Annotations Upon the Books of Poetry, Psalms · Psalm 111
PSALM CXI.
Verſ. 1. PRaiſe ye the Lord, &c.] See the Note Pſal. 25.1. This is the firſt of the Alphabeticall Pſalms, wherein we have all the Hebrew letters perfectly according to their order without omiſſion of any: and they are in the beginning of every clauſe of the Pſalm, the firſt eight verſes being divided into two clauſes, and the two laſt into three. And juſt ſo it is again in the following Pſalm.
Verſ. 2. The works of the Lord are great, ſought out of all them that have pleaſure therein.] As if he had ſaid, Though profane ungodly men diſcern not the tranſcendent excellency that is in Gods works, and that becauſe they regard them not, and therefore ſearch not into them; yet they that take delight in ſearching into them, they diſcover, and in a good meaſure underſtand, the exquiſite excellency that is therein.
Verſ. 3. His work is honourable and glorious, &c.] Some underſtand this peculiarly of the glorious work of Gods delivering the Iſraelites out of Egypt, becauſe they conceive the Pſalmiſt ſpeaks of this in the following verſes. But I rather take it as ſpoken generally, that whatever God doeth is full of majeſty and glory. And (which the Pſalmiſt here adds, becauſe therein conſiſts the chief glory of his works) his righteouſneſse endureth for ever; that is, whatever God doeth, he doeth it in faithfulneſſe and righteouſneſſe unto his people; yea even then when he may ſeem to doe that which is contrary to what he hath promiſed them.
Verſ. 4. He hath made his wonderfull works to be remembred.] To wit, by his word given them, wherein thoſe wonderfull works of his are recorded; or by thoſe memorials of his glorious works, which he ordained to be kept amongſt them, ſuch as were the pot of mannah, the rod of Aaron, and the feſtivals which they were appointed to obſerve, as the Paſſeover, the Pentecoſt, the feaſt of Tabernacles, or becauſe the works that God wrought for the Iſraelites were ſo exceeding wonderfull, that they were not only worthy for ever to be remembred, but ſuch indeed as that it wat not poſſible they ſhould ever be forgotten.
Verſ. 5. He hath given meat unto them that fear him, &c.] That is, to his people Iſrael; and he uſeth this expreſſion, unto them that fear him, either becauſe they were then the only people that worſhipped God in a right manner; or becauſe what he did for them, was done for their ſakes amongſt them that did truly fear him. As for the mercy here ſpoken of, He hath given meat unto them, either it may be meant in generall, of Gods providing food convenient for them that have feared him in all ages, as he did for Elijah, and others; or rather more particularly, of Gods feeding the Iſraelites in the wilderneſſe with manna from heaven. And the reaſon of this is given in the next words, he will ever be mindfull of his covenant; becauſe of the covenant he had made with them God did this, though they were a murmuring and rebellious people.
Verſ. 7. The works of his hands are verity and judgement, &c.] That is, All that God doeth in the government of his Church is full of truth and faithfulneſſe, exactly according to what he hath promiſed, and full of judgement, being exactly juſt in every regard. And this ſome conceive may be added in particular reference to that work of God mentioned in the foregoing verſe, in giving the Iſraelites the heritage of the heathen; wherein God approved his truth, in performing the promiſe he had made to his people, and his juſtice, in rooting out thoſe wicked nations. As for the next clauſe, all his commandements are ſure, (for which ſee the Note Pſal. 19.7.) I conceive that under this word his commandements, both the promiſes and threatnings annexed to his commandements muſt neceſſarily be comprehended: and ſo they may be ſaid to be ſure, both becauſe they do ſurely reveal the will of God to us; and becauſe what is promiſed and threatned therein ſhall certainly come to paſſe. However, this clauſe ſeems to be added to that which went before concerning Gods works, purpoſely to ſhew what a clear agreement there is betwixt his works and his word; his works continually making good the ſure truth of all that he hath revealed in his word & commandements.
Verſ. 8. They stand faſt for ever and ever, &c.] That is, God hath eſtabliſhed his commandements that they ſhall never be changed, but they ſhall be found perpetually true, together with all the promiſes and threatnings annexed thereto, whatever carnall reaſon may in the hour of temptation judge to the contrary: and are done in truth and uprightneſse; that is, they are compoſed and ordained according to the exact rule of truth and righteouſneſſe, ſo that they cannot be charged with the leaſt falſhood or unrighteouſneſſe.
Verſ. 9. He ſent redemption unto his people, &c.] Many underſtand this particularly of the Lords delivering the Iſraelites out of Egypt by the hand of Moſes, whom he ſent unto them, and that becauſe in the next words, he hath commanded his covenant for ever, he ſeems to ſpeak of the covenant which God made with them at the giving of the Law, which was preſently upon their deliverance out of Egypt. But yet it may be meant more generally, of all the deliverances of the like nature which God had afforded his people, and that as they were ſhadows of their Redemption by Chriſt; whence it is that the Pſalmiſt ſpeaks in the next words of the covenant which God made with them for life eternall, which was grounded on that great work of Chriſts Redemption, and whereto they were ſtrongly obliged, duplicate page duplicate page becauſe he had ſo redeemed them. As for the expreſſion here uſed, he hath commanded his covenant for ever, ſee the Notes 1 Chron. 16.15: and for the following clauſe, holy & reverend is his Name, that is added, as an argument to ſtir up men to be carefull of keeping covenant with God.
Verſ. 10. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wiſedome, &c.] Having ſaid in the foregoing verſe, that Gods name was holy and reverend, hence the Pſalmiſt takes occaſion to preſſe upon men the fear of God, The fear of the Lord is the beginning, that is, the foundation, of wiſedome; there is never any true wiſedome in men till they begin to fear God: a good understanding have all they that doe his commandements; the wiſedome of others deſerves not comparatively the name of underſtanding: his praiſe endureth for ever; that is, the praiſe, the approbation, and the glorious reward, which ſuch a man receives from God; or rather, the praiſe of God.