PSALM CXI _The psalmist praises the Lord, and extols his works as great,_ _honourable, glorious, and magnificent_, 1-4; _his providence and kindness to his followers_, 5-8; _the redemption he has granted to his people_, 9. _The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom_, 10. NOTES ON PSALM C... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Psalms 111:2. _THE WORKS OF THE LORD_ are _great_] גדלים _gedolim, vast_ in _magnitude_; as רבים _rabbim_ signifies their _multitude_ and _variety_. _SOUGHT OUT_] Investigated, carefully examined. _OF ALL THEM THAT HAVE PLEASURE THEREIN._] By all that delight in them: by every genuine philos... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Psalms 111:3. _HIS WORK_ IS _HONOURABLE, C._] He has done nothing in _nature_ or _grace_ that does not redound to his own honour and glory and because all is done in _righteousness_, it _endureth for_ _ever_.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Psalms 111:4. _HE HATH MADE HIS WONDERFUL WORKS_] He who seeks them out will never _forget_ them; and every thing of God's framing is done in such a way, as to strike the imagination, interest the senses, and charm and edify the intellect. But the psalmist may here intend principally the works... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Psalms 111:5. _HE HATH GIVEN MEAT_] טרף _tereph_, PREY. This may allude to the _quails_ in the wilderness. The word signifies what is taken in _hunting_-wild beasts, venison, or _fowls_ of any kind; particularly such as were proper for food. It also signifies _spoil_ taken from enemies. And he... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Psalms 111:6. _THE POWER OF HIS WORKS_] They have seen that these things did not arrive in the common course of nature, it was not by might nor by power, but by the Spirit of the Lord of hosts they were done. And it required a display of the power of God to give them the heritage of the heathe... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Psalms 111:7. _VERITY AND JUDGMENT_] His works are _verity_ or _truth_, because they were wrought for the fulfilment of the promises he made to their fathers. And they were _just_; for their punishment was in consequence of their infidelities: and the punishment of the Babylonians was only in... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Psalms 111:8. _THEY STAND FAST FOR EVER_] סמוכים _semuchim_, they are _propped up, buttressed, for ever_. They can never fail; for God's power supports his works, and his providence preserves the record of what he has done.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Psalms 111:9. _HE SENT REDEMPTION_] He sent Moses to redeem them out of Egypt; various _judges_ to deliver them out of the hands of their oppressors; Ezra, Nehemiah, and Zerubbabel, to deliver them from Babylon; and the Lord Jesus to redeem a whole lost world from sin, misery, and death. _HO... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Psalms 111:10. _THE FEAR OF THE LORD_ IS _THE BEGINNING OF WISDOM_] The original stands thus: ראשית חכמה יראת יהוה _reshith chokmah, yirath_ _Yehovah, The beginning of wisdom_ is _the fear of Jehovah_. _Wisdom_ itself begins with this _fear_; true _wisdom_ has this for its commencement. It is... [ Continue Reading ]