins, but, after the spirit of bondage,
will give the spirit of adoption. How unlike are those to God who
always chide, who take every occasion to chide, and never know when
to cease! What would become of us if God should deal so with us?
<i>He will not keep his anger for ever</i> against his own people,
but will gather them with <i>everlasting mercies,</i> <scripRef id="Ps.civ-p13.6" osisRef="Bible:Isa.54.8 Bible:Isa.57.16" parsed="|Isa|54|8|0|0;|Isa|57|16|0|0" passage="Isa 54:8,57:16">Isa. liv. 8; lvii. 16</scripRef>.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.civ-p14">(2.) We have found him so; we, for our
parts, must own that <i>he has not dealt with us after our
sins,</i> <scripRef id="Ps.civ-p14.1" osisRef="Bible:Ps.103.10" parsed="|Ps|103|10|0|0" passage="Ps 103:10"><i>v.</i> 10</scripRef>.
The scripture says a great deal of the mercy of God, and we may all
set to our seal that it is true, that we have experienced it. If he
had not been a God of patience, we should have been in hell long
ago; but <i>he has not rewarded us after our iniquities;</i> so
those will say who know what sin deserves. He has not inflicted the
judgments which we have merited, nor deprived us of the comforts
which we have forfeited, which should make us think the worse, and
not the better, of sin; for <i>God's patience should lead us to
repentance,</i> <scripRef id="Ps.civ-p14.2" osisRef="Bible:Rom.2.4" parsed="|Rom|2|4|0|0" passage="Ro 2:4">Rom. ii.
4</scripRef>.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.civ-p15">3. He has pardoned our sins, not only my
<i>iniquity</i> (<scripRef id="Ps.civ-p15.1" osisRef="Bible:Ps.103.3" parsed="|Ps|103|3|0|0" passage="Ps 103:3"><i>v.</i>
3</scripRef>), but <i>our transgressions,</i> <scripRef id="Ps.civ-p15.2" osisRef="Bible:Ps.103.12" parsed="|Ps|103|12|0|0" passage="Ps 103:12"><i>v.</i> 12</scripRef>. Though it is of our own
benefit, by the pardoning mercy of God, that we are to take the
comfort, yet of the benefit others have by it we must give him the
glory. Observe, (1.) The transcendent riches of God's mercy
(<scripRef id="Ps.civ-p15.3" osisRef="Bible:Ps.103.11" parsed="|Ps|103|11|0|0" passage="Ps 103:11"><i>v.</i> 11</scripRef>): <i>As the
heaven is high above the earth</i> (so high that the earth is but a
point to the vast expanse), so God's mercy is above the merits of
those that fear him most, so much above and beyond them that there
is no proportion at all between them; the greatest performances of
man's duty cannot demand the least tokens of God's favour as a
debt, and therefore all the seed of Jacob will join with him in
owning themselves <i>less than the least of all God's mercies,</i>
<scripRef id="Ps.civ-p15.4" osisRef="Bible:Gen.32.10" parsed="|Gen|32|10|0|0" passage="Ge 32:10">Gen. xxxii. 10</scripRef>. Observe,
God's mercy is thus great <i>towards those that fear him,</i> not
towards those that trifle with him. We must fear the Lord and his
goodness. (2.) The fulness of his pardons, an evidence of the
riches of his mercy (<scripRef id="Ps.civ-p15.5" osisRef="Bible:Ps.103.12" parsed="|Ps|103|12|0|0" passage="Ps 103:12"><i>v.</i>
12</scripRef>): <i>As far as the east is from the west</i> (which
two quarters of the world are of greatest extent, because all known
and inhabited, and therefore geographers that way reckon their
longitudes) <i>so far has he removed our transgressions from
us,</i> so that they shall never be laid to our charge, nor rise up
in judgment against us. The sins of believers shall be remembered
no more, shall not be mentioned unto them; they shall be sought
for, and not found. If we thoroughly forsake them, God will
thoroughly forgive them.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.civ-p16">4. He has pitied our sorrows, <scripRef id="Ps.civ-p16.1" osisRef="Bible:Ps.103.13-Ps.103.14" parsed="|Ps|103|13|103|14" passage="Ps 103:13,14"><i>v.</i> 13, 14</scripRef>. Observe, (1.)
