“Bless ye the Lord, all ye his hosts; ye ministers of his, that do his pleasure.”
The continuation 'Bless the LORD, all his hosts, his ministers who do his will' extends the call to praise to the entire company of heavenly servants. The term 'hosts' (tzava'ot) refers to the vast armies of heaven, emphasizing the incomprehensible multitude of creatures who serve God. The characterization as 'ministers' (mesharimet, those who serve) emphasizes that all heavenly beings exist in relation of service to God's will. The phrase 'who do his will' (oseh retzono) emphasizes that the entire cosmic order is devoted to the execution of God's purpose. The parallel structure of verses 20-21 (with slight variations) creates a refrain-like effect, a building invocation that gathers all heavenly reality into unified praise. This verse suggests that praise is not optional or occasional for the heavenly beings but rather constitutes their very nature and purpose. For the human singer, to join in this praise is to participate in an ancient and vast liturgy that encompasses all creation.
Church Fathers on Psalms 103:21
1. ...“Bless the Lord, O my soul! And all that is within me, His holy Name” Psalm 102:1. I suppose that he speaks not of what is within the body; I do not suppose him to mean this, that our lungs and liver, and so forth, are to burst forth into the voice of blessing of the Lord. There are lungs in our breast indeed, like a kind of bellows, which send forth successive breathings, which breathing forth of the air inhaled is pressed out into voice and sound, when the words are…
Nicene & Post-Nicene / Ante-Nicene Fathers translations · public domain
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