Psalms 103:18

KJV

To such as keep his covenant, and to those that remember his commandments to do them.

KJV (with Strong's)

To such as keep {H8104} his covenant {H1285}, and to those that remember {H2142} his commandments {H6490} to do {H6213} them.

Complete Jewish Bible

provided they keep his covenant and remember to follow his precepts.

Berean Standard Bible

to those who keep His covenant and remember to obey His precepts.

American Standard Version

To such as keep his covenant, And to those that remember his precepts to do them.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Psalms 103:18 concludes a profound declaration of God's enduring mercy and steadfast love, specifying the recipients of His boundless lovingkindness. It reveals that the Lord's mercy extends "to such as keep his covenant, and to those that remember his commandments to do them." This verse acts as a vital bridge, connecting God's eternal character and unfailing compassion with humanity's divinely-ordained responsibility within the covenant relationship, underscoring that active obedience and faithful remembrance are pathways to experiencing the fullness of His promised blessings.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Psalm 103 is a magnificent psalm of praise attributed to King David, overflowing with gratitude for God's blessings, forgiveness, and healing. The psalm begins with a call to bless the Lord for His benefits, then moves to recount His redemptive acts and merciful character. Verses 15-16 vividly contrast the fleeting nature of human life, likened to grass that withers, with the eternal, enduring quality of God's mercy. Verse 17 explicitly states, "But the mercy of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting upon them that fear him, and His righteousness unto children's children." Psalms 103:18 then immediately clarifies and qualifies the recipients of this "everlasting to everlasting" mercy, specifying that it is directed "To such as keep his covenant, and to those that remember his commandments to do them." Thus, verse 18 serves as a crucial clarification, linking the universal scope of God's mercy to the particularity of a covenant relationship marked by active obedience, reinforcing the reciprocal nature of divine-human interaction within the psalm's broader narrative of praise.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The concept of "covenant" (`berît`) was central to ancient Israel's understanding of their relationship with Yahweh. This refers primarily to the Mosaic Covenant established at Sinai, which outlined God's laws and stipulations for His people, promising blessings for obedience and curses for disobedience (see [Deuteronomy 28](/deuteronomy/28 "Deuteronomy 28 - Blessings and Curses")). Culturally, covenants in the ancient Near East were solemn, binding agreements, often involving oaths, rituals, and specified obligations for both parties. For Israel, "keeping" the covenant was not merely a legalistic adherence but an expression of loyalty and devotion to their divine King. The emphasis on "remembering" (`zāḵar`) commandments was also profoundly significant; in Hebrew thought, remembrance was not passive recollection but an active, mindful engagement that led to corresponding action. Forgetting God's commandments was seen as a grave dereliction, leading to spiritual and national decline, as evidenced throughout Israel's history (e.g., [Judges 2:10-13](/judges/2-10 "Judges 2:10-13 - Israel Forgets the Lord")). The verse thus reflects the foundational theological framework of Israel's existence as God's chosen people, whose well-being was intrinsically tied to their faithfulness to His revealed will.
* **Key Themes:** This verse powerfully contributes to several key themes prevalent in Psalm 103 and the broader biblical narrative. Firstly, it highlights **Covenant Faithfulness**, underscoring that God's enduring mercy, while vast, is particularly manifested within the framework of His established covenant with humanity. It implies a reciprocal commitment: God is faithful to His promises, and He expects His people to be faithful to their part of the agreement, living in accordance with His revealed will (compare [Deuteronomy 7:9](/deuteronomy/7-9 "Deuteronomy 7:9 - God's Faithfulness to His Covenant")). Secondly, the verse emphasizes **Active Obedience and Remembrance**. The phrase "remember his commandments to do them" signifies that true remembrance is not merely intellectual recall but an active, volitional commitment to live according to God's precepts. It moves beyond passive acknowledgment to diligent practice, reflecting a heart devoted to God's ways (see [James 1:22](/james/1-22 "James 1:22 - Be Doers of the Word")). Finally, the verse implicitly connects **Divine Blessing and Mercy** to human responsiveness. Those who "keep his covenant" and "remember his commandments to do them" are presented as the recipients who fully experience the benefits of God's boundless mercy and unfailing love, as detailed throughout the psalm (e.g., [Psalms 103:2-5](/psalms/103-2 "Psalms 103:2-5 - Benefits of Blessing the Lord")). Their faithfulness positions them to receive and truly appreciate His blessings.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **Covenant (Hebrew, _berît'_):** This term signifies a binding agreement, solemn pact, or treaty, often initiated by God. In the context of the Old Testament, it primarily refers to the formal relationship God established with Israel, particularly at Sinai. This covenant was not merely a contract but a relationship of grace and obligation, where God promised to be their God and they, His people, were to live in obedience to His laws. "Keeping" the covenant implies upholding its terms, remaining loyal to the divine partner, and living in accordance with its stipulations.
* **Remember (Hebrew, _zāḵar'_):** More than simple intellectual recall, the Hebrew verb `zāḵar` denotes an active, mindful engagement that leads to action. To "remember" God's commandments is to bring them to mind with the intention of acting upon them, to internalize them so deeply that they shape one's behavior and decisions. It implies a conscious, ongoing commitment to God's will, contrasting sharply with forgetting or neglecting His instructions, which often led to apostasy in Israel's history.
* **Commandments (Hebrew, _mitsvot'_):** This word refers to God's divine precepts, statutes, or laws. These were not arbitrary rules but expressions of God's character and His design for human flourishing within the covenant. "To do them" emphasizes the practical, behavioral aspect of obedience. It's not enough to know the commandments; one must actively live them out. This phrase highlights the practical outworking of the covenant relationship in daily life.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"To such as keep his covenant":** This phrase identifies the first group of recipients of God's enduring mercy. "Keeping" the covenant implies active adherence, loyalty, and faithfulness to the terms of the relationship God has established with His people. For ancient Israel, this meant upholding the Mosaic Law, observing its statutes, and maintaining their exclusive devotion to Yahweh. It speaks to a life lived in conscious alignment with God's revealed will, not as a means to earn favor, but as a response of love and allegiance within the existing covenant.
* **"and to those that remember his commandments to do them":** This second clause functions in synonymous parallelism with the first, further defining the character of those who receive God's mercy. "Remembering" God's commandments goes beyond mere mental recollection; it signifies a deep internalization and active application of His laws. The addition "to do them" explicitly states that this remembrance must culminate in practical obedience. It emphasizes that genuine faith and covenant loyalty are not passive but are demonstrated through a life of active, intentional obedience to God's precepts.