Whom he pities—<i>those that fear him,</i> that is, all good
people, who in this world may become objects of pity on account of
the grievances to which they are not only born, but born again. Or
it may be understood of those who have not yet received <i>the
spirit of adoption,</i> but are yet <i>trembling at his word;</i>
those he <i>pities,</i> <scripRef id="Ps.civ-p16.2" osisRef="Bible:Jer.31.18 Bible:Jer.31.20" parsed="|Jer|31|18|0|0;|Jer|31|20|0|0" passage="Jer 31:18,20">Jer. xxxi.
18, 20</scripRef>. (2.) How he pities—<i>as a father pities his
children,</i> and does them good as there is occasion. God is a
Father to those that fear him and owns them for his children, and
he is tender of them as a father. The father pities his children
that are weak in knowledge and instructs them, pities them when
they are froward and bears with them, pities them when they are
sick and comforts them (<scripRef id="Ps.civ-p16.3" osisRef="Bible:Isa.66.13" parsed="|Isa|66|13|0|0" passage="Isa 66:13">Isa. lxvi.
13</scripRef>), pities them when they have fallen and helps them up
again, pities them when they have offended, and, upon their
submission, forgives them, pities them when they are wronged and
gives them redress; thus <i>the Lord pities those that fear
him.</i> (3.) Why he pities—<i>for he knows our frame.</i> He has
reason to know our frame, for he framed us; and, having himself
made man of the dust, <i>he remembers that he is dust,</i> not only
by constitution, but by sentence. <i>Dust thou art.</i> He
considers the frailty of our bodies and the folly of our souls, how
little we can do, and expects accordingly from us, how little we
can bear, and lays accordingly upon us, in all which appears the
tenderness of his compassion.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.civ-p17">5. He has perpetuated his covenant-mercy
and thereby provided relief for our frailty, <scripRef id="Ps.civ-p17.1" osisRef="Bible:Ps.103.15-Ps.103.18" parsed="|Ps|103|15|103|18" passage="Ps 103:15-18"><i>v.</i> 15-18</scripRef>. See here, (1.) How short
man's life is and of what uncertain continuance. The lives even of
great men and good men are so, and neither their greatness nor
their goodness can alter the property of them: <i>As for man, his
days are as grass,</i> which grows out of the earth, rises but a
little way above it, and soon withers and returns to it again. See
<scripRef id="Ps.civ-p17.2" osisRef="Bible:Isa.40.6-Isa.40.7" parsed="|Isa|40|6|40|7" passage="Isa 40:6,7">Isa. xl. 6, 7</scripRef>. Man, in
his best estate, seems somewhat more than grass; he flourishes and
looks gay; yet then he is but <i>like a flower of the field,</i>
which, though distinguished a little from the grass, will wither
with it. The flower of the garden is commonly more choice and
valuable, and, though in its own nature withering, will last the
longer for its being sheltered by the garden wall and the
gardener's care; but the flower of the field (to which life is here
compared) is not only withering in itself, but exposed to the cold
blasts, and liable to be cropped and trodden on by the beasts of
the field. Man's life is not only wasting of itself, but its period
may be anticipated by a thousand accidents. When the flower is in
its perfection a blasting wind, unseen, unlooked for, <i>passes
over it, and it is gone;</i> it hangs the head, drops the leaves,
dwindles into the ground again, <i>and the place thereof,</i> which
was proud of it, now <i>knows it no more.</i> Such a thing is man:
God considers this, and pities him; let him consider it himself,
and be humble, dead to this world and thoughtful of another. (2.)
