Psalms 103:13

11 For as the heavens are high above the earth,
So great is His mercy toward those who fear Him;

12 As far as the east is from the west,
So far has He ^aremoved our transgressions from us.

13 ^aAs a father pities his children,
So the Lord pities those who fear Him.

14 For He¹ knows our frame;
He remembers that we are dust.

15 As for man, ^ahis days are like grass;
As a flower of the field, so he flourishes.

16 ^aFor the wind passes over it, and it is¹ gone,
And ^bits place remembers it no more.

17 But the mercy of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting
On those who fear Him,
And His righteousness to children’s children,

18 ^aTo such as keep His covenant,
And to those who remember His commandments to do them.

Commentaries:

Forerunner Commentary
What is the Forerunner Commentary?

<< Psalms 103:12

Psalms 103:14 >>

What Does Psalms 103:13 Mean?

"Pities" means compassion. A loving father does not enjoy seeing his child suffer; he helps, teaches, and protects. Our heavenly Father does even more. Jesus taught us to pray, "Our Father"—not a distant ruler. When a toddler falls while learning to walk, a loving father does not criticize but lifts the child, encourages, and says, "Try again." That is how God treats His children. He is aware of us as individuals, not nameless faces in an endless ocean of people. Each one of us is in His capable hands. A good father does not neglect the physical welfare of his children; God has compassion on all His children. To those who keep His covenant and commandments, He grants wonderful benefits, especially forgiveness of sin.

Psalm 103:1-22

This psalm praises God's sovereignty over all His creation, yet it also shows His awareness and care of us as individuals. To Him, we are not nameless, faceless blobs in an endless ocean of people. The world likes to claim the incredible promise of Romans 8:28 for itself, but it really applies only to us, "those who love God . . . those who are the called." This is something to be thankful for! Each one of us is in His capable hands! God requires us to give thanks because it is good for us. Those convinced that God rules have a distinct advantage over those who believe things happen randomly.

John W. Ritenbaugh
Sovereignty and Its Fruit: Part Ten

Other Forerunner Commentary entries containing Psalms 103:13:

Genesis 8:1
Matthew 6:9
Matthew 6:13
Luke 11:11-13
Romans 3:18
Revelation 2:14-16

<< Psalms 103:12

Psalms 103:14 >>

Join 137,115+ readers

A Verse and a Thought,
Every Morning

Consistent Bible study is hard to start.

The Berean gives you the starting point: one scripture and a focused commentary in your inbox each morning — read it in minutes, or go as deep as you like.

Free, daily, and spam-free. We never share your address. Unsubscribe anytime.

What Does Psalms 103:13 Mean?

A Verse and a Thought,Every Morning

A Verse and a Thought,
Every Morning