Psalms 103:9-13 - Hawker's Poor Man's Commentary

Bible Comments

The Psalmist in these verses, under various representations, sets forth the mercy of redeeming grace; and, in order to heighten the representation, he borroweth his language from images in the works of nature, and the feelings of the human heart. He takes a resemblance from. the heavens, to demonstrate that God's grace, his superabundant grace, as far transcends our conceptions of it, as God's thoughts are above our thoughts; and his ways above our ways. Isaiah 45:8. He borrows another figure from the extensiveness of the earth, and the total impossibility for the distant points of the east and west ever to join, by way of setting forth the vast and immeasurable distance between the sinner and his sins, when they are taken away by the hand of that fit man, Christ Jesus, into the land of everlasting forgetfulness. Leviticus 16:21-22. He takes a third very sweet and endearing resemblance from the feelings of the human heart, to set forth the tender compassion of the Father of mercies, and God of all comfort, by showing that God's love is a fatherly love, full of pity, and full of compassion. See those scriptures, Isaiah 49:13-15; Micah 7:18-19.

Psalms 103:9-13

9 He will not always chide: neither will he keep his anger 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, so great is his mercy toward them that fear him.

12 As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us.

13 Like as a father pitieth his children, so the LORD pitieth them that fear him.