Psalms · Chapter 111

Verse 1. I will praise the Lord with my whole heart] If we profess to “sing to the praise and glory of God,” the heart, and the whole heart, without division and distraction, must be employed in the work. In the assembly] dwsb besod, in the secret assembly-the private religious meetings for the communion of saints. And in the congregation, hd[ edah, the general assembly-the public congregation. There were such meetings as the former ever since God had a Church on the earth; and to convey general information, there must be public assemblies.

Verses 1, 2. I will praise the Lord with my whole heart — I will make my acknowledgments to him, and give him thanks for the displays which he hath made of his wisdom, power, and goodness in his wonderful works, and that not only with my lips, and with some slight affections of my mind, but with all my heart and soul: in the assembly, &c. — Hebrew, dwsb, besod, in the secret, or private society, as Bishop Patrick interprets it, of the upright — Or righteous; “of those good men with whom I am more particularly acquainted,” and in the congregation — The public congregation of the people of Israel. The works of the Lord are great — Very magnificent. They are like himself; there is nothing in them that is mean or trifling. They are the products of infinite wisdom and power, which we must acknowledge upon the first view of them, before we come to inquire into them more particularly. They astonish and strike us with awe the moment we behold them. Every one of them, whether in the natural or spiritual system, is marvellous. “Nothing cometh from the hands of the Divine Artist but what is excellent and perfect in its kind, adapted with infinite skill to its proper place, and fitted for its intended use.” Sought out of all them that take pleasure therein — Of all who take delight in observing and considering them: such highly value and regard these works: they frequently call them to mind, meditate upon, and give themselves up to the contemplation of them. And happy are they who do this with humility and diligence, with faith and devotion. “To them shall the gate of true science open; they shall understand the mysteries of creation, providence, and redemption; and they who thus seek shall find the treasures of eternal wisdom.” — Horne.

Verse 1. In the assembly. dws sod, the secret or separate assembly; for such assemblies, or more select and private meetings, the people of God have always enjoyed for religious communion apart from the congregation, or public assembly of the outward courts. Public worship being of divine authority, all men should attend to it, and David gives examples by frequently taking a part in social worship.

1. Praise ye the Lord—This belongs to the title of the psalm, as is clearly shown by the alphabetical numbering of the lines, beginning with the next sentence. In the assembly—In the select, or confidential, circle. In this sense the word rendered “assembly” is often used. Upright— “Straightforward; a title given to the true Israel from the days of Balsam downwards.”—Alexander. See Numbers 23:10. The word Jeshurun, which occurs four times in the Scripture as a poetical name of Israel, is a diminutive from the same root, (Yashar, upright,) signifying the good or upright little people. See on Deuteronomy 32:15; 33:5, 26; Isaiah 44:2. Congregation—The collective multitude of the people. A distinction seems here drawn between the select number of the upright, or true Israel, and the nation at large. See Romans 9:6. If the two terms are taken as synonymous, then the term “upright” could apply to the “congregation” only as their profession.

V. 2. Sought-Diligently meditated upon.

Verse 2. The works of the Lord are great] גדלים gedolim, vast in magnitude; as רבים rabbim signifies their multitude and variety. Sought out] Investigated, carefully examined.

Of all them that have pleasure therein.] By all that delight in them: by every genuine philosopher; every lover of nature; he who traces out the great First Cause by means of his works. And the man that does so will be astonished at the perfections of the Creator, and admire all the operations of his hands.

Verses 1, 2. I will praise the Lord with my whole heart — I will make my acknowledgments to him, and give him thanks for the displays which he hath made of his wisdom, power, and goodness in his wonderful works, and that not only with my lips, and with some slight affections of my mind, but with all my heart and soul: in the assembly, &c. — Hebrew, dwsb, besod, in the secret, or private society, as Bishop Patrick interprets it, of the upright — Or righteous; “of those good men with whom I am more particularly acquainted,” and in the congregation — The public congregation of the people of Israel. The works of the Lord are great — Very magnificent. They are like himself; there is nothing in them that is mean or trifling. They are the products of infinite wisdom and power, which we must acknowledge upon the first view of them, before we come to inquire into them more particularly. They astonish and strike us with awe the moment we behold them. Every one of them, whether in the natural or spiritual system, is marvellous. “Nothing cometh from the hands of the Divine Artist but what is excellent and perfect in its kind, adapted with infinite skill to its proper place, and fitted for its intended use.” Sought out of all them that take pleasure therein — Of all who take delight in observing and considering them: such highly value and regard these works: they frequently call them to mind, meditate upon, and give themselves up to the contemplation of them. And happy are they who do this with humility and diligence, with faith and devotion. “To them shall the gate of true science open; they shall understand the mysteries of creation, providence, and redemption; and they who thus seek shall find the treasures of eternal wisdom.” — Horne.

