Psalms 111
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Psalms 111
Praise Ye the LORD: The Works of the LORD
1Praise ye the LORD. I will praise the LORD with my whole heart, in the assembly of the upright, and in the congregation.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
PSALM 111
Psa 111:1-10. The Psalmist celebrates God's gracious dealings with His people, of which a summary statement is given.
1. Praise ye the Lord--or, Hallelujah (Psa 104:35). This seems to serve as a title to those of the later Psalms, which, like this, set forth God's gracious government and its blessed fruits. This praise claims the
whole heart--(Psa 86:12), and is rendered publicly.
upright--a title of the true Israel (Psa 32:11).
PSALM 111
Psa 111:1-10. The Psalmist celebrates God's gracious dealings with His people, of which a summary statement is given.
1. Praise ye the Lord--or, Hallelujah (Psa 104:35). This seems to serve as a title to those of the later Psalms, which, like this, set forth God's gracious government and its blessed fruits. This praise claims the
whole heart--(Psa 86:12), and is rendered publicly.
upright--a title of the true Israel (Psa 32:11).
The Pulpit Commentary
Praise ye the Lord. Scarcely a part of the psalm—rather a heading or introduction. I will praise the Lord with my whole heart (comp. Psa_9:1; Psa_119:34, Psa_119:58, Psa_119:69). "With my whole heart" replaces the "greatly" of Psa_109:30. In the assembly of the upright, and in the congregation. Professor Cheyne translates, "in the council and assembly of the upright;" and it seems to be generally allowed that two distinct assemblies are not spoken of, but that the one congregation of the faithful is designated by two names. Thus the Prayer-book translation is wrong.
Praise ye the Lord. Scarcely a part of the psalm—rather a heading or introduction. I will praise the Lord with my whole heart (comp. Psa_9:1; Psa_119:34, Psa_119:58, Psa_119:69). "With my whole heart" replaces the "greatly" of Psa_109:30. In the assembly of the upright, and in the congregation. Professor Cheyne translates, "in the council and assembly of the upright;" and it seems to be generally allowed that two distinct assemblies are not spoken of, but that the one congregation of the faithful is designated by two names. Thus the Prayer-book translation is wrong.
2The works of the LORD are great, sought out of all them that have pleasure therein.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
2. His works, that is, of providence and grace are
sought--or, carefully studied, by all desiring to know them.
2. His works, that is, of providence and grace are
sought--or, carefully studied, by all desiring to know them.
The Pulpit Commentary
The works of the Lord are great. Not his material works, but the doings of his providence (see Psa_111:3-9). Sought out of all them that have pleasure therein. Searched into and carefully studied by all who take an interest in such things. Derushim, "objects of study," is etymologically connected with madrasa, a college, a "place of study and research."
The works of the Lord are great. Not his material works, but the doings of his providence (see Psa_111:3-9). Sought out of all them that have pleasure therein. Searched into and carefully studied by all who take an interest in such things. Derushim, "objects of study," is etymologically connected with madrasa, a college, a "place of study and research."
3His work is honourable and glorious: and his righteousness endureth for ever.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
3-4. honourable and glorious--literally, "honor and majesty," which illustrate His glorious perfections.
righteousness--(Psa 7:17; 31:1), which He has made memorable by wonders of love and mercy, in supplying the wants of His people according to covenant engagements.
3-4. honourable and glorious--literally, "honor and majesty," which illustrate His glorious perfections.
righteousness--(Psa 7:17; 31:1), which He has made memorable by wonders of love and mercy, in supplying the wants of His people according to covenant engagements.
The Pulpit Commentary
His work is honorable and glorious; literally, honor and glory; but our translators have rightly paraphrased. And his righteousness endureth forever; i.e. his just and righteous dealing with all his creatures.
His work is honorable and glorious; literally, honor and glory; but our translators have rightly paraphrased. And his righteousness endureth forever; i.e. his just and righteous dealing with all his creatures.
4He hath made his wonderful works to be remembered: the LORD is gracious and full of compassion.
The Pulpit Commentary
He hath made his wonderful works to be remembered; literally, a memorial hath he made for his wonders; i.e. he has so done them that they cannot cease to be had in remembrance. Memorial institutions, like the Passover, are scarcely glanced at. The Lord is gracious and full of compassion; or, "compassionate" (comp. Psa_103:13).
He hath made his wonderful works to be remembered; literally, a memorial hath he made for his wonders; i.e. he has so done them that they cannot cease to be had in remembrance. Memorial institutions, like the Passover, are scarcely glanced at. The Lord is gracious and full of compassion; or, "compassionate" (comp. Psa_103:13).
5He hath given meat unto them that fear him: he will ever be mindful of his covenant.
The Pulpit Commentary
He hath given meat unto them that fear him. The manna may be primarily in the writer's mind, but he is also thinking of the "food given to all flesh" (Psa_136:25) continually. He will ever be mindful of his covenant. The covenant with Abraham, made "to a thousand generations" (Psa_105:8).
He hath given meat unto them that fear him. The manna may be primarily in the writer's mind, but he is also thinking of the "food given to all flesh" (Psa_136:25) continually. He will ever be mindful of his covenant. The covenant with Abraham, made "to a thousand generations" (Psa_105:8).
