JFB Commentary

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Commentary

Psalms 111

Public-domain commentary by Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown.

Commentary Notes

v1

Psalms 111:1

Ps 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 (Ps 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 —(Ps 86:12), and is rendered publicly.

upright —a title of the true Israel (Ps 32:11).

Ps 111 1-Ps 111 10Ps 104 35Ps 86 12Ps 32 11
v2

Psalms 111:2

2. His works, that is, of providence and grace are

sought —or, carefully studied, by all desiring to know them.

v3

Psalms 111:3

3, 4. honourable and glorious —literally, "honor and majesty," which illustrate His glorious perfections.

righteousness —(Ps 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.

Ps 7 17Ps 31 1
v6

Psalms 111:6

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.

v9

Psalms 111:9

9. The deliverance He provided accorded to His established covenant. Thus He manifested Himself in the sum of His perfections (Ps 20:1, 7; 22:3) worthy of reverence.

Ps 20 1Ps 20 7Ps 22 3
v10

Psalms 111:10

10. And hence love and fear of such a God is the chief element of true wisdom (compare Pr 1:7; 9:10).

Prov 1 7Prov 9 10