Charles Ellicott Commentary Psalms 111
Charles Ellicott Commentary
Psalms 111
Charles Ellicott Commentary
Psalms 111
"Praise ye Jehovah. I will give thanks unto Jehovah with my whole heart, In the council of the upright, and in the congregation." — Psalms 111:1 (ASV)
Praise ye the Lord. — This short doxology does not strictly form part of the psalm. The alphabetical arrangement begins with I will praise, etc.
Assembly. — See Note on Psalms 25:14.
"The works of Jehovah are great, Sought out of all them that have pleasure therein." — Psalms 111:2 (ASV)
Sought out — that is, they are the object of meditation and inquiry. (See Note, Psalms 105:4.) The psalmist was no doubt thinking of historical proofs of Jehovah’s goodness to the chosen race, but his words are capable of a wide range. The best illustration of them may be found in the writings in which Mr. Ruskin warns this generation against the danger of insensibility to natural beauty.
"He hath made his wonderful works to be remembered: Jehovah is gracious and merciful." — Psalms 111:4 (ASV)
He has made ... —Literally, He has made a memorial for His wonderful works, as in Joshua 4:7, etc.
"He hath given food unto them that fear him: He will ever be mindful of his covenant." — Psalms 111:5 (ASV)
He has given. —Better, He gave.
Meat. —The word often means “prey,” from its being torn as by a wild beast, but it is used in Proverbs 31:15, Malachi 3:10, in the simple sense of food. (Compare also the verb, Proverbs 30:8.) There does not, therefore, need to be any allusion to the spoils taken in the Canaanitish wars, though the next verse makes this exceedingly probable. (See Sir G. Grove’s remarks; article “Meat” in Smith’s Bible Dictionary.)
"The fear of Jehovah is the beginning of wisdom; A good understanding have all they that do [his commandments]: His praise endureth for ever. " — Psalms 111:10 (ASV)
A good understanding ... —Better, a good estimation have all those who do them. The parallelism here, along with the context of Proverbs 3:4, supports this rendering against that of the margin, “a good success.” Not only is piety the beginning of wisdom, but righteousness wins good esteem. For by his praise we must certainly understand the praise of the good man.
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