How long and lasting God's mercy is to his people (<scripRef id="Ps.civ-p17.3" osisRef="Bible:Ps.103.17-Ps.103.18" parsed="|Ps|103|17|103|18" passage="Ps 103:17,18"><i>v.</i> 17, 18</scripRef>): it will
continue longer than their lives, and will survive their present
state. Observe, [1.] The description of those to whom this mercy
belongs. They are such as fear God, such as are truly religious,
from principle. <i>First,</i> They live a life of faith; for they
<i>keep God's covenant;</i> having taken hold of it, they keep hold
of it, fast hold, and will not let it go. They keep it as a
treasure, keep it as their portion, and would not for all the world
part with it, for it is their life. <i>Secondly,</i> They live a
life of obedience; they <i>remember his commandments to do
them,</i> else they do not <i>keep his covenant.</i> Those only
shall have the benefit of God's promises that make conscience of
his precepts. See who those are that have a good memory, as well as
a <i>good understanding</i> (<scripRef id="Ps.civ-p17.4" osisRef="Bible:Ps.111.10" parsed="|Ps|111|10|0|0" passage="Ps 111:10">Ps. cxi.
10</scripRef>), those that <i>remember God's commandments,</i> not
to talk of them, but <i>to do them,</i> and to be ruled by them.
[2.] The continuance of the mercy which belongs to such as these;
it will last them longer than their lives on earth, and therefore
they need not be troubled though their lives be short, since death
itself will be no abridgment, no infringement, of their bliss.
God's mercy is better than life, for it will out-live it.
<i>First,</i> To their souls, which are immortal; to them the mercy
of the Lord is <i>from everlasting to everlasting;</i> from
everlasting in the councils of it to everlasting in the
consequences of it, in their election before the world was and
their glorification when this world shall be no more; for they are
predestinated to the <i>inheritance</i> (<scripRef id="Ps.civ-p17.5" osisRef="Bible:Eph.1.11" parsed="|Eph|1|11|0|0" passage="Eph 1:11">Eph. i. 11</scripRef>) and <i>look for the mercy of the
Lord,</i> the Lord Jesus, unto eternal life. <i>Secondly,</i> To
their seed, which shall be kept up to the end of time (<scripRef id="Ps.civ-p17.6" osisRef="Bible:Ps.102.28" parsed="|Ps|102|28|0|0" passage="Ps 102:28">Ps. cii. 28</scripRef>): <i>His
righteousness,</i> the truth of his promise, shall be <i>unto
children's children;</i> provided they tread in the steps of their
predecessors' piety, and <i>keep his covenant,</i> as they did,
then shall mercy be preserved to them, even to <i>a thousand
generations.</i></p>
</div><scripCom id="Ps.civ-p17.7" osisRef="Bible:Ps.103.19-Ps.103.22" parsed="|Ps|103|19|103|22" passage="Ps 103:19-22" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Bible:Ps.103.19-Ps.103.22">
<h4 id="Ps.civ-p17.8">Cheerful Praise.</h4>
<p class="passage" id="Ps.civ-p18">19 The <span class="smallcaps" id="Ps.civ-p18.1">Lord</span> hath
prepared his throne in the heavens; and his kingdom ruleth over
all.   20 Bless the <span class="smallcaps" id="Ps.civ-p18.2">Lord</span>, ye
his angels, that excel in strength, that do his commandments,
hearkening unto the voice of his word.   21 Bless ye the <span class="smallcaps" id="Ps.civ-p18.3">Lord</span>, all <i>ye</i> his hosts; <i>ye</i>
ministers of his, that do his pleasure.   22 Bless the <span class="smallcaps" id="Ps.civ-p18.4">Lord</span>, all his works in all places of his
dominion: bless the <span class="smallcaps" id="Ps.civ-p18.5">Lord</span>, O my
soul.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.civ-p19">Here is, I. The doctrine of universal
providence laid down, <scripRef id="Ps.civ-p19.1" osisRef="Bible:Ps.103.19" parsed="|Ps|103|19|0|0" passage="Ps 103:19"><i>v.</i>
19</scripRef>. He has secured the happiness of his peculiar people
by promise and covenant, but the order of mankind, and the world in
general, he secures by common providence. <i>The Lord has a
throne</i> of his own, a throne of glory, a throne of government.
He that made all rules all, and both by a word of power: <i>He has
prepared his throne,</i> has fixed and established it that it
cannot be shaken; he has afore-ordained all the measures of his
government and does all according to the counsel of his own will.
