Chapter 103
A Psalm of David.
Starts with "Bless the Lord,
Oh my soul,
And all that is within me,
Bless his holy name.
Obviously, they got the song lyrics from David.
MSB says 103 and 104 go together and are a soliloquy of David's urging all that is - creation and created, to join him in praising God.
vs. 5 talks about God renewing our youth like the eagles. What does this mean? MSB says the long life of eagles is a mystery. The Psalm is saying that the righteous weaken and age more slowly than the wicked.
2024 - Eagle molt, maybe that's it. A lot of birds, in the spring with their new feathers and bright mating colors, seem to be brand new in the Spring. Maybe eagles do the same, we just don't see them as much. I don't know that eagles live a very long time. Joshua and Moses were as strong and healthy when they died as they were in their youth...so they were renewed. I think this is about "living until you die", rather than wasting gradually away. And I also think, like so many of the Proverbs, that it states a general principle, not a universal guarantee. Universality would require a "payment" in the form of dedication at all times. It would be works related. But it says first that he will give us good things, and when we have a good life, we naturally feel stronger, younger, healthier. Something along those lines seems a better interpretation.
10 He does not deal with us according to our sins, nor repay us according to our iniquities. 11 For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him; 12 as far as the east is from the west, so far does he remove our transgressions from us. [Psa 103:10-12 ESV]
And it's a good thing too...vs 12 is familiar to most people. The two before it, not so much. Turns out 12 is just the conclusion of the previous two statements.
17 But the steadfast love of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear him, and his righteousness to children's children, 18 to those who keep his covenant and remember to do his commandments. [Psa 103:17-18 ESV]
Maybe our lives do in some way carry over to our children and grandchildren. This verse implies that it does. Not that our salvation is transferable, but that maybe if we are righteous, God will direct more care and attention to those in our families that come after us.
Ever wonder what angels do for a living? Why God made them? To carry out his will.
20 Bless the LORD, O you his angels, you mighty ones who do his word, obeying the voice of his word! 21 Bless the LORD, all his hosts, his ministers, who do his will! [Psa 103:20-21 ESV]