Psalm 111:2

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Psalms 111:1-5

The title of the psalm being Hallelujah, the psalmist (as every author ought to have) has an eye to his title, and keeps to his text. I. He resolves to praise God himself, Ps. 111:1. What duty we call others to we must oblige and excite ourselves to; nay, whatever others do, whether they will praise God or no, we and our houses must determine to do it, we and our hearts; for such is the psalmist's resolution here: I will praise the Lord with my whole heart. My heart, my whole heart, being... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 111:2

The works of the Lord are great ,.... His works of creation are great, being made out of nothing, are the effects of great power, and the produce of great wisdom, and which greatly display the glory of their Maker; the works of providence are great, which are daily wrought, especially such as concern the church and people of God, for whom he does great things, whereof they have reason to be glad and praise his name; the miracles of Christ he wrought here on earth were surprisingly great,... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 111:2

The works of the Lord are great - גדלים gedolim , vast in magnitude; as רבים rabbim signifies their multitude and variety. Sought out - Investigated, carefully examined. Of all them that have pleasure therein - By all that delight in them: by every genuine philosopher; every lover of nature; he who traces out the great First Cause by means of his works. And the man that does so will be astonished at the perfections of the Creator, and admire all the operations of his hands. read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 111:2

Verse 2 2The works of Jehovah are great He now proceeds to inform us that there are abundant materials for praising God, supplied by his works, to which at present he makes only a general reference, and which he, subsequently, defines more explicitly in relation to the government of the Church. The magnitude of God’s works is a subject which, generally, eludes the observation of men, and, therefore, few of them are acquainted with it. This ignorance the prophet ascribes to the indifference and... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 111:1-10

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 111:1-10

The work of God and the wisdom of man. The uniting thought in the psalm is the work of God. It is evident (see Psalms 111:5 , Psalms 111:6 , Psalms 111:9 ) that the writer has in view those special manifestations of Divine power by which the people of God were delivered and preserved. But we may well give a much wider application to the thought; we therefore think of— I. THE FOURFOLD WORK OF GOD . 1. In the broad field of nature; in the creation and formation of the... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 111:1-10

The works of the Lord. This is the theme of the psalm. These works are named six times in this short psalm. They are the occasion and cause of the fervent praise, and exhortation to praise, with which the psalm begins. It is one of the nine alphabetical psalms; that is, psalms so arranged for aiding the memory. Psalms 119:1-176 . is the most conspicuous instance of this. In the psalm before us the alphabet is not complete. An interesting and instructive study is to reproduce in English... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 111:1-10

The works of the Lord. I. GOD 'S WORK CLAIMS OUR EARNEST STUDY . 1. His work in nature . Presents three aspects. 2. His work in providence . God in history is working out a righteous government of the world. 3. His work in redemption . This the manifestation of his grandest power—the power of God unto salvation. Three kinds of power. II. GOD 'S WORKS ARE A REVELATION OF THE DIVINE THOUGHT AND NATURE . 1. They reveal his... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 111:2

The works of the Lord are great . Not his material works, but the doings of his providence (see Psalms 111:3-9 ). Sought out of all them that have pleasure therein . Searched into and carefully studied by all who take an interest in such things. Derushim, "objects of study," is etymologically connected with madrasa, a college, a "place of study and research." read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 111:2

Good will towards God guiding the search for God. "Sought out of all them that have pleasure therein." "The pleasure in God's works is in germ the best incentive to thoughtful search, and in fuller measure its sufficient reward." In regard to man's search for God, it may be properly said that what he finds depends on what he seeks, and the spirit in which he seeks. This, indeed, is true even of scientific research. A man must know what he is looking for, or he will find nothing intelligent... read more

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