He <i>has prepared</i> it <i>in the heavens,</i> above us, and out
of sight; for he <i>holds back the face of his throne, and spreads
a cloud upon it</i> (<scripRef id="Ps.civ-p19.2" osisRef="Bible:Job.26.9" parsed="|Job|26|9|0|0" passage="Job 26:9">Job xxvi.
9</scripRef>); yet he can himself <i>judge through the dark
cloud,</i> <scripRef id="Ps.civ-p19.3" osisRef="Bible:Job.22.13" parsed="|Job|22|13|0|0" passage="Job 22:13">Job xxiii. 13</scripRef>.
Hence <i>the heavens are said to rule</i> (<scripRef id="Ps.civ-p19.4" osisRef="Bible:Dan.4.26" parsed="|Dan|4|26|0|0" passage="Da 4:26">Dan. iv. 26</scripRef>), and we are led to consider this
by the influence which even the visible heavens have upon this
earth, their <i>dominion,</i> <scripRef id="Ps.civ-p19.5" osisRef="Bible:Job.38.33 Bible:Gen.1.16" parsed="|Job|38|33|0|0;|Gen|1|16|0|0" passage="Job 38:33,Ge 1:16">Job xxxviii. 33; Gen. i. 16</scripRef>. But
though God's throne is in heaven, and there he keeps his court, and
thither we are to direct to him (<i>Our Father who art in
heaven</i>), yet <i>his kingdom rules over all.</i> He takes
cognizance of all the inhabitants, and all the affairs, of this
lower world, and disposes all persons and things according to the
counsel of his will, to his own glory (<scripRef id="Ps.civ-p19.6" osisRef="Bible:Dan.4.35" parsed="|Dan|4|35|0|0" passage="Da 4:35">Dan. iv. 35</scripRef>): <i>His kingdom rules over
all</i> kings and all kingdoms, and from it there is no exempt
jurisdiction.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.civ-p20">II. The duty of universal praise inferred
from it: if all are under God's dominion, all must do him
homage.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.civ-p21">1. Let the holy angels praise him
(<scripRef id="Ps.civ-p21.1" osisRef="Bible:Ps.103.20-Ps.103.21" parsed="|Ps|103|20|103|21" passage="Ps 103:20,21"><i>v.</i> 20, 21</scripRef>):
<i>Bless the Lord, you his angels;</i> and again, <i>Bless the
Lord, all you his hosts, you ministers of his.</i> David had been
stirring up himself and others to praise God, and here, in the
close, he calls upon the angels to do it; not as if they needed any
excitement of ours to praise God, they do it continually; but thus
he expresses his high thoughts of God as worthy of the adorations
of the holy angels, thus he quickens himself and others to the duty
with this consideration, That it is the work of angels, and
comforts himself in reference to his own weakness and defect in the
performance of this duty with this consideration, That there is a
world of holy angels who dwell in God's house and are still
praising him. In short, the blessed angels are glorious attendants
upon the blessed God. Observe, (1.) How well qualified they are for
the post they are in. They are able; for they <i>excel in
strength;</i> they are <i>mighty in strength</i> (so the word is);
they are able to bring great things to pass, and to abide in their
work without weariness. And they are as willing as they are able;
they are willing to know their work; for they <i>hearken to the
voice of his word;</i> they stand expecting commission and
instructions from their great Lord, and <i>always behold his
face</i> (<scripRef id="Ps.civ-p21.2" osisRef="Bible:Matt.18.10" parsed="|Matt|18|10|0|0" passage="Mt 18:10">Matt. xviii. 10</scripRef>),
that they may take the first intimation of his mind. They are
willing to do their work: They <i>do his commandments</i>
(<scripRef id="Ps.civ-p21.3" osisRef="Bible:Ps.103.20" parsed="|Ps|103|20|0|0" passage="Ps 103:20"><i>v.</i> 20</scripRef>); they <i>do
his pleasure</i> (<scripRef id="Ps.civ-p21.4" osisRef="Bible:Ps.103.21" parsed="|Ps|103|21|0|0" passage="Ps 103:21"><i>v.</i>
21</scripRef>); they dispute not any divine commands, but readily
address themselves to the execution of them. Nor do they delay, but
fly swiftly: They <i>do his commandments at hearing,</i> or <i>as
soon as they hear the voice of his word;</i> so Dr. Hammond. <i>To
obey is better than sacrifice;</i> for angels obey, but do not
sacrifice. (2.) What their service is. They are <i>his angels,</i>
and <i>ministers of his</i>—his, for he made them, and made them
for himself—his, for he employs them, though he does not need
them—his, for he is their owner and Lord; they belong to him and
he has them at his beck. All the creatures are his servants, but
not as the angels that attend the presence of his glory. Soldiers,
and seamen, and all good subjects, serve the king, but not as the
courtiers do, the ministers of state and those of the household.
