Psalm 103:13
As a father has compassion on his children, so the LORD has compassion on those who fear Him.
As a father has compassion on his children, so the LORD has compassion on those who fear Him
As a father
The imagery of God as a father is deeply rooted in the Hebrew understanding of God’s relationship with His people. The Hebrew word for father, "אָב" (av), conveys not only the biological aspect but also the role of a protector, provider, and guide. In ancient Israel, the father was the head of the household, responsible for the welfare and instruction of his children. This paternal image emphasizes God’s authority, care, and intimate involvement in the lives of His people.

has compassion
The Hebrew word used here is "רַחֵם" (racham), which is often translated as "compassion" or "mercy." It is derived from the root word for "womb," suggesting a deep, nurturing love akin to that of a mother for her child. This term conveys a sense of tender affection and a willingness to forgive and nurture. In the biblical context, God’s compassion is not just an emotional response but an active, covenantal commitment to His people.

on his children
The term "children" here, "בָּנִים" (banim), signifies more than just offspring; it denotes a relationship of belonging and identity. In the ancient Near Eastern context, children were seen as a blessing and a continuation of the family line. This phrase underscores the familial bond between God and His people, highlighting their status as His beloved and cherished children.

so the LORD
The use of "the LORD" in all capital letters indicates the translation of the divine name "YHWH" (Yahweh), the covenant name of God revealed to Moses. This name signifies God’s eternal, self-existent nature and His faithfulness to His promises. It is a reminder of God’s unchanging character and His commitment to His covenant people.

has compassion
Reiterating the earlier use of "racham," this phrase emphasizes the consistency and reliability of God’s compassionate nature. It is a reminder that God’s mercy is not a one-time act but a continual expression of His character.

on those who fear Him
The phrase "those who fear Him" uses the Hebrew word "יָרֵא" (yare), which means to revere or hold in awe. This fear is not about being afraid but about having a profound respect and reverence for God. It denotes a relationship of trust and obedience, recognizing God’s holiness and authority. In the biblical context, fearing God is associated with wisdom and is the foundation of a righteous life.

Persons / Places / Events
1. The LORD (Yahweh)
The covenant name of God, emphasizing His eternal existence and faithfulness to His promises.

2. Father
A metaphorical representation of God, highlighting His nurturing and protective nature.

3. Children
Represents the people of God, those who are in a covenant relationship with Him.

4. Those who fear Him
Refers to believers who have a reverent awe and respect for God, acknowledging His authority and holiness.
Teaching Points
Understanding God's Compassion
God's compassion is likened to that of a loving father, emphasizing His deep care and concern for us.

The Fear of the Lord
Fearing God involves a reverent respect and awe, which is foundational to receiving His compassion.

Parental Analogy
Just as earthly fathers are expected to care for their children, God perfectly fulfills this role, providing for and protecting His people.

Intimacy with God
Believers are invited into a close, familial relationship with God, where they can experience His love and mercy.

Reflecting God's Compassion
As recipients of God's compassion, we are called to extend the same compassion to others, reflecting His character in our relationships.
Bible Study Questions
1. How does understanding God as a compassionate Father change your perspective on your relationship with Him?

2. In what ways can you cultivate a healthy fear of the Lord in your daily life?

3. How can the analogy of God as a Father influence the way you approach prayer and worship?

4. Reflect on a time when you experienced God's compassion. How did it impact your faith journey?

5. How can you demonstrate God's compassion to others in your community, and what practical steps can you take to do so?
Connections to Other Scriptures
Deuteronomy 1:31
This verse describes how God carried Israel as a father carries his son, illustrating His care and guidance.

Proverbs 3:12
Highlights the fatherly discipline of the Lord, showing His love and concern for our growth.

Matthew 6:9
Jesus teaches His disciples to pray to God as "Our Father," reinforcing the intimate relationship between God and believers.

