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Commentary on Psalms 103 verses 6–18
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.
I. Truly God is good to all (Psa 103:6): He executes righteousness and judgment, not only for his own people, but for all that are oppressed; 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.
II. He is in a special manner good to Israel, to every Israelite indeed, that is of a clean and upright heart.
1.He has revealed himself and his grace to us (Psa 103:7): He made known his ways unto Moses, and by him his acts to the children of Israel, 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 made known his acts and his ways (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 ways we may understand his precepts, the way which he requires us to walk in; and by his acts, or designs (as the word signifies), his promises and purposes as to what he will do with us. Thus fairly does God deal with us.
2.He has never been rigorous and severe with us, but always tender, full of compassion, and ready to forgive.
(1.)It is in his nature to be so (Psa 103:8): The Lord is merciful and gracious; this was his way which he made known unto Moses at Mount Horeb, when he thus proclaimed his name (Exo 34:6, Exo 34:7), in answer to Moses's request (Psa 33:13), I beseech thee, show me thy way, that I may know thee. It is my way, says God, to pardon sin. [1.] He is not soon angry, Psa 103:8. He is slow to anger, 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 slow to anger if he were not plenteous in mercy, the very Father of mercies. [2.] He is not long angry; for (Psa 103:9) he will not always chide, 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? He will not keep his anger for ever against his own people, but will gather them with everlasting mercies, Isa 54:8; Isa 57:16.
(2.)We have found him so; we, for our parts, must own that he has not dealt with us after our sins, Psa 103:10. 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 he has not rewarded us after our iniquities; 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 God's patience should lead us to repentance, Rom 2:4.
3.He has pardoned our sins, not only my iniquity (Psa 103:3), but our transgressions, Psa 103:12. 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 (Psa 103:11): As the heaven is high above the earth (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 less than the least of all God's mercies, Gen 32:10. Observe, God's mercy is thus great towards those that fear him, 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 (Psa 103:12): As far as the east is from the west (which two quarters of the world are of greatest extent, because all known and inhabited, and therefore geographers that way reckon their longitudes) so far has he removed our transgressions from us, 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.
4.He has pitied our sorrows, Psa 103:13, Psa 103:14. Observe, (1.) Whom he pities - those that fear him, 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 the spirit of adoption, but are yet trembling at his word; those he pities, Jer 31:18, Jer 31:20. (2.) How he pities - as a father pities his children, 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 (Isa 66:13), 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 the Lord pities those that fear him. (3.) Why he pities - for he knows our frame. He has reason to know our frame, for he framed us; and, having himself made man of the dust, he remembers that he is dust, not only by constitution, but by sentence. Dust thou art. 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.
5.He has perpetuated his covenant-mercy and thereby provided relief for our frailty, Psa 103:15-18. 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: As for man, his days are as grass, which grows out of the earth, rises but a little way above it, and soon withers and returns to it again. See Isa 40:6, Isa 40:7. Man, in his best estate, seems somewhat more than grass; he flourishes and looks gay; yet then he is but like a flower of the field, 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, passes over it, and it is gone; it hangs the head, drops the leaves, dwindles into the ground again, and the place thereof, which was proud of it, now knows it no more. 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 (Psa 103:17, Psa 103:18): 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. First, They live a life of faith; for they keep God's covenant; 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. Secondly, They live a life of obedience; they remember his commandments to do them, else they do not keep his covenant. 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 good understanding (Psa 111:10), those that remember God's commandments, not to talk of them, but to do them, 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. First, To their souls, which are immortal; to them the mercy of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting; 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 inheritance (Eph 1:11) and look for the mercy of the Lord, the Lord Jesus, unto eternal life. Secondly, To their seed, which shall be kept up to the end of time (Psa 102:28): His righteousness, the truth of his promise, shall be unto children's children; provided they tread in the steps of their predecessors' piety, and keep his covenant, as they did, then shall mercy be preserved to them, even to a thousand generations.