2. Works of the Lord—This is the theme of the psalm, and might include all God’s works in nature, providence, moral government, and redemption; but the psalm celebrates specially his moral acts in government and redemption, particularly that wonderful chain of providences by which his people had been saved and his covenant confirmed. Sought out— Diligently studied, searched into; and which are, by implication, excellent and satisfying to the earnest inquirer who is attracted by their merit and takes delight in their teachings: but they must be studied not only for doctrine and history, but for practical living.

V. 3. Work-Either all his works, or that eminent branch of those works, his providence towards his people. Righteousness-His justice or faithfulness in performing his word.

Verse 3. His work is honourable, &c.] He has done nothing in nature or grace that does not redound to his own honour and glory; and because all is done in righteousness, it endureth for ever.

Verses 3, 4. His work — Either all his works, or that eminent branch of them, his providence toward his people, as is expressed afterward; is honourable and glorious — Becoming the Divine Majesty, and bringing glory to him from all that observe and consider it. And his righteousness — His justice or faithfulness in performing his word; endureth for ever — Hath always been, and will still be, evident to his people in all generations, and in all conditions, even when he afflicts them, and seems to deal most severely, and to break his promise with them. He hath made his wonderful works to be remembered — Either, 1st, By those memorials which he hath left of them in his word; or, rather, 2d, By their own wonderful nature, and their lasting effects, and the benefits flowing from them, which are such as cannot easily be forgotten. The Lord is full of compassion — Toward his people, as appears from his works and conduct toward us, in sparing, pardoning, restoring, and preserving us, when we deserved to be utterly destroyed.

3. Honourable and glorious—Two words of nearly the same import, often occurring together and applied to God and to kings, as Psalm 21:5; 45:3; 96:6; 104:1, where they express whatever is excellent in quality or grand in appearance, associated with royal dignity. The works of God rank with his own eternal nature, and fitly show forth his character and will, and man’s only path to honour, immortality, and eternal life. Psalm 19; 145:10.

V. 4. Remembered-By their own nature, and the lasting benefits flowing from them, which are such as cannot easily be forgotten.

Verse 4. He hath made his wonderful works] He who seeks them out will never forget them; and every thing of God’s framing is done in such a way, as to strike the imagination, interest the senses, and charm and edify the intellect. But the psalmist may here intend principally the works of God in behalf of the Jewish people; and particularly in their deliverance from the Babylonish captivity, which this Psalm is supposed to celebrate.

Verses 3, 4. His work — Either all his works, or that eminent branch of them, his providence toward his people, as is expressed afterward; is honourable and glorious — Becoming the Divine Majesty, and bringing glory to him from all that observe and consider it. And his righteousness — His justice or faithfulness in performing his word; endureth for ever — Hath always been, and will still be, evident to his people in all generations, and in all conditions, even when he afflicts them, and seems to deal most severely, and to break his promise with them. He hath made his wonderful works to be remembered — Either, 1st, By those memorials which he hath left of them in his word; or, rather, 2d, By their own wonderful nature, and their lasting effects, and the benefits flowing from them, which are such as cannot easily be forgotten. The Lord is full of compassion — Toward his people, as appears from his works and conduct toward us, in sparing, pardoning, restoring, and preserving us, when we deserved to be utterly destroyed.

4. To be remembered—Literally, He made a memorial for his wondrous works. Thus feasts, fasts, and other institutions were monumental signs, appointed to keep in remembrance his doings. Numbers 16:4; Joshua 4:6, 7.

