Albert Barnes Commentary Psalms 111

Praise ye the Lord – Margin, “Hallelujah.” See Psalms 106:1.

I will praise the Lord with my whole heart – With undivided affections, holding back nothing. I will allow nothing to be in my heart that would interfere with the fullness of praise; no coldness or dividedness of affection; no love for other things that would deaden my love for God; no suspicion respecting him that would chill my ardor; no unbelief that would drag me down to earth, while the language of my lips ascended to God. See the notes at Psalms 86:12.

In the assembly of the upright – With the righteous when they are gathered together for public worship.

And in the congregation – See Psalms 22:22, Psalms 22:25; Psalms 66:13; Psalms 89:5.

The works of the Lord are great - They are great in number, great in magnitude, great in wisdom, and great in goodness. This language was appropriate in the time of the psalmist, when people looked upon the heavens with the naked eye alone and when they had very imperfect views of the real magnitude of the universe as it is now disclosed by the telescope. It is entirely appropriate now, and conveys a more solemn and sublime impression than it would have in the psalmist's time. It will still be appropriate under the larger views which may yet be obtained of the universe by more perfect instruments, by more accurate observation, and by more profound study. And it will be appropriate when people survey the greatness of the universe from the heights of heaven.

Sought out of all them - Studied by all such.

That have pleasure therein - More literally, “Sought to all their wishes.” Perhaps the meaning is that they would find all their desires gratified in those works; they would find in them all that they would wish to find respecting the power, wisdom, goodness, and majesty of God. Still, it implies that they have a desire to study his works in this way, or that they do find a pleasure in examining the proofs of the being and attributes of God in his works. A person who loves God will have real pleasure in studying his works as well as his word. It is as proper to find pleasure in the one as in the other—as proper to wish to find the knowledge that the one imparts as that which the other bestows. One great error among the friends of God is the neglect to study his works.

In doing this, people need not neglect or undervalue the Bible and the knowledge that it gives, for such studies would be among the best means of illustrating the Bible.

His work is honorable and glorious — literally, “Honor and glory is his work;” that is, All that he does is honorable and glorious. The language would cover all that God does in the works of creation, providence, and redemption. There is honor—there is majesty—in everything that he does.

And his righteousness endures forever — That is, It will be found in all the investigations of his works, that he is unchangeably righteous or just. All that he has done, or that he now does, goes to demonstrate this. There are actions of people—even of good people—which will not bear investigation; but there are no such acts of God. There are things that people do which excite admiration only when there is no investigation concerning them; but the works of God are admired the more, the more they are studied. There are things which appear beautiful or sweet only when they are not shaken; a collection of perfumes will give out sweet scents the more it is stirred.

He hath made his wonderful works – in heaven and in earth.

To be remembered – literally, “Memory has he made for his wonderful works.” “They” are so made that man may remember them; the memory of man, also, is so made that it may retain them. The highest and most appropriate exercise of memory is to retain the lessons which the works of God inculcate; to treasure up for gratitude and for use what he teaches his intelligent creation through those works. Memory can never be better employed than in treasuring up the truths which the Creator teaches in his providential dealings with us, and in his word. How much better would it be for man if he labored more to “remember” these things; if he sought to forget many of those things which he is so careful now to retain in his recollection.

The Lord is gracious ... – See the notes at (Psalms 86:5). This is stated here as the result of the careful study of the doings of God; as the conclusion to which all will come who carefully study his works. “Illustrations” of what God has done that deserves to be remembered occupy the remainder of the psalm, except the last verse.

He hath given meat unto them that fear him - Margin, “prey.” The idea is that he has supplied their needs. The Hebrew word is “prey,” and the allusion is to the mode in which the needs of the beasts of the field are supplied. The meaning may be that they had obtained this from their enemies, as beasts of prey take their food by making war; or the word may be used in a general sense, as meaning that God had supplied their needs.

He will ever be mindful of his covenant - He will never leave or forsake his people; he will be faithful to all the promises that he has made to them.