Our life on earth, brothers, is such that our existence is very transitory. We play, as it were, a game on earth: we do not exist, and we are born, and being born we are dissolved. We are like a fleeting dream, an apparition without substance, the flight of a bird that passes, a ship that leaves no trace on the sea. We are dust, a vapor, the morning dew, a flower growing but a moment and withering in a moment. “[A] man’s days are as grass: as the flower of the field, so shall he flourish.” Beautifully has blessed David meditated on our weakness. Again he says, “Declare to me how few are my days.” He defines the days of humankind as the measure of a handbreadth. What would you say to Jeremiah, who, complaining of his birth, even blames his mother, and that, for the failings of others? “I have seen everything,” says Ecclesiastes. I have reviewed in my mind all human things, wealth, luxury, power, glory that is not stable, wisdom that eludes us more often that it is mastered. ON HIS BROTHER ST.
Concerning the resurrection more will be said later; but now let us return to our immediate subject. We have shown that even holy people have, without any consideration for their merits, suffered many difficult things in this world, together with toil and misery. So David, in self-reflection, says, “Remember, Lord, that we are dust; as for [a] man, his days are but as grass”; and in another place, “[A] man is like a breath, his days pass away as a shadow.” For what is more wretched than we, who are sent into this life as it were plundered and naked, with frail bodies, deceitful hearts, weak minds, anxious in regard to cares, slothful as to labor, prone to pleasures.
"Man, his days are but as grass" [Psalm 103:15]. Let man consider what he is; let not man be proud. "His days are but as grass." Why is the grass proud, that is now flourishing, and in a very short space dried up? Why is the grass proud that flourishes only for a brief season, until the sun be hot? It is then good for us that His mercy be upon us, and from grass make gold. "For he flourishes as a flower of the field." The whole splendour of the human race; honour, powers, riches, pride, threats, is the flower of the grass. That house flourishes, and that family is great, that family flourishes; and how many flourish, and how many years do they live! Many years to you, are but a short season unto God. God does not count, as you do. Compared with the length and long life of ages, all the flower of any house is as the flower of the field. All the beauty of the year hardly lasts for the year. Whatever there flourishes, whatever there is warmed with heat, whatever there is beautiful, lasts not; nay, it cannot exist for one whole year. In how brief a season do flowers pass away, and these are the beauty of the herbs! This which is so very beautiful, this quickly falls. [Isaiah 40:6-8] Inasmuch then as He knows as a father our forming, that we are but grass, and can only flourish for a time; He sent unto us His Word, and His Word, which abides for evermore, He has made a brother unto the grass which abides not. Wonder not that you shall be a sharer of His Eternity; He became Himself first a sharer of your grass. Will He who assumed from you what was lowly, deny unto you what is exalted in respect of you?
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SUMMARY
Psalms 103:15 offers a poignant and profound reflection on the transient nature of human existence, likening the brevity of our lives to the fleeting beauty and rapid decay of grass and a field flower. This vivid imagery serves as a stark reminder of humanity's inherent frailty and temporal limitations, subtly contrasting it with the enduring, eternal character of God's steadfast love, mercy, and compassion, which forms the majestic backdrop of Psalm 103.
CONTEXT
EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
Key Word Analysis
Verse Breakdown
Literary Devices
Psalms 103:15 masterfully employs several literary devices to convey its profound message about human transience. The most prominent is Simile, where human life ("man, his days") is directly compared to "grass" and "a flower of the field" through the explicit use of the comparative "as" and "so." This creates vivid Imagery, allowing the reader to visualize the rapid growth, vibrant bloom, and swift decay of vegetation in an arid climate, thereby impressing upon them the transient nature of human existence. The deliberate choice of "grass" and "flower of the field" is significant, as they are common, easily recognizable elements of the natural world, making the metaphor universally relatable and impactful. While not explicitly stated within this single verse, the entire psalm operates with a powerful implicit Contrast between the fleeting life of man and the enduring, eternal character of God, which serves as a profound theological undercurrent that gives ultimate meaning and comfort to the verse's emphasis on human frailty.
THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Psalms 103:15 beautifully encapsulates a recurring and vital biblical theme: the profound brevity and inherent fragility of human life, presented in stark contrast to the eternal, unchanging nature of God. This understanding is not intended to induce despair or fatalism, but rather to cultivate humility, wisdom, and a proper, God-centered perspective on what truly endures. It serves as a powerful reminder that our ultimate hope, security, and significance are not found in our own fleeting existence, accomplishments, or earthly possessions, but solely in the steadfast love, faithfulness, and eternal promises of a God who is "from everlasting to everlasting." This foundational theological truth encourages believers to live with intentionality, recognizing the preciousness and limited nature of our days, and directing our focus toward eternal realities and the enduring kingdom of God.
REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Understanding the profound truth of Psalms 103:15—that our days are as fleeting as grass and field flowers—is not a call to fatalism or despondency, but rather a powerful and urgent invitation to live with greater wisdom, purpose, and humility. This realization compels us to re-evaluate our priorities, shifting our focus from the temporary and often trivial pursuits of this world to that which holds eternal value. Recognizing our inherent frailty should deepen our appreciation for God's boundless grace, patience, and compassion, as He, in His infinite wisdom and love, "remembers our frame" and deals with us mercifully. This perspective fosters a profound and necessary dependence on God, reminding us that our ultimate hope and security lie not in our own strength, longevity, or earthly achievements, but in His unchanging love and everlasting promises. It encourages us to make the most of every precious moment, investing our lives in meaningful relationships, selfless service, and spiritual growth that will echo into eternity, all while resting securely in the knowledge that God's mercy transcends our temporal limitations and extends to those who fear Him.
Questions for Reflection
FAQ
Why does the Bible frequently use the imagery of grass and flowers to describe human life?
Answer: The imagery of grass and flowers is used throughout Scripture, as powerfully illustrated in Psalms 103:15, because it is a universally understood and visually striking metaphor for rapid growth, vibrant beauty, and swift decay. In the arid climate of the ancient Near East, where these biblical texts originated, vegetation would flourish quickly after seasonal rains but then just as rapidly wither under the intense sun or hot, parching winds. This natural cycle provided a powerful, tangible illustration of the brevity and fragility of human life, emphasizing its transient nature in stark contrast to the enduring character of God and His eternal Word, as profoundly highlighted in Isaiah 40:6-8.
How does understanding the brevity of life impact our relationship with God?
Answer: Recognizing the brevity of life, as so poignantly taught in Psalms 103:15, can profoundly impact and deepen our relationship with God by fostering humility, urgency, and a richer appreciation for His eternal nature. It serves as a constant reminder of our absolute dependence on Him, shifting our focus from fleeting earthly accomplishments and temporal pleasures to enduring spiritual realities. This perspective encourages us to seek God earnestly, to live wisely and purposefully, to make the most of our limited time for His glory, and to place our ultimate hope not in our own fleeting existence but in His everlasting love, faithfulness, and unchanging promises, as beautifully emphasized in Psalms 103:17.
CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
While Psalms 103:15 poignantly highlights the fleeting nature of human life, its ultimate fulfillment and profound resolution are found exclusively in the person and redemptive work of Jesus Christ. The "grass" and "flower" imagery powerfully underscores humanity's inherent mortality and vulnerability to death, which is the inescapable consequence of sin. However, Christ, the eternal Son of God, graciously entered into this very fragile human existence, taking on flesh that was subject to the same decay and death (Hebrews 2:14). Through His sinless life, His sacrificial death on the cross, and His glorious resurrection from the dead, Jesus decisively conquered the very power of death that makes human life so transient and brief (1 Corinthians 15:54-57). He is the "resurrection and the life," boldly proclaiming that "whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live" (John 11:25). Thus, for those who are "in Christ," the brevity of earthly days is not the final word; rather, it is a temporary prelude to an eternal life secured by His triumph, where the perishable puts on the imperishable, and the mortal puts on immortality (1 Corinthians 15:53). In Him, our fleeting "flower" finds its eternal bloom, flourishing forever in the presence of God.