Not to be nit-picky or anything, but your "question" is
not actually phrased as a question. What kind of information are you specifically
looking for? For example, are you looking for comparisons only--as in how they are
similar, or are you also looking for contrast--as in how they differ from one another?
Are you only looking for thematic points--such as they are both Psalms of praise (as
opposed to lamentations), or are you interested in comparing the structure of the Psalms
themselves--things like length?
Without such information I
can't guarantee that you will be satisfied with my answer, but I'll make an
attempt.
Both Psalms are praise Psalms which extol various
qualities of God. Psalm 103 lists itself as a Psalm of David. The authorship of Psalm 99
is not given. While both list qualities of God, they focus on different
ones.
Psalm 99 is the last of the so-called "royal" Psalms
in that it not only directly addresses God's kingship, it highlights it and calls on His
worshipers to tremble before Him (v. 1). It draws attention to the vast division between
man and God. (vs. 1-2) It also focuses on His holiness; the Psalm points this
characteristic out no less than three separate times.
Psalm
103 on the other hand, focuses more on God's merciful nature. While it too mentions the
fact that God has a throne and a kingdom (v. 19); it spends much more time comparing him
to a father and highlighting his mercy (vs. 13-17), while both draw attention to the
fact that God is above us and should be feared (99:1 - 103:17), Psalm 103 identifies Him
as a father figure (v. 13). Psalm 99 shows that He is separate from humanity while Psalm
103 shows that He is intimately involved with us.
While
both Psalms contain similar wording about God's mercy and/or forgiving nature (compare
Psalm 99:4 and Psalm 103:6; Psalm 103:7 and Psalm 99:6), and how He has come to the aid
of the prophets of old, Psalm 99 is quite a bit more focused on His holy judgement and
Psalm 103 on His tender and merciful nature.
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