John Calvin Commentary Psalms 111:1

"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)

I will praise Jehovah. The best and most efficient method of instilling the performance of any duty is to be exemplary; and, accordingly, we find that the prophet, in this instance, sets himself as an example, to lead others to engage in the celebration of God’s praises. His resolution to praise God consists of two parts: that he would celebrate God’s praises sincerely, with all his heart, and that he would do it publicly, in the assembly of the faithful.

He very properly begins with heart-praise, because it is much better to praise in secret, when no one is conscious of it, than to lift up our voice and shout forth His praises with insincere lips. At the same time, the person who, in secret, pours out his heart in grateful emotions toward God, will also set forth His praises in powerful expressions; otherwise, God would be deprived of one half of the honor that is due to Him.

The prophet then determines to praise God with the whole heart, that is, with an upright and honest heart; not that he commits to fulfilling his duty completely, but he declares that he would not be like the hypocrites, who, coldly and with a double heart, or rather deceitfully and treacherously, employ their lips only in the praises of God.

This is a point worth noting, so that no one should be discouraged because they cannot maintain the hope of attaining that perfection of heart which is so desirable. For however defective our praises may be, they may nevertheless be acceptable to God, provided only we strive sincerely to offer to Him this act of devotion.

We come now to the other part of his resolution, in which he says he would proclaim the praises of God before men. For although the Hebrew term סוד, sod, denotes a private assembly, I think that, in this passage, he employs two words of synonymous meaning. At the same time, if anyone is inclined to interpret the passage with greater subtlety, they are free to do so.

He says, in the congregation of the just, because the principal object for which holy assemblies are convened is to afford the worshippers of God an opportunity of presenting to Him sacrifices of praise, agreeably to what is stated in Psalm 65:1: Praise waits for thee, O Jehovah! in Zion.