V. 5. Meat-All necessary provisions for their being and well-being.

Verse 5. He hath given meat] ãrc tereph, PREY. This may allude to the quails in the wilderness. The word signifies what is taken in hunting—wild beasts, venison, or fowls of any kind; particularly such as were proper for food. It also signifies spoil taken from enemies. And he may also refer to the wondrous manner in which they were fed and supported during their captivity; and by his support he proved that he was mindful of his covenant. He had promised such blessings; he was faithful to his promises.

Verses 5, 6. He hath given meat — All necessary provisions for their being and well-being; unto them that fear him — To the Israelites, the only people in the world that feared and worshipped the true God according to his will, and especially to those among them that truly feared him, and, for their sakes, to the body of that nation, as well in the wilderness as in their following straits and miseries. He will ever be — Or, he hath ever been, mindful of his covenant — Which he made with Abraham, and with his seed for ever; whereby he engaged to be their God, and to provide all necessaries for them. He hath showed — Not only by his words, but by his actions; the power of his works — His mighty power in his works, and especially, as it here follows, in giving them the heritage of the heathen, the land of Canaan, which had been possessed and inherited by the heathen.

5. He hath given meat—The word “meat” commonly signifies prey, booty, but should here be understood of ordinary food, as in Proverbs 31:15; Malachi 3:10. The passage is parallel to Psalm 34:9. The first hemistich is the fruit and evidence of the truth of the second. Because he is mindful of his covenant, therefore he giveth food to those who fear him. The language indicates that the people had recently emerged from want and penury to plentifulness. See on Psalm 107:4-7. The sustentation of an overburdened population in Palestine (commonly estimated at 6,000,000 in prosperous times, within an area of about 12,000 square miles, or about one third of that of the State of New York,) was always a wonder, and called forth many specific laws and humane customs.

Verse 6. The power of his works] They have seen that these things did not arrive in the common course of nature, it was not by might nor by power, but by the Spirit of the Lord of hosts they were done. And it required a display of the power of God to give them the heritage of the heathen.

Verses 5, 6. He hath given meat — All necessary provisions for their being and well-being; unto them that fear him — To the Israelites, the only people in the world that feared and worshipped the true God according to his will, and especially to those among them that truly feared him, and, for their sakes, to the body of that nation, as well in the wilderness as in their following straits and miseries. He will ever be — Or, he hath ever been, mindful of his covenant — Which he made with Abraham, and with his seed for ever; whereby he engaged to be their God, and to provide all necessaries for them. He hath showed — Not only by his words, but by his actions; the power of his works — His mighty power in his works, and especially, as it here follows, in giving them the heritage of the heathen, the land of Canaan, which had been possessed and inherited by the heathen.

6. He hath showed his people—He has not only declared his ability to do, but has publicly manifested the power of his works by the great salvation he has actually wrought out for his people. This is God’s method in all ages. Thus “experience worketh hope through tribulation.” Romans 5:4; Psalm 20:6; 41:11. Give them the heritage of the heathen—This was notably done in the times of Moses and Joshua, and in a degree scarcely less illustrious by the return of the exiles and the re-establishment of the nation by Ezra, Zerubbabel, and Nehemiah, under the decrees of Cyrus, (Ezra 1:1-4;) of Darius. (Ezra vi;) and of Artaxerxes, (Nehemiah 2.)

V. 7. The works-All that he doth on the behalf of his people, or against their enemies. Truth-Are exactly agreeable to his promises, and to justice. Commandments-His laws given to the Israelites, especially the moral law. Sure-Constant and unchangeable.

Verse 7. Verity and judgment] His works are verity or truth, because they were wrought for the fulfilment of the promises he made to their fathers. And they were just; for their punishment was in consequence of their infidelities: and the punishment of the Babylonians was only in consequence of their gross iniquities; and in both respects he had proved his work to be according to justice and judgment.

