“Bless the LORD, ye his angels, that excel in strength, that do his commandments, hearkening unto the voice of his word.”
My Notes
What Does Psalms 103:20 Mean?
David commands the heavenly host to worship: bless the LORD, ye his angels, that excel in strength, that do his commandments, hearkening unto the voice of his word.
Bless the LORD, ye his angels — the command to worship expands from David's own soul (v.1: bless the LORD, O my soul) to the angelic host. The entire created order is summoned to praise — beginning with the closest beings to God's throne. The angels are his (possessive: they belong to God) and they are commanded to bless him.
That excel in strength (gibborei koach — mighty in power, heroes of strength) — the angels are described as powerful beings. The word gibbor describes warriors, champions, the mightiest combatants. The angels are not delicate, ethereal beings. They are mighty — excelling in the kind of strength that the Bible attributes to the most powerful creatures in existence. The one who destroyed 185,000 Assyrian soldiers in a single night (2 Kings 19:35) was one angel. That is the strength David describes.
That do his commandments — the angels are obedient. Their strength is directed by God's commands. The power is not autonomous. It is submitted — channeled through divine instruction, aimed by divine will. The doing (asah — to accomplish, to carry out) means the commandments are not merely heard. They are executed.
Hearkening unto the voice of his word — the angels listen (shama — to hear and obey) to God's voice. The hearkening is active: they listen in order to obey. The voice of his word (qol devar) — the audible expression of God's commands. The angels are attuned to God's speech — ready to hear and ready to act the moment the word is spoken.
The verse describes the ideal response to God: strength submitted to commandment, power directed by hearing, obedience flowing from attentiveness. The angels model what every creature should be: mighty, obedient, and attentive to God's voice. The worship David commands is the worship the angels already practice — and the standard for every being in creation.
Reflection Questions
- 1.What does angels 'excelling in strength' reveal about the nature of heavenly beings — and how does it differ from popular depictions?
- 2.How does the order — hearkening first, then doing — describe the relationship between listening to God and obeying him?
- 3.What does it mean that the mightiest beings in creation submit their power to God's commands — and what does that model for you?
- 4.Where is your strength not yet submitted to God's commandments — and what would angelic obedience look like in your life?
Devotional
Bless the LORD, ye his angels, that excel in strength. David has told his own soul to worship (v.1). Now he tells the angels. Not because angels need the reminder. Because the worship must be comprehensive — from the smallest soul to the mightiest angel, everything that exists should bless the LORD.
That excel in strength. The angels are not gentle, translucent figures with harps. They are warriors — mighty in power, excelling in strength. One angel destroyed an army of 185,000 in a single night. These are the beings David addresses. And even they — with their staggering power — are told to bless the LORD. If the mightiest beings in creation worship, how much more should you?
That do his commandments. The power is submitted. The strength is obedient. The angels do not use their might independently. They carry out God's commands — executing his will with precision and immediacy. The strength serves the commandment. The power follows the word. The might is under authority.
Hearkening unto the voice of his word. The angels listen. Constantly. Attentively. They are tuned to God's frequency — hearing his voice, waiting for his word, ready to act the moment he speaks. The hearkening precedes the doing. They listen first. They act second. The obedience flows from the attentiveness.
This is the model: strength submitted to God's command. Power directed by God's voice. Might that listens before it acts. The angels are not independent operators. They are submitted warriors — mighty in strength, immediate in obedience, constantly attuned to the voice of God's word.
Are you listening like the angels listen? Is your strength submitted like theirs? The beings with the most power in creation use every ounce of it in obedience. The question for you is not whether you are strong. It is whether your strength is hearkening unto the voice of his word.
Commentary
Trusted original commentary from respected historical Bible scholars and theologians.
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Cross References
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