6He hath shewed his people the power of his works, that he may give them the heritage of the heathen.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
6-8. His power was shown especially in giving them the promised land, and His faithfulness and justice thus displayed are, like His precepts, reliable and of permanent obligation.
6-8. His power was shown especially in giving them the promised land, and His faithfulness and justice thus displayed are, like His precepts, reliable and of permanent obligation.
The Pulpit Commentary
He hath showed his people the power of his works, that he may give them the heritage of the heathen; rather, in giving them. God manifested his power to Israel very specially by causing them to overcome the many strong Canaanitish nations, and to take their lands and labors in possession (Psa_105:44). This was one of the greatest of his "works," or "doings."
He hath showed his people the power of his works, that he may give them the heritage of the heathen; rather, in giving them. God manifested his power to Israel very specially by causing them to overcome the many strong Canaanitish nations, and to take their lands and labors in possession (Psa_105:44). This was one of the greatest of his "works," or "doings."
7The works of his hands are verity and judgment; all his commandments are sure.
The Pulpit Commentary
The works of his hands are verity and judgment. All that God does is right and just—"done in truth and uprightness" (Psa_111:8). All his commandments are sure; i.e. firm, unchangeable—being based on truth and right.
The works of his hands are verity and judgment. All that God does is right and just—"done in truth and uprightness" (Psa_111:8). All his commandments are sure; i.e. firm, unchangeable—being based on truth and right.
8They stand fast for ever and ever, and are done in truth and uprightness.
The Pulpit Commentary
They stand fast forever and ever. This is exegetical of the "sure" in Psa_111:7. In the sense in which they were given—the spiritual sense underlying them—not one jot or tittle of God's commandments ever passes away (Mat_5:18). And are done in truth and uprightness; rather, being done. It is the intrinsic truth and equity of the commandments that render them ever lasting and unchangeable (see Cudworth on 'Immutable Morality').
They stand fast forever and ever. This is exegetical of the "sure" in Psa_111:7. In the sense in which they were given—the spiritual sense underlying them—not one jot or tittle of God's commandments ever passes away (Mat_5:18). And are done in truth and uprightness; rather, being done. It is the intrinsic truth and equity of the commandments that render them ever lasting and unchangeable (see Cudworth on 'Immutable Morality').
★9He sent redemption unto his people: he hath commanded his covenant for ever: holy and reverend is his name.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
9. The deliverance He provided accorded to His established covenant. Thus He manifested Himself in the sum of His perfections (Psa 20:1, 7; 22:3) worthy of reverence.
9. The deliverance He provided accorded to His established covenant. Thus He manifested Himself in the sum of His perfections (Psa 20:1, 7; 22:3) worthy of reverence.
The Pulpit Commentary
He sent redemption unto his people. The "redemption" from Egypt (Exo_6:6) is perhaps especially in the writer's mind, but he may be thinking also of other deliverances. He hath commanded his covenant forever (comp. Gen_9:12; Gen_17:13; Exo_31:16, etc.). Holy and reverend is his Name. Intrinsically "holy," and therefore "reverend," or to be reverenced.
He sent redemption unto his people. The "redemption" from Egypt (Exo_6:6) is perhaps especially in the writer's mind, but he may be thinking also of other deliverances. He hath commanded his covenant forever (comp. Gen_9:12; Gen_17:13; Exo_31:16, etc.). Holy and reverend is his Name. Intrinsically "holy," and therefore "reverend," or to be reverenced.
10The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: a good understanding have all they that do his commandments: his praise endureth for ever.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
10. And hence love and fear of such a God is the chief element of true wisdom (compare Pr 1:7; 9:10).
10. And hence love and fear of such a God is the chief element of true wisdom (compare Pr 1:7; 9:10).
The Pulpit Commentary
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom (comp. Pro_1:7; Pro_9:10; Ecclesiasticus 1:16; and also Job_28:28). The meaning seems to be that "the beginning of wisdom is not found in keen insight, nor wide experience, nor the learn-hag of the schools, but in the temper of reverence and awe. The fear of the finite in the presence of the Infinite, of the sinful in the presence of the Holy, self-abhorring, adoring, as in Job's confession—this for the Israelite was the starting-point of all true wisdom" (Dean Plumptre). A good under standing have all they that do his commandments; literally, that do them; but the "commandments" of verse 7 are, no doubt, intended. His praise endureth forever. The praise "of him," not "of it," as in the Prayer-book Version. As he had begun (verse 1), so the psalmist ends, with Jehovah's praise.
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom (comp. Pro_1:7; Pro_9:10; Ecclesiasticus 1:16; and also Job_28:28). The meaning seems to be that "the beginning of wisdom is not found in keen insight, nor wide experience, nor the learn-hag of the schools, but in the temper of reverence and awe. The fear of the finite in the presence of the Infinite, of the sinful in the presence of the Holy, self-abhorring, adoring, as in Job's confession—this for the Israelite was the starting-point of all true wisdom" (Dean Plumptre). A good under standing have all they that do his commandments; literally, that do them; but the "commandments" of verse 7 are, no doubt, intended. His praise endureth forever. The praise "of him," not "of it," as in the Prayer-book Version. As he had begun (verse 1), so the psalmist ends, with Jehovah's praise.
THE HOLY BIBLE
Psalms
Chapter 111
Translated out of the original tongues, and with the former translations diligently compared and revised.
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“Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.” — PSALM 119:105