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Book of Psalms


Psalm 111


King James Version

1 Praise ye the LORD. I will praise the LORD with my whole heart, in the assembly of the upright, and in the congregation.
2 The works of the LORD are great, sought out of all them that have pleasure therein.
3 His work is honourable and glorious: and his righteousness endureth for ever.
4 He hath made his wonderful works to be remembered: the LORD is gracious and full of compassion.
5 He hath given meat unto them that fear him: he will ever be mindful of his covenant.
6 He hath shewed his people the power of his works, that he may give them the heritage of the heathen.
7 The works of his hands are verity and judgment; all his commandments are sure.
8 They stand fast for ever and ever, and are done in truth and uprightness.
9 He sent redemption unto his people: he hath commanded his covenant for ever: holy and reverend is his name.
10 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: a good understanding have all they that do his commandments: his praise endureth for ever.1

Bible Commentary
1. Praise ye the Lord.  Heb. halelu Yak, the expression from which "hallelujah" is derived. 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.2,3
Whole heart. This psalm claims the whole heart (Ps 86:12), and is rendered publicly.2
Upright.  A title of the true Israel (Ps 32:11).2

2. His works. That is, of providence and grace are sought--or, carefully studied, by all desiring to know them.2
Sought out. The details of God's handiwork are not always apparent to the casual observer. They must be explored and discovered by eager study. As the miner digs in the earth to find its riches, so the works of God yield their treasure to him who is willing to dig for it.3

3. Work. Either all his works, or that eminent branch of those works, his providence towards his people.4
 Honourable and glorious.  Literally, "honour and majesty," which illustrate His glorious perfections.2 
Righteousness.  His justice or faithfulness in performing his word.4

4. To be remembered. The clause reads literally, "He made a memorial [or "remembrance," or "mention"] for his wonderful works." The Sabbath is a memorial of creation. The memorial was held sacred by patriarchs and prophets. God reiterated and re-emphasized the sanctity of the Sabbath when He proclaimed His holy law from Sinai (Ex. 20:8-11). When here on earth Christ worshiped in the synagogue on the Sabbath day (see Mark 1:21; Luke 4:16).3

5. Meat. Heb. tereph, "food." As God made provision for Israel's wants in the wilderness by providing manna for them, so He will care for the needs of His people in times of distress (see Isa. 33:16).3

6. Power. 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.2

7. The works. All that he doth on the behalf of his people, or against their enemies.2
Verity. Are exactly agreeable to his promises, and to justice.2
Sure. From the Heb. 'aman, "to be firmly established," "to be trustworthy." The commandments of God, in which man's duties are set forth, are trustworthy and true. They remain steadfast forever, they are unchangeable.3

8. They stand fast. The Lord has certain immutable principles by which He governs the universe. With God there "is no variableness, neither shadow of turning" (James 1:17).3
Done.  Constituted or ordered.2

9. Redemption. The deliverance out of Egypt, which was a type of that higher redemption by Christ.4
Commanded.  Appointed, or established firmly by his power and authority.4
For ever.  Through all successive generations of his people to the end of the world.4
Reverend. From the Heb. yara', "to fear," either man (Gen. 50:19) or God (Deut. 6:13). The form of the verb here used, nora', means literally, "to be feared," or "to be reverenced." Nora' occurs 44 times, but is rendered "reverend" only here. Elsewhere it is generally translated "terrible" (Deut. 7:21; Neh. 1:5; etc.). It is also translated "to be feared" (1 Chron. 16:25; Ps. 96:4), "dreadful" (Dan. 9:4), and "to be had in reverence" (Ps. 89:7). Nora', though generally applied to God, is used also of things or acts (Ex. 34:10; Deut. 8:15; Ps. 45:4; etc.), though seemingly with reference to divine acts. Nora' is nowhere applied to human beings except in two instances, where it is applied to a nation (Isa. 18:2, 7), but even here the appellation seems to be used with reference to the acts of God. 3

10. The fear.  True religion.4
Beginning.  Is the only foundation of, and introduction to, true wisdom.4

References and notes
1. King James Authorized Version
2. Jamieson, Faussett, and Brown - http:/ /eword. gospelcom .net/c omments/ psalm/jf b/psalm 111.htm
3. SDA Bible Commentary - Vol.3 pg 880, 881
4. John Wesley's Notes on the Bible - http:// eword. gospelcom .net/ comment s/psalm/ wesley /psalm11 1.htm
5. Spurgeon' Treasury of David - http:// eword. gospelcom .net/ comments /psalm/ spurgeon /psalm111 .htm
6. Matthew Henry Bible Commentary - http:// eword. gospelcom .net/ comments /psalm/ mh/psal m111.htm

TITLE

There is no title to this psalm. This and divers of the psalms that follow it seem to have been penned by David for the service of the church in their solemn feasts, and not upon any particular occasion. This is a psalm of praise. The title of it is "Hallelujah - Praise you the Lord," intimating that we must address ourselves to the use of this psalm with hearts disposed to praise God.6

 

DIVISION

The psalmist, exhorting to praise God,
I. Sets himself for an example (v. 1).
II. Furnishes us with matter for praise from the works of God.
The greatness of his works and the glory of them.
The righteousness of them.
The goodness of them.
The power of them.
The conformity of them to his word of promise.
The perpetuity of them.
These observations are intermixed (v. 2-9).
III. He recommends the holy fear of God, and conscientious obedience to his commands, as the most acceptable way of praising God (v. 10).6



PSALM OF GOD'S WORKS

This is an alphabetical hymn of praise, having for its subject the works of the Lord in creation, providence, and grace. The sweet singer dwells upon the one idea that God should be known by his people, and that this knowledge when turned into practical piety is man's true wisdom, and the certain cause of lasting adoration. It may be called The Psalm of God's Works intended to excite us to the work of praise.5



TWIN PSALMS

Ps. 111 is composed alphabetically consisting of twenty-two lines, each line beginning with a letter of the Hebrew alphabet, in order exactly, two sentences to each verse, and three a piece to the last two. A similar construction is found in Ps. 112, and for this reason they have been called twin psalms. Ps. 111, 112 are psalms of praise and begin with "Hallelujah".2,6



PSALMS 111 & 112

The two psalms, Psalm 111 and Psalm 112, resemble one another in construction, alphabetical arrangement, and general tone and manner. They are connected in this way: Psalm 111 sets forth the greatness, mercy, and righteousness of God: Psalm 112 the reflection of these attributes in the greatness, Ps 112:2, mercy, Ps 112:5, and righteousness, Ps 112:4,9, of his chosen. The correspondence of purpose in the two psalms is important to the right appreciation of some difficulties connected with the latter psalm.5

 

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