Verses 7-9. The works of his hands — All that he doth, either on the behalf of his people, or against his or their enemies; are verity and judgment — Are exactly agreeable to his word or promises, and to the rules of eternal justice. All his commandments — His laws given to the Israelites, especially the moral law, considered with its sanctions, the promises made to the observers of it, and the threatenings denounced against transgressors; are sure — Constant and unchangeable, as being grounded upon the immutable rules of justice and equity. They stand fast, Hebrew, µykwms, semuchim, they are established upon a sure foundation; and are done — Constituted or ordered; in truth and uprightness — With a sincere regard to the good and happiness of mankind, and without the least shadow of partiality or iniquity, and they will then appear in perfect glory and beauty, when all the arts and labours of man shall cease to exist. He sent redemption unto his people — That deliverance out of Egypt, which was a type and pledge of that greater and higher redemption, which is by the Messiah. He hath commanded — Appointed, or firmly established, by his power and authority; his covenant for ever — Through all successive generations of his people, to the end of the world; for the covenant is the same for substance in all ages, and differed only in circumstances. Holy and reverend is his name — Terrible to his enemies, venerable in his people’s eyes, and holy in all his dealings with all men.

7. Verity and judgment—Truth and absolute administrative justice. All his commandments are sure—That is, they are true, established. The words “sure” and “verity” in the preceding line are from a common root, the one being affirmed of the “works” of God, the other of his “precepts.”

V. 8. Done-Constituted or ordered.

Verse 8. They stand fast for ever] µykwms semuchim, they are propped up, buttressed, for ever. They can never fail; for God’s power supports his works, and his providence preserves the record of what he has done.

Verses 7-9. The works of his hands — All that he doth, either on the behalf of his people, or against his or their enemies; are verity and judgment — Are exactly agreeable to his word or promises, and to the rules of eternal justice. All his commandments — His laws given to the Israelites, especially the moral law, considered with its sanctions, the promises made to the observers of it, and the threatenings denounced against transgressors; are sure — Constant and unchangeable, as being grounded upon the immutable rules of justice and equity. They stand fast, Hebrew, µykwms, semuchim, they are established upon a sure foundation; and are done — Constituted or ordered; in truth and uprightness — With a sincere regard to the good and happiness of mankind, and without the least shadow of partiality or iniquity, and they will then appear in perfect glory and beauty, when all the arts and labours of man shall cease to exist. He sent redemption unto his people — That deliverance out of Egypt, which was a type and pledge of that greater and higher redemption, which is by the Messiah. He hath commanded — Appointed, or firmly established, by his power and authority; his covenant for ever — Through all successive generations of his people, to the end of the world; for the covenant is the same for substance in all ages, and differed only in circumstances. Holy and reverend is his name — Terrible to his enemies, venerable in his people’s eyes, and holy in all his dealings with all men.

8. They stand fast for ever and ever—Literally, They [both his works and his commandments, verse 7,] are established from eternity to eternity. The idea of duration must here be taken in its widest sense.

V. 9. Redemption-The deliverance out of Egypt, which was a type of that higher redemption by Christ. Commanded-Appointed, or established firmly by his power and authority. For ever-Through all successive generations of his people to the end of the world. Reverend-Terrible to his enemies, venerable in his peoples eyes, and holy in all his dealings with all men.

Verse 9. He sent redemption] He sent Moses to redeem them out of Egypt; various judges to deliver them out of the hands of their oppressors; Ezra, Nehemiah, and Zerubbabel, to deliver them from Babylon; and the Lord Jesus to redeem a whole lost world from sin, misery, and death. Holy and reverend is his name.] The word reverend comes to us from the Latins, reverendus, and is compounded of re, intensive, and vereor, to be feared; and most or right reverend, reverendissimus, signifies to be greatly feared. These terms are now only titles of ecclesiastical respect, especially in the Protestant ministry; but there was a time in which these were no empty titles. Such was the power of the clergy, that, when they walked not in the fear of the Lord, they caused the people to fear, and they themselves were to be feared; but, when the secular power was added to the spiritual, they were then truly reverendi and reverendissimi, to be feared and greatly to be feared. But reverend is not applied to God in this way; nor does the word arwn nora bear this signification; it rather means terrible: Holy and terrible, or holy and tremendous, is his name. This title belongs not to man; nor does any minister, in assuming the title reverend, assume this. Indeed, the word reverend, as now used, gives us a very imperfect conception of the original term. Holy and tremendous is God’s name. He is glorious in holiness, fearful in praises, doing wonders, both in the way of judgment and in the way of mercy.

