Commentary on Ezra Nehemiah Ester Job and Psalms, Commentary 5 · Psalm 111
PSAL. CXI.
Verſ. 1. … ye the Lord] At the … eſpecially; for this and the other Hallelujatical Pſalms that follow (called by the Jews the Great Hallelujah) were ſung as that and other ſolemn …, in praiſe of God for his manifold mercies.
I will praiſe the Lord] Muſica huju… Pſalmi inſignis eſt, ſiquis com conſequi potuit. The great are uſed in the compoſure of this, and ſome other Pſalms (after the order of the Hebrew Alphabet) ſerveth both to ſet forth their excellency, and for the help of memory.
Verſ. 2. The works the Lord aye great] Magnalia; no ſmall things are done by ſo great a hand. Grandior ſolet eſſe Deus in parvulis quam in magnis; in formic is major anima quam in Elephantis in nanis quam in gigantibus.
Sought out of all them] q.d. Great though they be, yet are they ſeriouſly ſought into, and found out by thoſe that delight therein; and the deeper they dive into them, the ſweeter they find them. Baſil diligently deſcribed many creatures; and ſo did Ambroſe after him. Pliny (who was himſelf a very great ſearcher in Natures ſecrets) telleth of one who ſpent eight and fifty years in learning out the nature of the Bee, Et non duns aſſecutus ſit omnies, and yet could not attain to all. Our Anatomiſts find ſtill new wonders in the body of a man, &c. God hath ſhewed ſingular skill in his works, that men might admire him; But woe to ſuch as regard not his handy-work, Iſa. 5.12.
Verſ. 3. His work is honourable] Heb. Honour and glory, they all come tipt and gilt, with a glory upon them, à centro ad coelum. This the bruitiſh man knoweth not, Pſal. 92.6.
His righteouſneſs endureth for ever] His judgements are ſometimes ſecret, but alwayes juſt.
Verſ. 4. He hath made his wonderful, &c.] Memorabilia reddedit mirabilia ſua clemens & miſericors Jehova.
Verſ. 5. He bath given meat] Heb. a prey, Eſcam demenſam; as he did Manna to the Iſraelites to each an Homer; ſo to all his he giveth food convenient for them, Prov. 30.8. Cibum & petum quae ſunt divitiae Chriſtianorum.Hieron.
He will ever be mindful of his Covenant] To paſs by his peoples ſins, and to ſupply all their neceſſities: All his pathes to ſuch are not mercy onelyonly, but truth, Pſal. 25.
Verſ. 6. He hath ſhewed his people, &c.] To them it is given to ſee, but not to others who are delivered up to a judiciary blindneſs. Call unto me and I will anſwer the…, and ſhew thee great and hidden things which thou knoweſt not, Jer. 33.3.
That he may give them &c.] Yea power over all Nation…, Rev. 2.
Verſ. 7. The works of his hands] They ſpeak him a true and juſt God. Chryſoſtome taketh truth here for mercy, and noteth that God uſually mixeth mercy with juſtice; yet ſometimes he ſendeth an evil, an onelyonly evil, Ez. k. 7.
All his commandements] That is, his promiſes added to his commandements; or they are ſo called, becauſe firm and ſure, as the commandements of an Emperor.
Verſ. 8. They ſtand faſt for ever and ever] The promiſes are infallible, good ſure hold, not yea and nay, but Yea and Amen.
And are done] i.e. Ordained, made, and ratified.
Verſ. 9. He ſent redemption to his people] Once out of Egypt, ever out of Satans thraldome.
He hath commanded his Covenant for ever] Sic cum popule ſuo pactus eſt ut de ipſius pacti obſervatione certis edict is caverit, as he covenanted, ſo he looketh his commandements ſhould be reſpected, which are as binding to us, as his Covenant is to him; and through grace, his Covenant is as binding to him as thoſe are to us.
Holy and reverend is his Name] Which therefore we ſhould not preſume in a ſudden unmanne…lineſs to blurt out. The Jews would not pronounce it. The Grecians (as Suidas obſerveth) when they would ſwear by their Jupiter, forbare to mention him This is check to the profaneneſs common amongſt us. Let thoſe that would have their name reverend, labour to be holy as God is holy.
Verſ. 10. The fear of the Lord is be beginning of wiſdome] Or the principal point and chief perfection. See Prov. 1.7. and Job 28.28. with the Notes.
A good understanding have all they] So much a man knoweth in true account, as he doth; Hence underſtanding is here aſcribed to the will; ſo Job 28.28. See Eccleſ. 10.2 ſome render it, Good ſucceſs.
His praiſe endureth for ever] i.e. Gods praiſe; for they that underſtand it of the godly wiſe man, underſtand not the propriety of the Hebrew word Tebilla…, ſaith an Interpreter.