#### Literary Devices
Psalms 103:18 skillfully employs **Parallelism**, a hallmark of Hebrew poetry. Specifically, it uses **Synonymous Parallelism**, where the second clause ("and to those that remember his commandments to do them") reiterates and elaborates upon the meaning of the first clause ("To such as keep his covenant"). Both phrases describe the same group of people and the same spiritual posture: those who are faithfully obedient to God's revealed will. This repetition serves to reinforce the central message, emphasizing the dual aspects of covenant faithfulness and practical obedience as integral to experiencing God's mercy. The verse also contains an **Implicit Conditional Clause**, where the "to such as" structure implies that God's mercy, while universally available, is particularly experienced and manifested in the lives of those who meet these conditions of covenant adherence and active remembrance. The enduring mercy described in [Psalms 103:17](/psalms/103-17 "Psalms 103:17 - God's Everlasting Mercy") is thus shown to have a specific, relational trajectory.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Psalms 103:18 articulates a profound theological truth: while God's mercy is boundless and eternal, its full experience is intrinsically linked to humanity's responsive faithfulness within the covenant. This verse does not suggest that human obedience earns God's mercy, but rather that it positions the individual to receive and walk in the blessings that flow from a relationship with a covenant-keeping God. It underscores the biblical principle that God's grace always invites a response of faith and obedience. The "covenant" here refers to the divine-human pact, where God initiates with promises and stipulations, and humanity responds with trust and adherence. This dynamic is foundational to understanding salvation history, from the covenants with Noah and Abraham to the Mosaic and Davidic covenants, all pointing towards the ultimate New Covenant in Christ. The consistent message is that God desires a people who not only know His will but actively live it out, demonstrating their love and loyalty through obedience.

