Psalm 103:21

Bless ye the LORD, all ye his hosts; ye ministers of his, that do his pleasure.

EXPOSITORY (ENGLISH BIBLE)

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(21) Hosts.—There are apparently in the psalmist’s thought three grades of beings in the hierarchy of praise:—

1.High angels around the throne.

2. Angelic powers, such as winds, lightnings, &c, specially commissioned to do God’s behests, as in Psalm 104:4.

3.Creation generally. (Comp. Psalms 148)

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary

103:19-22 He who made all, rules all, and both by a word of power. He disposes all persons and things to his own glory. There is a world of holy angels who are ever praising him. Let all his works praise him. Such would have been our constant delight, if we had not been fallen creatures. Such it will in a measure become, if we are born of God. Such it will be for ever in heaven; nor can we be perfectly happy till we can take unwearied pleasure in perfect obedience to the will of our God. And let the feeling of each redeemed heart be, Bless the Lord, O my soul.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Bless ye the Lord, all ye his hosts - His armies; the vast multitudes of holy beings, arranged and marshalled as hosts for battle, in all parts of the universe. Compare the notes at Isaiah 1:9; notes at Ephesians 1:21.

Ye ministers of his - The same beings referred to by the word "hosts," and all others who may be employed in executing his will. The "hosts" or armies of the Lord are thus marshalled that they may "do his pleasure," or that they may execute his purposes.

That do his pleasure - What is agreeable to him; that is, who perform his will. Employed in his service, and appointed to execute his will, they are called on to bless his name. The fact of being employed in his service is a sufficient reason for praise. It is implied here that those "ministers of his" actually do his will. They are obedient to his commands; they regard themselves as employed for him.

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

21. ye his hosts—myriads, or armies, as corresponding to angels of great power [Ps 103:20], denoting multitudes also.

Matthew Poole's Commentary

All ye his hosts; ye angels; to whom he still continues his address, and whom he more particularly describes by the name of hosts, a title oft given to the angels, as Genesis 32:2 1 Kings 22:19 2 Chronicles 18:18 Luke 2:13 Revelation 19:14, in regard of their vast numbers, mighty power, unanimous concurrence, and exquisite order. In the former verse the expression was indefinite and general, ye his angels, here it is universal and yet particular,

all ye his hosts. He seems to apply himself to the several orders of angels, of whom see Ephesians 3:10 Colossians 1:16, and to each individual angel.

Ye ministers: this Hebrew word is commonly used of the highest and most honourable sort of servants.

That do his pleasure; whose constant business and delight it is to execute the will and commands of God.

Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible

Bless ye the Lord, all ye his hosts,.... Which some understand of the sun, moon, and stars, sometimes called the hosts of heaven; and who in their way bless and praise the Lord; see Psalm 148:2. Others, of the angels, as before; who are sometimes styled the heavenly host, Luke 2:13, and may be so called from their numbers, there being legions of them; and for their military employment, in guarding and protecting the saints, in encamping about them, and fighting for them. Or rather, since these seem to be distinguished from the angels before addressed, by them may be meant the church militant and her members; who are like an army with banners, consisting of volunteer soldiers under Christ, the Captain of their salvation; whose battles they fight against sin, Satan, and the world; and have a great deal of reason to bless and praise the Lord, for all the great and good things he has done to them, and for them.

Ye ministers of his that do his pleasure; so the angels are called, and they do the will of God; what is acceptable to him, and well pleasing in his sight, Hebrews 1:7. But rather, as distinct from them, the ministers of the Gospel are intended; a name which the preachers of it bear, both in the Old and in the New Testament, Isaiah 61:4, They are ministers of Christ's appointing, calling, qualifying, and sending; and who are employed in his service, in preaching him, his Gospel, and the truths of it; and who do his pleasure, that which is grateful to him, when they speak his word faithfully, declare his whole counsel, and keep back nothing that is profitable: and these have reason to bless the Lord for the gifts bestowed upon them, and for their success and usefulness; and indeed they bear a leading part in giving praise and glory to God, Revelation 4:9.

Geneva Study Bible

Bless ye the LORD, all ye his hosts; ye ministers of his, that do his pleasure.

EXEGETICAL (ORIGINAL LANGUAGES)

Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

21. By Jehovah’s hosts and ministers may be meant the innumerable multitudes of celestial beings of lower rank, subordinated to the celestial hierarchy spoken of in Psalm 103:20 (Daniel 7:10; Hebrews 1:14); or perhaps “the host of heaven,” the stars, which are closely connected with angels in the O.T. (Job 38:7), and all the powers of Nature, which subserve Jehovah’s purposes (Psalm 104:4; Psalm 148:2-3).

Pulpit Commentary

Verse 21. - Bless ye the Lord, all ye his hosts. Here the inferior angels seem to be meant - that "multitude of the host of heaven" which appeared to the shepherds on Christ's natal day (Luke 2:13), and which is elsewhere often referred to in Holy Scripture (see Psalm 24:10; Psalm 148:2; Isaiah 40:26; Matthew 25:31; Mark 8:38; Luke 9:26; Hebrews 12:22; Jude 1:14). Ye ministers of his (comp. Psalm 104:4) that do his pleasure. The inferior, no less than the superior, ranks of angels continually carry out the will of God, being "ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation" (Hebrews 1:14). Psalm 103:21

Keil and Delitzsch Biblical Commentary on the Old Testament

He is able to show Himself thus gracious to His own, for He is the supra-mundane, all-ruling King. With this thought the poet draws on to the close of his song of praise. The heavens in opposition to the earth, as in Psalm 115:3; Ecclesiastes 5:12, is the unchangeable realm above the rise and fall of things here below. On Psalm 103:19 cf. 1 Chronicles 29:12. בּכּל refers to everything created without exception, the universe of created things. In connection with the heavens of glory the poet cannot but call to mind the angels. His call to these to join in the praise of Jahve has its parallel only in Psalm 29:1-11 and Psalm 148:1-14. It arises from the consciousness of the church on earth that it stands in living like-minded fellowship with the angels of God, and that it possesses a dignity which rises above all created things, even the angels which are appointed to serve it (Psalm 91:11). They are called גּבּרים as in Joel 3:11, and in fact גּבּרי כּח, as the strong to whom belongs strength unequalled. Their life endowed with heroic strength is spent entirely - an example for mortals - in an obedient execution of the word of God. לשׁמע is a definition not of the purpose, but of the manner: obediendo (as in Genesis 2:3 perficiendo). Hearing the call of His word, they also forthwith put it into execution. the hosts (צבאיו), as משׁרתיו shows, are the celestial spirits gathered around the angels of a higher rank (cf. Luke 2:13), the innumerable λειτουργικὰ πνεῦματα (Psalm 104:4, Daniel 7:10; Hebrews 1:14), for there is a hierarchia caelestis. From the archangels the poet comes to the myriads of the heavenly hosts, and from these to all creatures, that they, wheresoever they may be throughout Jahve's wide domain, may join in the song of praise that is to be struck up; and from this point he comes back to his own soul, which he modestly includes among the creatures mentioned in the third passage. A threefold בּרכי נפשׁי now corresponds to the threefold בּרכוּ; and inasmuch as the poet thus comes back to his own soul, his Psalm also turns back into itself and assumes the form of a converging circle.