Psalm 112:1

Verse 1. This psalm is a praising of God for blessing the believer, and the whole Psalm doth prove that the believer is blessed: which proposition is set down in verse 1, and confirmed with as many reasons as there are verses following. Whence learn,

Verse 1. Blessed is the man that feareth the Lord. It is not said simply, "Blessed is the man who fears": for there is a fear which of itself produces misery and wretchedness rather than happiness. It has to do, therefore, chiefly with what is feared. To fear when it is not becoming, and not to fear when fear is proper, these are not blessedness for a man, but misery and wretchedness. The prophet, therefore, says rightly, "Blessed is the man that feareth the Lord": and in the 7th and 8th verses he says of this blessed one that he shall not be afraid of evil tidings. Therefore, he who fears God and, according to the exhortation of Christ, does not fear those who can kill the body, he truly may be numbered among the blessed. --Wolfgang Musculus.

Verse 1. Feareth the Lord. Filial fear is here intended. Whereby we are both restrained from evil, Proverbs 3:7 ; and incited unto well doing, Ecclesiastes 12:13 ; and whereof God alone is the author, Jeremiah 32:39-40 ; A duty required of every one, Psalms 33:8 ; Early, 1 Kings 18:12 ; Only, Lu 12:5; Continually, Proverbs 23:17 ; With confidence, Psalms 115:11 ; With joyfulness, Psalms 119:74 ; With thankfulness, Revelation 19:5 . --Thomas Wilson, in "A Complete Christian Dictionary," 1661.

Verse 1. That delighteth greatly in his commandments. The Hebrew word px, chaphets, is rather emphatic, which is, as it were, to take his pleasure, and I have rendered it to delight himself. For the prophet makes a distinction between a willing and prompt endeavour to keep the law, and that which consists in mere servile and constrained obedience. --John Calvin.

Verse 1. That delighteth greatly in his commandments -- defining what constitutes the true "fear of the Lord," which was termed "the beginning of wisdom," Psalms 111:10 . He who hath this true "fear" delights ( Psalms 111:2 ) not merely in the theory, but in the practice of all "the Lord's commandments." Such fear, so far from being a "hard" service, is the only "blessed" one ( Jeremiah 32:39 ). Compare the Gospel commandments, 1 John 3:23-24 Ps 112:3. True obedience is not task work, as formalists regard religion, but a "delight" (Ps 1:2). Worldly delights, which made piety irksome, are supplanted by the newborn delight in and taste for the will and ways of God ( Psalms 19:7-10 ). --A. R. Fausset.

Verse 1. In his commandments. When we cheerfully practice all that the Lord requireth of us, love sweetens all things, and it becomes our meat and drink to do his will. The thing commanded is excellent, but it is sweeter because commanded by him -- "his commandments." A man is never thoroughly converted till he delighteth in God and his service, and his heart is overpowered by the sweetness of divine love. A slavish kind of religiousness, when we had rather not do than do our work, is no fruit of grace, and cannot evidence a sincere love. --Thomas Manton.

HINTS FOR PASTORS AND LAYPERSONS

Verse 1. "Praise ye the LORD."

Verse 1. (second clause).