Psalms 111

Praise the LORD! Thanks with my whole heart, in the council of the upright, and in the congregation. Whole-heart praise in public assembly.

Unfeigned thanks among the upright. Grace frees the heart; the singer still gives thanks in the congregation.

Calvin: praise with the whole heart—upright, not double—and publicly in the assembly of the just. Secret gratitude should also rise in swelling strains so God is not robbed of half His honor.

Heart first, then public praise. Shared refusal of lip-only worship.

Great are the LORD’s works, studied by all those who delight in them. Wesley: Sought—diligently meditated upon.

Delight studies; greatness is not ignored by the indifferent. Shared—meditation is the path into God’s works.

Calvin: works are great but few notice them; excellency is known to all who desire it—none ignorant except the willfully blind. Begin study with reverence.

Blindness is culpable indifference. Shared call to seek out the works with pleasure.

Splendor and majesty His work; righteousness endures forever. Wesley: Work—all His works or providence toward His people; Righteousness—justice or faithfulness in performing His word.

God’s work is majestic, and his righteousness lasts forever. Trust the faithfulness that keeps the word.

Calvin: every act replete with glorious majesty; justice invitingly conspicuous—not terror only. Commendation against the ungodly’s calumny.

Enduring righteousness answers slander of God’s ways.

Wondrous works remembered; the LORD gracious and merciful. Wesley: Remembered—by their nature and lasting benefits not easily forgotten.

Shared attributes—gracious and merciful. Memory of wonders fuels present trust.

Calvin: He causes marvellous works to be remembered; Jehovah is compassionate and merciful—grace the source of the justice that preserves His people.

Memorial of wonders bound to mercy. Shared praise of graciousness.

Food to those who fear him. He always remembers his covenant forever. Wesley: Meat—all necessary provisions for being and well-being.

Fearers are fed; covenant memory is forever. Shared—provision tied to covenant faithfulness, sincerely experienced by those who fear Him.

Calvin: He gives a portion to those who fear Him; He will remember His covenant forever—care that shows the covenant is not void; goodness we receive flows from adoption.

Covenant forever underwrites daily bread for fearers. Shared reliance on His mindfulness.

Shown His people the power of His works, giving them the heritage of the nations.

Power displayed in gift of inheritance. Shared—conquest of the land (and its gospel analogue) is God’s power, not bare human might.

Calvin: He declared the power of His works to give the heritage of the heathen—Holy Land not by mere human power but by miracles; Israel a match for nations only from on high.

God showed his people his power by giving them the nations’ inheritance.

Works of His hands truth and justice. All his precepts trustworthy. Wesley: Works—for His people or against enemies; Truth—agreeable to promises and justice; Commandments—laws, especially moral; Sure—constant and unchangeable.

Shared harmony of deeds and precepts—faithful, just, trustworthy. Keep the sure commandments.

Calvin: works of His hands are truth and judgment; all His statutes true—beautiful harmony in sayings and doings; He is just and faithful everywhere.

Law and providence agree. Shared trust in sure precepts.

Established forever and ever, done in truth and uprightness. Wesley: Done—constituted or ordered.

Forever stability; performance in faithfulness. Shared—God’s orders do not expire with fashion.

Calvin: established forever, made in truth and rectitude. Without the law’s sacred chain the fruit of redemption would soon be lost.

Eternal statutes in truth. Shared obedience as life’s response.

He has sent redemption to his people; ordained his covenant forever. His name is holy and awesome is His name! Wesley: Redemption—deliverance from Egypt, type of higher redemption by Christ; Commanded—established by power; Forever—through successive generations; Reverend—terrible to enemies, venerable to His people, holy in all dealings.

Both camps read Egypt as type pointing to Christ.

Calvin: He sent redemption; ordained his covenant forever. His name is holy and terrible is His name. Deliverance begins salvation; the law ratifies grace so eternal life’s hope continues in the church. Commandments must not be taken abstractly from promises in Christ.

Reformed accent—adoption sealed so hope does not fail.

The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom; all who practice it have good understanding. His praise endures forever! Wesley: The fear—true religion.

Wisdom starts in fear; practice yields understanding; praise forever. Shared—true religion is obedient fear, not craftiness. Arminian readers stress practicing the fear as living godliness grace enables.

Calvin: fear of Jehovah is the beginning of wisdom—those who do not obey are brute beasts regarding the first elements; without fear, worldly craft is vanity. Good understanding have those who keep the commandments; fear here is comprehensive true godliness. Spend life celebrating His praises.

Fear as source of wisdom, proved by keeping. Shared—His praise endures forever.