TheoMaps

Act IV · Israel

Psalm 103: Remember His compassionate love

The LORD's forgiving compassion outlasts human frailty and calls every creature to bless His holy name.

Chapter 103 of 15022 verses4 sectionsBSB

Where Psalm 103 sits

Genesis66 books · 1,189 chaptersRevelation
In the story
Act IV, Israel: Exodus–Malachi · The Kingdom, c. 1050–930 BC
In the Bible
Old Testament · Wisdom & Poetry · chapter 103 of 150 in Psalms
In Psalms
Book IV: the eternal LORD still reigns, 90–106
Before
Psalm 102: You remain when my days fade
After
Psalm 104: Every creature depends on You

Psalm 103 summary

David summons his own soul to praise the God who forgives, restores and redeems (1–5). God's revealed character includes justice, abundant pardon and fatherly compassion (6–14). His covenant faithfulness endures beyond the brief lives of those who fear Him (15–19). Angels, hosts and all His works join the singer's praise (20–22).

Psalm 103 in context

Speaking
David, as named in the superscription.
Written for
David’s own soul, followed by angels, heavenly servants and all God’s works.
Around it
The song echoes Exodus 34:6 and sets human grass-like frailty against God's steadfast love. Praise for healing is not a guarantee that every illness ends before resurrection.

The sections of Psalm 103

  1. Remember His benefits
    103:1–5
  2. Mercy toward the guilty and weak
    103:6–14
  3. Human life fades, His love remains
    103:15–19
  4. Let every servant bless Him
    103:20–22

Read Psalm 103

Bless the LORD, O My Soul

Of David.

1Bless the LORD, O my soul;

all that is within me, bless His holy name.

2Bless the LORD, O my soul,

and do not forget all His kind deeds—

3He who forgives all your iniquities

and heals all your diseases,

4who redeems your life from the Pit

and crowns you with loving devotion and compassion,

5who satisfies you with good things,

so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.

6The LORD executes righteousness

and justice for all the oppressed.

7He made known His ways to Moses,

His deeds to the people of Israel.

8The LORD is compassionate and gracious,

slow to anger, abounding in loving devotion.

9He will not always accuse us,

nor harbor His anger forever.

10He has not dealt with us according to our sins

or repaid us according to our iniquities.

11For as high as the heavens are above the earth,

so great is His loving devotion for those who fear Him.

12As far as the east is from the west,

so far has He removed our transgressions from us.

13As a father has compassion on his children,

so the LORD has compassion on those who fear Him.

14For He knows our frame;

He is mindful that we are dust.

15As for man, his days are like grass—

he blooms like a flower of the field;

16when the wind passes over, it vanishes,

and its place remembers it no more.

17But from everlasting to everlasting

the loving devotion of the LORD

extends to those who fear Him,

and His righteousness to their children’s children—

18to those who keep His covenant

and remember to obey His precepts.

19The LORD has established His throne in heaven,

and His kingdom rules over all.

20Bless the LORD, all His angels mighty in strength

who carry out His word,

who hearken to the voice of His command.

21Bless the LORD, all His hosts,

you servants who do His will.

22Bless the LORD, all His works

in all places of His dominion.

Bless the LORD, O my soul!

Berean Standard Bible, 22 verses. The BSB is in the public domain.

Near it in Book IV: the eternal LORD still reigns

  • Psalm 94
  • Psalm 95
  • Psalm 96
  • Psalm 97
  • Psalm 98
  • Psalm 99
  • Psalm 100
  • Psalm 101
  • Psalm 102
  • Psalm 104
  • Psalm 105
  • Psalm 106

Read alongside

Chapters that point here

  • Leviticus 16

Questions on Psalm 103

  1. How does fatherly compassion answer human guilt and frailty?

The answers are in TheoMaps Challenges.

Plus What TheoMaps holds for Psalm 103

  • How Psalm 103 points to Christ
  • What each of its 4 sections says, and how one leads into the next
  • Why that chapter belongs beside it
  • The answers to its questions, in Challenges

TheoMaps Plus opens every book the way Genesis is open, on the map, with Challenges to help you remember it.