Psalm 112

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 112:10

Verse 10 10.The wicked shall see it. (350) Here follows a contrast similar to that which we met with in Psalms 2:5, which renders the grace of God towards the faithful the more illustrious. His meaning is, that though the wicked may cast off all regard to piety, and banish from their minds all thoughts of human affairs being under the superintending providence of God, they shall yet be made to feel, whether they will or no, that the righteous, in compliance with God’s command, do not vainly... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 112:1

Praise ye the Lord . Again a "heading," or "introduction" (see the comment on Psalms 111:1 ). Blessed is the man that feareth the Lord . Connect this with Psalms 111:10 . The closing thought of Psalms 111:1-10 . is taken up and expanded in Psalms 112:1-10 . That delighteth greatly in his commandments (comp. Psalms 1:2 ; Psalms 119:16 , Psalms 119:17 , Psalms 119:24 , Psalms 119:70 , Psalms 119:77 , etc.). "True obedience can only come from pleasure in the commandments... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 112:1-10

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 112:1-10

The promise of piety. In Bacon's celebrated saying that "prosperity is the blessing of the Old Testament, but adversity of the New," there is a measure of truth; but it is far from covering all the ground. We may set against it the apostolic declaration that" godliness hath the promise of the life that now is." And though we may not press the sentences of this psalm to any nice exactitude, yet it is substantially as true of the good man, and as applicable to his life on earth now, as it... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 112:1-10

The blessed life. This psalm, like the previous one, begins with "Hallelujah," and is also an alphabetical psalm. That one gave glad thanks because of what the Lord God himself, in his ways and works, was declared to be. Now this one gives like thanks for what, by the grace of God, his servant is enabled to become. "The one sets forth God, his work and his attributes; the other tells us what are the work and character of those who fear God." So that the same affirmations are made both of... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 112:1-10

The blessedness of the eminently good. "That delighteth greatly in his commandments." I. HIS CHILDREN SHALL BE BLESSED . ( Psalms 112:2 .) "Mighty" in a warlike sense here. II. SHALL PROSPER IN OUTWARD CIRCUMSTANCES . ( Psalms 112:3 .) "Godliness is profit able unto all things," etc. III. SHALL ENJOY THE LIGHT OF GOD 'S PRESENCE , AND OF Ills OWN COMPASSIONATE DEEDS IN TIMES OF ADVERSITY . ( Psalms 112:4 , Psalms 112:5 ... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 112:2

His seed shall be mighty upon earth . The phrase used of Nimrod in Genesis 10:8 , but not necessarily to be taken in exactly the same sense; rather as gibor hail in Ruth 2:1 and 1 Samuel 9:1 , "wealthy, prosperous." The generation of the upright shall be blessed ; i . e . shall receive blessing from the Most High, and shall therefore prosper. To be blessed in one's seed was, under the old covenant, the highest of blessings. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 112:2

Goodness relocated in new generations. It has been very suggestively said "that God is, from the first, looking for a godly seed; or, what is nowise different, inserting such laws of population that piety itself shall finally over-populate the world. There are two principal modes by which the kingdom of God among men may be, and is to be, extended. One is by the process of conversion, and the other by that of family propagation; one by gaining over to the side of faith and piety, the other... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 112:3

Wealth and riches shall be in his house. Bishop Butler has well shown how, in God's moral government of the world, virtue tends to accumulate to itself the good things of this life, and vice to disperse and dissipate them. And his righteousness endureth forever . Human goodness—here called "righteousness" is a thing which does not change, since character is formed by habits, and habits are "a second nature." read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 112:3

A man's righteousness. "Righteousness" has come to be a sort of exclusively religious word; a theological word, with a connotation fitting to a particular creed, over which learned men long have wrangled. Why cannot we let common sense win it for common, everyday uses? "Righteousness" is rightness . It is being right—right with God, and right with man, and doing right because we are right. How to become right, and how to be right, are the supreme questions for all moral beings.... read more

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