* [Deuteronomy 5:10](/deuteronomy/5-10 "God's Mercy to Those Who Love and Keep His Commandments")
* [John 14:21](/john/14-21 "John 14:21 - Love and Obedience")
* [1 John 2:3-5](/1_john/2-3 "1 John 2:3-5 - Knowing God Through Obedience")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Psalms 103:18 serves as a timeless reminder that our relationship with God is not passive but calls for active engagement and intentional obedience. While salvation is a gift of grace received through faith in Jesus Christ, our response to that grace is a life transformed by His Spirit, expressed in loving obedience to His commands. In the New Covenant, "keeping His covenant" means living in alignment with the new spiritual reality established through Christ's blood, where His law is written on our hearts (see [Jeremiah 31:33](/jeremiah/31-33 "The New Covenant")). This involves diligently studying God's Word, allowing it to shape our thoughts and actions, and cultivating a mindful faith where God's will is consistently brought to the forefront of our decisions. Our obedience flows not from a desire to earn favor, but from a heart of gratitude and love for the One who first loved us. This verse encourages us that a life committed to God's ways is not a burden, but the pathway to experiencing the fullness of His enduring mercy, peace, and blessings in our daily lives.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **In what specific areas of my life am I actively "keeping" God's covenant and "remembering" His commandments to do them?**
* **How does my understanding of God's mercy influence my motivation for obedience?**
* **What practical steps can I take this week to more intentionally "remember" God's Word and translate it into "doing"?**
* **How does the New Covenant, established through Christ, redefine or deepen my understanding of "keeping His covenant" today?**

### FAQ
**Does Psalms 103:18 imply that God's mercy is conditional, and salvation is earned by works?**

Answer: No, Psalms 103:18 does not imply that God's mercy is earned by human works or that salvation is conditional on perfect obedience. Instead, it describes the *recipients* of God's mercy and the *character* of those who walk in its fullness. The psalm, particularly [Psalms 103:8-12](/psalms/103-8 "God's Compassion and Forgiveness"), clearly emphasizes God's inherent compassion, slowness to anger, and abundant mercy, which are freely given. Verse 18 clarifies that those who truly experience and benefit from this mercy are those who respond to God's grace with covenant faithfulness and active obedience. It speaks to the *relationship* between God and His people: He is merciful, and His people respond by living in alignment with His will. This is a relationship of grace that calls for a response of faith and obedience, not a transaction where mercy is earned. The New Testament affirms that salvation is by grace through faith (see [Ephesians 2:8-9](/ephesians/2-8 "Salvation by Grace Through Faith")), but true faith always expresses itself in obedience (see [James 2:17](/james/2-17 "Faith Without Works is Dead")).

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Psalms 103:18, with its emphasis on keeping God's covenant and remembering His commandments to do them, finds its ultimate and most profound fulfillment in Jesus Christ. He is the perfect "covenant keeper," the only one who perfectly fulfilled every jot and tittle of God's law (see [Matthew 5:17](/matthew/5-17 "Jesus Fulfills the Law")). Through His sinless life, sacrificial death, and glorious resurrection, Jesus established the New Covenant, a covenant "better" than the old, inaugurated not by human effort but by His own blood (see [Hebrews 8:6](/hebrews/8-6 "A Better Covenant") and [Luke 22:20](/luke/22-20 "The New Covenant in My Blood")). Now, those who are "in Christ" are recipients of God's mercy not because of their own ability to perfectly keep the covenant, but because Christ has kept it for them and in them. Furthermore, under this New Covenant, God writes His laws on our hearts and puts them in our minds through the indwelling Holy Spirit, enabling us to truly "remember His commandments to do them" (see [Hebrews 10:16](/hebrews/10-16 "The Law Written on Our Hearts")). Thus, the mercy promised in Psalms 103:18 is fully realized in Christ, who both perfectly embodies covenant faithfulness and empowers His followers to live lives of genuine, Spirit-enabled obedience, flowing from gratitude for His redeeming grace.

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Deuteronomy 7:9

Know therefore that the LORD thy God, he [is] God, the faithful God, which keepeth covenant and mercy with them that love him and keep his commandments to a thousand generations;

Psalms 25:10

All the paths of the LORD [are] mercy and truth unto such as keep his covenant and his testimonies.

Proverbs 3:1

¶ My son, forget not my law; but let thine heart keep my commandments:

Psalms 132:12

If thy children will keep my covenant and my testimony that I shall teach them, their children shall also sit upon thy throne for evermore.

Luke 1:6

And they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless.

Exodus 24:8

And Moses took the blood, and sprinkled [it] on the people, and said, Behold the blood of the covenant, which the LORD hath made with you concerning all these words.

Matthew 28:20

Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, [even] unto the end of the world. Amen.