Hebrews 12:5-6
Discusses God's discipline as a sign of His love, similar to a father's discipline of his children.
The Pity of GodS. Conway Psalm 103:13
The Pity of the LordC. Short Psalm 103:13
A Song of PraiseC. A. South-gate.Psalm 103:1-22
A Song of PraiseMonday Club SermonsPsalm 103:1-22
A Song of PraiseG. F. Pentecost, D. D.Psalm 103:1-22
A Song of PraiseM. R. Vincent, D.D.Psalm 103:1-22
A Soul's Song to GodJ. Pearce.Psalm 103:1-22
Divine Goodness CelebratedJ. Burns, D.D.Psalm 103:1-22
Praising with the SoulPsalm 103:1-22
Sell-Exhortation to WorshipHomilistPsalm 103:1-22
The Christian's Gladness Deeply RootedC. G. M.Psalm 103:1-22
The Harp of the HeartT. L. Cuyler, D.D.Psalm 103:1-22
The Keynote of the YearPsalm 103:1-22
The Saints Blessing the LordPsalm 103:1-22
WorshipA. B. Bruce, D. D.Psalm 103:1-22
Christianity and the Penal CodeGeorge Kenman.Psalm 103:6-14
God's Conduct Towards MankindHomilistPsalm 103:6-14
A Father's Great LoveFreeman.Psalm 103:13-14
God's PityW. Handcock.Psalm 103:13-14
Our Heavenly Father's PityPsalm 103:13-14
The Best Need the Pity of GodPsalm 103:13-14
The Divine PityJames Ross.Psalm 103:13-14
The Tender Pity of the LordPsalm 103:13-14
Wherefore Another Gospel When We have This?S. Conway Psalm 103:13-18
People
David, Psalmist
Places
Jerusalem
Topics
Compassion, Fear, Fearing, Mercy, Pities, Pitieth, Pity, Sons, Worshippers
Dictionary of Bible Themes
Psalm 103:13

     1040   God, fatherhood
     1210   God, human descriptions
     5003   human race, and God
     5566   suffering, encouragements in
     5685   fathers, responsibilities
     5844   emotions
     5895   intimacy
     6611   adoption, privileges and duties
     6667   grace, in OT
     7021   church, OT anticipations
     7115   children of God
     8136   knowing God, effects
     8205   childlikeness
     8335   reverence, and blessing

Psalm 103:1-18

     6653   forgiveness, divine
     8608   prayer, and worship

Psalm 103:8-14

     6025   sin, and God's character

Psalm 103:13-14

     1030   God, compassion
     5002   human race, and creation
     5698   guardian
     5802   care
     6688   mercy, demonstration of God's
     8330   receptiveness
     8410   decision-making, examples
     8603   prayer, relationship with God

Psalm 103:13-16

     5004   human race, and sin

Psalm 103:13-18

     4446   flowers

Psalm 103:13-19

     4460   grass

Library
November 6. "Bless the Lord, O, My Soul" (Ps. Ciii. 1).
"Bless the Lord, O, my soul" (Ps. ciii. 1). Bless the Lord, O my soul; and all that is within me be stirred up to magnify His holy name. "Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits; who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases; who redeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies; who satisfieth thy mouth with good things, so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle's." Who so well can sing this thanksgiving song as
Rev. A. B. Simpson—Days of Heaven Upon Earth

Plenteous Redemption
This evening I shall consider the subject of redemption, and then notice the adjective appended to the word: "plenteous redemption." I. First, then, we shall consider the subject of REDEMPTION. I shall commence in this way, by asking, What has Christ redeemed? And in order to let you know what my views are upon this subject, I would announce at once what I conceive to be an authoritative doctrine, consistent with common sense, and declared to us by Scripture, namely, that whatever Christ has redeemed,
Charles Haddon Spurgeon—Spurgeon's Sermons Volume 7: 1861

What the Flowers Say.
(Children's Flower Service.) PSALM ciii. 15. "As a flower of the field, so he flourisheth." Children, have you ever heard of the language of flowers? Now, of course, we know that flowers cannot speak as we can. I wish they could. I think they would say such sweet things. But in one way flowers do talk to us. When you give them some water, or when God sends a shower of rain upon them, they give forth a sweet smell; I think that the flowers are speaking then, I think that they are saying, "thank
H. J. Wilmot-Buxton—The Life of Duty, a Year's Plain Sermons, v. 2

Matt. 8:11 Many
"Many shall come from the east and west, and shall sit down with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven."--Matt. 8:11. THE words of Scripture which head this page were spoken by our Lord Jesus Christ. You may take them either as a prophecy or as a promise. In either point of view they are deeply interesting, and contain much food for thought. Take the words as a prophecy, and remember that they are sure to be fulfilled The Bible contains many predictions of things most unlikely and improbable,
John Charles Ryle—The Upper Room: Being a Few Truths for the Times

Thanksgiving Versus Complaining
"In everything give thanks, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you." Thanksgiving or complaining--these words express two contrastive attitudes of the souls of God's children in regard to His dealings with them; and they are more powerful than we are inclined to believe in furthering or frustrating His purposes of comfort and peace toward us. The soul that gives thanks can find comfort in everything; the soul that complains can find comfort in nothing. God's command is "In everything
Hannah Whitall Smith—The God of All Comfort

The Three Facts of Sin
"Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; Who healeth all thy diseases; Who redeemeth thy life from destruction."--Ps. ciii. 3, 4. THERE is one theological word which has found its way lately into nearly all the newer and finer literature of our country. It is not only one of the words of the literary world at present, it is perhaps the word. Its reality, its certain influence, its universality, have at last been recognised, and in spite of its theological name have forced it into a place which nothing
Henry Drummond—The Ideal Life