[1.] The angels occasionally serve God in this lower world; they
<i>do his commandments,</i> go on his errands (<scripRef id="Ps.civ-p21.5" osisRef="Bible:Dan.9.21" parsed="|Dan|9|21|0|0" passage="Da 9:21">Dan. ix. 21</scripRef>), fight his battles (<scripRef id="Ps.civ-p21.6" osisRef="Bible:2Kgs.6.17" parsed="|2Kgs|6|17|0|0" passage="2Ki 6:17">2 Kings vi. 17</scripRef>), and minister for the
good of his people, <scripRef id="Ps.civ-p21.7" osisRef="Bible:Heb.1.14" parsed="|Heb|1|14|0|0" passage="Heb 1:14">Heb. i.
14</scripRef>. [2.] They <i>continually praise him</i> in the upper
world; they began betimes to do it (<scripRef id="Ps.civ-p21.8" osisRef="Bible:Job.38.7" parsed="|Job|38|7|0|0" passage="Job 38:7">Job xxxviii. 7</scripRef>), and it is still their
business, from which they rest not <i>day nor night,</i> <scripRef id="Ps.civ-p21.9" osisRef="Bible:Rev.4.8" parsed="|Rev|4|8|0|0" passage="Re 4:8">Rev. iv. 8</scripRef>. It is God's glory that he
has such attendants, but more his glory that he neither needs them
nor is benefited by them.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.civ-p22">2. Let <i>all his works</i> praise him
(<scripRef id="Ps.civ-p22.1" osisRef="Bible:Ps.103.22" parsed="|Ps|103|22|0|0" passage="Ps 103:22"><i>v.</i> 22</scripRef>), all <i>in
all places of his dominion;</i> for, because they are his works,
they are under his dominion, and they were made and are ruled that
they may be unto him <i>for a name and a praise. All his works,</i>
that is, all the children of men, in all parts of the world, let
them all praise God; yea, and the inferior creatures too, which are
God's works also; let them praise him objectively, though they
cannot praise him actually, <scripRef id="Ps.civ-p22.2" osisRef="Bible:Ps.145.10" parsed="|Ps|145|10|0|0" passage="Ps 145:10">Ps. cxlv.
10</scripRef>. Yet all this shall not excuse David from praising
God, but rather excite him to do it the more cheerfully, that he
may bear a part in this concert; for he concludes, <i>Bless the
Lord, O my soul!</i> as he began, <scripRef id="Ps.civ-p22.3" osisRef="Bible:Ps.103.1" parsed="|Ps|103|1|0|0" passage="Ps 103:1"><i>v.</i> 1</scripRef>. Blessing God and giving him
glory must be the alpha and the omega of all our services. He began
with <i>Bless the Lord, O my soul!</i> and, when he had penned and
sung this excellent hymn to his honour, he does not say, Now, O my
soul! thou hast blessed the Lord, sit down, and rest thee, but,
<i>Bless the Lord, O my soul!</i> yet more and more. When we have
done ever so much in the service of God, yet still we must stir up
ourselves to do more. God's praise is a subject that will never be
exhausted, and therefore we must never think this work done till we
come to heaven, where it will be for ever in the doing.</p>
</div></div2>