Psalm 103:4
who redeems your life from the Pit and crowns you with loving devotion and compassion,
who redeems
The Hebrew word for "redeems" is "ga'al," which carries the connotation of a kinsman-redeemer, a concept deeply rooted in the Old Testament. This term is rich with meaning, suggesting not only a financial transaction but also a familial obligation. In the context of Psalm 103:4, it reflects God's intimate involvement in the lives of His people, akin to a family member who steps in to rescue and restore. This redemption is not just a one-time act but an ongoing process, emphasizing God's continual work in delivering us from sin and its consequences.

your life
The Hebrew word "nephesh" is translated as "life" here, which can also mean soul, self, or being. It encompasses the entirety of a person's existence, not just the physical aspect. This indicates that God's redemption is holistic, affecting every part of our being. It underscores the depth of God's care and the comprehensive nature of His salvation, which touches every facet of our lives, from our spiritual condition to our daily experiences.

from the pit
The phrase "from the pit" uses the Hebrew word "shachath," often translated as destruction or grave. This imagery evokes a sense of being trapped in a deep, dark place, symbolizing death, despair, or severe distress. Historically, "the pit" was a metaphor for Sheol, the abode of the dead. God's redemption from the pit signifies His power to rescue us from the most hopeless situations, offering not just physical deliverance but also spiritual resurrection and renewal.

and crowns you
The word "crowns" comes from the Hebrew "atar," which means to encircle or to adorn. This suggests not only honor and dignity but also protection and blessing. In ancient times, a crown was a symbol of authority and victory. By crowning us, God bestows upon us His favor and grace, elevating us to a position of honor and surrounding us with His love and mercy.

with loving devotion
The Hebrew term "chesed" is translated as "loving devotion," a word rich in meaning that encompasses love, kindness, mercy, and faithfulness. It is a covenantal term, reflecting God's steadfast love and loyalty to His people. This loving devotion is not based on our merit but on God's unchanging character. It assures us of His unwavering commitment to us, providing comfort and security in His eternal promises.

and compassion
The word "compassion" is derived from the Hebrew "racham," which is related to the word for womb, suggesting a deep, tender love akin to that of a mother for her child. This imagery conveys the depth of God's empathy and care for us. His compassion is not distant or detached but is deeply personal and nurturing, offering solace and healing to our wounded souls. It reminds us of God's intimate understanding of our struggles and His desire to comfort and restore us.

Persons / Places / Events
1. David
The author of Psalm 103, King David, is expressing his personal praise and gratitude to God for His merciful acts.

2. God
The central figure in this verse, God is depicted as the Redeemer and the one who bestows loving devotion and compassion.

3. The Pit
Symbolic of death, despair, or a state of deep trouble from which God rescues His people.
Teaching Points
Redemption from the Pit
God is our Redeemer, saving us from spiritual death and despair. Reflect on areas in your life where you have experienced God's redemptive power.

Crowning with Loving Devotion
The Hebrew word for "loving devotion" is "chesed," which implies steadfast love and mercy. Consider how God's steadfast love is evident in your daily life.

Compassion as a Crown
God's compassion is not just a feeling but an action that transforms our lives. How can we emulate God's compassion in our interactions with others?

The Transformative Power of God's Love
God's love and compassion have the power to transform our lives, lifting us from despair to hope. How can we allow this transformation to take place in our hearts?

Living in Gratitude
Recognizing God's acts of redemption and compassion should lead us to a life of gratitude and praise. How can we cultivate a heart of thankfulness?
Bible Study Questions
1. How does understanding God as a Redeemer change your perspective on personal struggles or "pits" in your life?

2. In what ways have you experienced God's "chesed" (loving devotion) in your life, and how can you share that with others?

3. How can the imagery of being "crowned" with compassion influence the way you view your identity in Christ?

4. Reflect on a time when you felt lifted from a "pit" by God's intervention. How can this experience encourage others in their faith journey?

5. How can you practically demonstrate God's compassion to someone in need this week, and what scriptures can guide you in this endeavor?
Connections to Other Scriptures
Psalm 40:2
This verse also speaks of God lifting someone out of a pit, emphasizing His power to rescue and establish us on solid ground.

Isaiah 61:3
This passage describes God giving a crown of beauty instead of ashes, paralleling the idea of being crowned with loving devotion and compassion.

Ephesians 2:4-5
Paul speaks of God's great love and mercy, which aligns with the themes of redemption and compassion found in Psalm 103:4.
A Present CrownW. Luff.Psalm 103:4
Divine MercyPsalm 103:4
Redeemed from DestructionD. Dickson.Psalm 103:4
The Divine Crown on ManR. Tuck Psalm 103:4
A Pattern of PraiseS. Conway Psalm 103:1-5
Gratitude for Unbounded MerciesC. Short Psalm 103:1-5
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
People
David, Psalmist
Places
Jerusalem
Topics
Compassion, Crowneth, Crowning, Crowns, Destruction, Encompasseth, Grace, Keeps, Kindness, Love, Loving, Lovingkindness, Loving-kindness, Mercies, Mercy, Pit, Redeemeth, Redeeming, Redeems, Steadfast, Tender
Dictionary of Bible Themes
Psalm 103:4

     1315   God, as redeemer
     4257   pit

Psalm 103:1-5

     8145   renewal, people of God
     8609   prayer, as praise and thanksgiving

Psalm 103:1-18

     6653   forgiveness, divine
     8608   prayer, and worship

Psalm 103:2-5

     5285   cures

Psalm 103:3-4

     1030   God, compassion

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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