The Three Facts of Salvation
"Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; Who healeth all thy diseases; Who redeemeth thy life from destruction."--Ps. ciii. 3, 4. SUPPLEMENT TO "THE THREE FACTS OF SIN" LAST Sabbath we were engaged with the three facts of Sin. To-day we come to the three facts of Salvation. The three facts of Sin were:-- 1. The Guilt of Sin--"Who forgiveth all thine iniquities." 2. The Stain of Sin--"Who healeth all thy diseases." 3. The Power of Sin--"Who redeemeth thy life from destruction." And now we come to the
Henry Drummond—The Ideal Life

The Long-Suffering, Loving-Kindness, and Tender-Mercies of God. --Ps. Ciii.
The Long-suffering, Loving-kindness, and Tender-mercies of God.--Ps. ciii. O my soul! with all thy powers, Bless the Lord's most holy name; O my soul! till life's last hours, Bless the Lord, His praise proclaim; Thine infirmities He heal'd, He thy peace and pardon seal'd. He with loving-kindness crown'd thee, Satisfied thy mouth with good, From the snares of death unbound thee, Eagle-like thy youth renew'd: Rich in tender mercy He, Slow to wrath, to favour free. He will not retain displeasure,
James Montgomery—Sacred Poems and Hymns

Praise, My Soul, the King of Heaven
[984]Lauda Anima: John Goss, 1869 Psalm 103 Henry F. Lyte, 1834; Alt. Praise, my soul, the King of heaven; To his feet thy tribute bring; Ransomed, healed, restored, forgiven, Evermore his praises sing: Alleluia! Alleluia! Praise the everlasting King. Praise him for his grace and favour To our fathers in distress; Praise him still the same as ever, Slow to chide, and swift to bless: Alleluia! Alleluia! Glorious in his faithfulness. Father-like he tends and spares us; Well our feeble frame he knows;
Various—The Hymnal of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the USA

Bless the Lord, My Soul
[1202]St. Thomas (Williams): Aaron Williams, 1763 Psalm 103 James Montgomery, 1819 DOXOLOGY Bless the Lord, my soul! His grace to thee proclaim! And all that is within me join To bless his holy Name! O bless the Lord, my soul! His mercies bear in mind! Forget not all his benefits! The Lord to thee is kind. He will not always chide; He will with patience wait; His wrath is ever slow to rise, And ready to abate. He pardons all thy sins; Prolongs thy feeble breath; He healeth thine infirmities,
Various—The Hymnal of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the USA

All we Therefore, who Believe in the Living and True God...
18. All we therefore, who believe in the Living and True God, Whose Nature, being in the highest sense good and incapable of change, neither doth any evil, nor suffers any evil, from Whom is every good, even that which admits of decrease, and Who admits not at all of decrease in His own Good, Which is Himself, when we hear the Apostle saying, "Walk in the Spirit, and perform ye not the lusts of the flesh. For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: For these are opposed
St. Augustine—On Continence

The Providence of God
Q-11: WHAT ARE GOD'S WORKS OF PROVIDENCE? A: God's works of providence are the acts of his most holy, wise, and powerful government of his creatures, and of their actions. Of the work of God's providence Christ says, My Father worketh hitherto and I work.' John 5:17. God has rested from the works of creation, he does not create any new species of things. He rested from all his works;' Gen 2:2; and therefore it must needs be meant of his works of providence: My Father worketh and I work.' His kingdom
Thomas Watson—A Body of Divinity

Messiah Worshipped by Angels
Let all the angels of God worship Him. M any of the Lord's true servants, have been in a situation so nearly similar to that of Elijah, that like him they have been tempted to think they were left to serve the Lord alone (I Kings 19:10) . But God had then a faithful people, and He has so in every age. The preaching of the Gospel may be compared to a standard erected, to which they repair, and thereby become known to each other, and more exposed to the notice and observation of the world. But we hope
John Newton—Messiah Vol. 2

Under the Shepherd's Care.
A NEW YEAR'S ADDRESS. "For ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls."--1 Peter ii. 25. "Ye were as sheep going astray." This is evidently addressed to believers. We were like sheep, blindly, willfully following an unwise leader. Not only were we following ourselves, but we in our turn have led others astray. This is true of all of us: "All we like sheep have gone astray;" all equally foolish, "we have turned every one to his own way." Our first
J. Hudson Taylor—A Ribband of Blue

