1 A Psalme of Dauid. Blesse the Lord, O my soule: and all that is within me, blesse his holy Name.
2 Blesse the Lord, O my soule: & forget not all his benefits.
3 Who forgiueth all thine iniquities: who healeth all thy diseases.
4 Who redeemeth thy life from destruction: who crowneth thee with louing kindnesse and tender mercies.
5 Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things: so that thy youth is renewed like the Eagles.
6 The Lord executeth righteousnesse: and iudgement for all that are oppressed.
7 He made knowen his wayes vnto Moses: his actes vnto the children of Israel.
8 The Lord is mercifull and gracious: slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy.
9 Hee will not alwayes chide: neither will he keepe his anger for euer.
10 Hee hath not dealt with vs after our sinnes: nor rewarded vs according to our iniquities.
11 For as the heauen is high aboue the earth: so great is his mercy toward them that feare him.
12 As farre as the East is from the West: so farre hath hee remooued our transgressions from vs.
13 Like as a father pitieth his children: so the Lord pitieth them that feare him.
14 For he knoweth our frame: hee remembreth that we are dust.
15 As for man, his dayes are as grasse: as a flower of the field, so he flourisheth.
16 For the winde passeth ouer it, and it is gone; and the place thereof shall know it no more.
17 But the mercy of the Lord is from euerlasting to euerlasting vpon them that feare him: and his righteousnesse vnto childrens children:
18 To such as keepe his couenant: and to those that remember his commandements to doe them.
19 The Lord hath prepared his throne in the heauens: and his kingdome ruleth ouer all.
20 Blesse the Lord yee his Angels, that excell in strength, that do his commandements: hearkening vnto the voice of his word.
21 Blesse ye the Lord all yee his hostes: ye ministers of his that doe his pleasure.
22 Blesse the Lord all his works in all places of his dominion: blesse the Lord, O my soule.
An exhortation to bless God for his mercy. (1-5) And to the church and to all men. (6-14) For the constancy of his mercy. (15-18) For the government of the world. (19-22)
1-5 By the pardon of sin, that is taken away which kept good things from us, and we are restored to the favor of God, who bestows good things on us. Think of the provocation; it was sin, and yet pardoned: how many the provocations, yet all pardoned! God is still forgiving, as we are still sinning and repenting. The body finds the melancholy consequences of Adam's offence, it is subject to many infirmities, and the soul also. Christ alone forgives all our sins; it is he alone who heals all our infirmities. And the person who finds his sin cured, has a well-grounded assurance that it is forgiven. 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, they may then be said to return to the days of their youth, #Job 33:25|.
6-14 Truly God is good to all: he is in a special manner good to Israel. He has revealed himself and his grace to them. By his ways we may understand his precepts, the ways he requires us to walk in; and his promises and purposes. He always has been full of compassion. How unlike are those to God, who take every occasion to chide, and never know when to cease! What would become of us, if God should deal so with us? The Scripture says a great deal of the mercy of God, and we all have experienced it. The father pities his children that are weak in knowledge, and teaches them; pities them when they are froward, and bears with them; pities them when they are sick, and comforts them; pities them when they are fallen, and helps them to rise; pities them when they have offended, and, upon their submission, forgives them; pities them when wronged, and rights them: thus the Lord pities those that fear him. See why he pities. He considers the frailty of our bodies, and the folly of our souls, how little we can do, how little we can bear; in all which his compassion appears.
15-18 How short is man's life, and uncertain! The flower of the garden is commonly more choice, and will last the longer, for 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 cropt and trod on by the beasts of the field. Such is man. God considers this, and pities him; let him consider it himself. God's mercy is better than life, for it will outlive it. His righteousness, the truth of his promise, shall be unto children's children, who tread in the footsteps of their forefathers' piety. Then shall mercy be preserved to them.
19-22 He who made all, rules all, and both by a word of power. He disposes all persons and things to his own glory. There is a world of holy angels who are ever praising him. Let all his works praise him. Such would have been our constant delight, if we had not been fallen creatures. Such it will in a measure become, if we are born of God. Such it will be for ever in heaven; nor can we be perfectly happy till we can take unwearied pleasure in perfect obedience to the will of our God. And let the feeling of each redeemed heart be, Bless the Lord, O my soul.
Commentary by Matthew Henry, 1710.