His range of vision being widened from himself, the poet now in Psalm 103:6 describes God's gracious and fatherly conduct towards sinful and perishing men, and that as it shines forth from the history of Israel and is known and recognised in the light of revelation. What Psalm 103:6 says is a common-place drawn from the history of Israel. משׁפּטים is an accusative governed by the עשׂה that is to be borrowed out of עשׂה (so Baer after the Masora). And because Psalm 103:6 is the result of an historical retrospect and survey, יודיע in Psalm 103:7 can affirm that which happened in the past (cf. Psalm 96:6.); for the supposition of Hengstenberg and Hitzig, that Moses here represents Israel like Jacob, Isaac, and Joseph in other instances, is without example in the whole Israelitish literature. It becomes clear from Psalm 103:8 in what sense the making of His ways known is meant. The poet has in his mind Moses' prayer: "make known to me now Thy way" (Exodus 33:13), which Jahve fulfilled by passing by him as he stood in the cleft of the rock and making Himself visible to him as he looked after Him, amidst the proclamation of His attributes. The ways of Jahve are therefore in this passage not those in which men are to walk in accordance with His precepts (Psalm 25:4), but those which He Himself follows in the course of His redemptive history (Psalm 67:3). The confession drawn from Exodus 34:6. is become a formula of the Israelitish faith (Psalm 86:15; Psalm 145:8; Joel 2:13; Nehemiah 9:17, and frequently). In Psalm 103:9. the fourth attribute (ורב־חסד) is made the object of further praise. He is not only long (ארך from ארך, like כּבד from כּבד) in anger, i.e., waiting a long time before He lets His anger loose, but when He contends, i.e., interposes judicially, this too is not carried to the full extent (Psalm 78:38), He is not angry for ever (נטר, to keep, viz., anger, Amos 1:11; cf. the parallels, both as to matter and words, Jeremiah 3:5; Isaiah 57:16). The procedure of His righteousness is regulated not according to our sins, but according to His purpose of mercy. The prefects in Psalm 103:10 state that which God has constantly not done, and the futures in Psalm 103:9 what He continually will not do.

Psalm 103:13 Parallel Commentaries

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Numbers 11:12 Have I conceived all this people? have I begotten them, that you should say to me, Carry them in your bosom...

Deuteronomy 3:5 All these cities were fenced with high walls, gates, and bars; beside unwalled towns a great many.

Proverbs 3:12 For whom the LORD loves he corrects; even as a father the son in whom he delights.

Isaiah 63:15,16 Look down from heaven, and behold from the habitation of your holiness and of your glory: where is your zeal and your strength...

Jeremiah 31:9,20 They shall come with weeping, and with supplications will I lead them...

Matthew 6:9,32 After this manner therefore pray you: Our Father which are in heaven, Hallowed be your name...

Luke 11:11,12 If a son shall ask bread of any of you that is a father, will he give him a stone? or if he ask a fish...

Luke 16:21,22 And desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man's table: moreover the dogs came and licked his sores...

John 20:17 Jesus said to her, Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father: but go to my brothers, and say to them, I ascend to my Father...

Hebrews 12:5-11 And you have forgotten the exhortation which speaks to you as to children, My son, despise not you the chastening of the Lord...

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Psalm 103:11,17 For as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is his mercy toward them that fear him...

Psalm 147:11 The LORD takes pleasure in them that fear him, in those that hope in his mercy.

Malachi 3:16,17 Then they that feared the LORD spoke often one to another: and the LORD listened, and heard it...

Malachi 4:2 But to you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings; and you shall go forth...

Acts 13:26 Men and brothers, children of the stock of Abraham, and whoever among you fears God, to you is the word of this salvation sent.