"For what the Law could not Do, in that it was Weak Though the Flesh, God Sending his Own Son,"
Rom. viii. 3.--"For what the law could not do, in that it was weak though the flesh, God sending his own Son," &c. Of all the works of God towards man, certainly there is none hath so much wonder in it, as the sending of his Son to become man; and so it requires the exactest attention in us. Let us gather our spirits to consider of this mystery,--not to pry into the secrets of it curiously, as if we had no more to do but to satisfy our understandings; but rather that we may see what this concerns
Hugh Binning—The Works of the Rev. Hugh Binning

Why all Things Work for Good
1. The grand reason why all things work for good, is the near and dear interest which God has in His people. The Lord has made a covenant with them. "They shall be my people, and I will be their God" (Jer. xxxii. 38). By virtue of this compact, all things do, and must work, for good to them. "I am God, even thy God" (Psalm l. 7). This word, Thy God,' is the sweetest word in the Bible, it implies the best relations; and it is impossible there should be these relations between God and His people, and
Thomas Watson—A Divine Cordial

The Hindrances to Mourning
What shall we do to get our heart into this mourning frame? Do two things. Take heed of those things which will stop these channels of mourning; put yourselves upon the use of all means that will help forward holy mourning. Take heed of those things which will stop the current of tears. There are nine hindrances of mourning. 1 The love of sin. The love of sin is like a stone in the pipe which hinders the current of water. The love of sin makes sin taste sweet and this sweetness in sin bewitches the
Thomas Watson—The Beatitudes: An Exposition of Matthew 5:1-12

The Prophet Joel.
PRELIMINARY REMARKS. The position which has been assigned to Joel in the collection of the Minor Prophets, furnishes an external argument for the determination of the time at which Joel wrote. There cannot be any doubt that the Collectors were guided by a consideration of the chronology. The circumstance, that they placed the prophecies of Joel just between the two prophets who, according to the inscriptions and contents of their prophecies, belonged to the time of Jeroboam and Uzziah, is
Ernst Wilhelm Hengstenberg—Christology of the Old Testament

The First Day in Passion-Week - Palm-Sunday - the Royal Entry into Jerusalem
At length the time of the end had come. Jesus was about to make Entry into Jerusalem as King: King of the Jews, as Heir of David's royal line, with all of symbolic, typic, and prophetic import attaching to it. Yet not as Israel after the flesh expected its Messiah was the Son of David to make triumphal entrance, but as deeply and significantly expressive of His Mission and Work, and as of old the rapt seer had beheld afar off the outlined picture of the Messiah-King: not in the proud triumph of war-conquests,
Alfred Edersheim—The Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah

But, Say They, How is the Flesh by a Certain Likeness Compared unto The...
25. But, say they, how is the flesh by a certain likeness compared unto the Church? What! doth the Church lust against Christ? whereas the same Apostle said, "The Church is subject unto Christ." [1898] Clearly the Church is subject unto Christ; because the spirit therefore lusteth against the flesh, that on every side the Church may be made subject to Christ; but the flesh lusteth against the spirit, because not as yet hath the Church received that peace which was promised perfect. And for this reason
St. Augustine—On Continence

a survey of the third and closing discourse of the prophet
We shall now, in conclusion, give a survey of the third and closing discourse of the prophet. After an introduction in vi. 1, 2, where the mountains serve only to give greater solemnity to the scene (in the fundamental passages Deut. xxxii. 1, and in Is. 1, 2, "heaven and earth" are mentioned for the same purposes, inasmuch as they are the most venerable parts of creation; "contend with the mountains" by taking them in and applying to [Pg 522] them as hearers), the prophet reminds the people of
Ernst Wilhelm Hengstenberg—Christology of the Old Testament

The Birth of Jesus Proclaimed by Angels to the Shepherds.
(Near Bethlehem, b.c. 5.) ^C Luke II. 8-20. ^c 8 And there were shepherds in the same country [they were in the same fields from which David had been called to tend God's Israel, or flock] abiding in the field, and keeping watch by night over their flock. [When the flock is too far from the village to lead it to the fold at night, these shepherds still so abide with it in the field, even in the dead of winter.] 9 And an angel of the Lord stood by them [He stood upon the earth at their side, and did
J. W. McGarvey—The Four-Fold Gospel

The Best Things Work for Good to the Godly
WE shall consider, first, what things work for good to the godly; and here we shall show that both the best things and the worst things work for their good. We begin with the best things. 1. God's attributes work for good to the godly. (1). God's power works for good. It is a glorious power (Col. i. 11), and it is engaged for the good of the elect. God's power works for good, in supporting us in trouble. "Underneath are the everlasting arms" (Deut. xxxiii. 27). What upheld Daniel in the lion's den?
Thomas Watson—A Divine Cordial

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