Verses 7-9. The works of his hands — All that he doth, either on the behalf of his people, or against his or their enemies; are verity and judgment — Are exactly agreeable to his word or promises, and to the rules of eternal justice. All his commandments — His laws given to the Israelites, especially the moral law, considered with its sanctions, the promises made to the observers of it, and the threatenings denounced against transgressors; are sure — Constant and unchangeable, as being grounded upon the immutable rules of justice and equity. They stand fast, Hebrew, µykwms, semuchim, they are established upon a sure foundation; and are done — Constituted or ordered; in truth and uprightness — With a sincere regard to the good and happiness of mankind, and without the least shadow of partiality or iniquity, and they will then appear in perfect glory and beauty, when all the arts and labours of man shall cease to exist. He sent redemption unto his people — That deliverance out of Egypt, which was a type and pledge of that greater and higher redemption, which is by the Messiah. He hath commanded — Appointed, or firmly established, by his power and authority; his covenant for ever — Through all successive generations of his people, to the end of the world; for the covenant is the same for substance in all ages, and differed only in circumstances. Holy and reverend is his name — Terrible to his enemies, venerable in his people’s eyes, and holy in all his dealings with all men.

Ver. 9. He hath commanded his covenant for ever. Not the law of a carnal commandment, but of an endless life. The righteousness brought in by the Messiah being everlasting, all men are justified by faith in him, and not by works.

9. He sent redemption—It is better to understand this of a recent “redemption,” as that from Babylon, rather than that of Israel from Egypt. He hath commanded his covenant—That is, he hath established, made firm, his covenant, which he made first with Abraham, and again with the body of the Israelites at Sinai.

V. 10. The fear-True religion. Beginning-Is the only foundation of, and introduction to, true wisdom.

Verse 10. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom] The original stands thus: hwhy tary hmkj tyvar reshith chokmah, yirath Yehovah, The beginning of wisdom is the fear of Jehovah. Wisdom itself begins with this fear; true wisdom has this for its commencement. It is the first ingredient in it, and is an essential part of it. In vain does any man pretend to be wise who does not fear the Lord; and he who fears the Lord departs from evil: he who lives in sin neither fears God, nor is wise. A good understanding have all they that do his commandments] These last words we add as necessary to make up the sense; but there is no need of this expedient, as the words of the original literally read thus: “The beginning of wisdom is the fear of Jehovah; good discernment to the doers.” That is, They who act according to the dictates of wisdom, the commencement of which is the fear of Jehovah, have a sound understanding, discern their duty and their interest, and live to secure their own peace, their neighbour’s good, and God’s glory.

Verse 10. The fear of the Lord — That is, piety, or true religion, which consists in the fear, or worship and service of God; is the beginning of wisdom — Is the only foundation of, and introduction to, all true wisdom: or, is the chief part, the first and principal point of wisdom. A good understanding have all they that do his commandments — That conscientiously walk according to them; for the practice of them, as Bishop Patrick observes, “gives men a better understanding of what is good for them, than any politic maxims can infuse into them.” His praise endureth for ever — Let the Lord be for ever praised, who hath given us these good and wholesome laws, and thereby shown us the way to eternal honour and happiness. But the Hebrew may be rendered, the praise of it, that is, of the wisdom and good understanding of those that fear the Lord, endureth, or standeth fast, as tdm[, signifies, for ever: this will procure them such a substantial happiness as they can never be deprived of, either in this world or the next.

Ver. 10. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. See Proverbs 3:13. 9:10.

10. The beginning of wisdom—Not only in the sense of order of time, but also as chief or first in dignity. See Proverbs 1:7; 4:7, where the same word, “beginning,” occurs. Understanding must here be taken in its ethical sense of wisdom, prudence, discretion; which was always looked upon as the gift of God and the guaranty of success and happiness. Job 28:28; Proverbs 13:15. His praise endureth—Whose praise? Some suppose the praise of the wise man, who keeps the commandments, is meant, as in Psalm 112. But Jehovah in his works is the theme of the psalm, and the pronoun more properly refers to “Lord” in the first member of the verse, to whom all praise is due.