Psalms 112:1

PSALM CXII

The blessedness of the man that fears the Lord, both as it

regards himself and his family, 1-3;

his conduct to his family, his neighbours, and the poor, 4-9;

the envy of the wicked at his prosperity, 10.

NOTES ON PSALM CXII

This is another of the acrostic or alphabetical Psalms, under the title Hallelujah. It is formed exactly as the preceding in the division of its verses. It has ten verses in the whole: the Psalms 112:1 contain each two hemistichs, beginning with a consecutive letter of the alphabet; the Psalms 112:9, Psalms 112:9, Psalms 112:9 verses, three each, making twenty-two in the whole. It is understood to have been written after the captivity, and probably by Zechariah and Haggai: to them it is ascribed by the Vulgate.

Verse Psalms 112:1. Blessed is the man that feareth the Lord] This seems to be the continuation of the preceding Psalm: there it was asserted that the beginning of wisdom was the fear of the Lord; and here the blessedness of the man who thus fears is stated.

That delighteth greatly] It is not enough to fear God, we must also love him: fear will deter us from evil; love will lead us to obedience. And the more a man fears and loves God, the more obedient will he be; till at last he will delight greatly in the commandments of his Maker.