Bible Commentaries

This, like the preseding, is an alphabetical psalm. From the Latin title, it would seem to have been a favourite ode with the prophets Haggai and Zechariah.

Psalms 112:1. Delighteth greatly. The Chaldaic, “Is expert in his commandments.”

Psalms 112:8. See his desire upon his enemies. The Chaldaic, “Till he see redemption or deliverance from his enemies.” Expressions of like import may be found in Psalms 118:7.

Psalms 112:9. His righteousness endureth for ever, as in Psalms 112:3. His alms, and a multitude of good offices, the fruits of the divine righteousness actuating his breast: yea, the righteousness of God shall exalt his horn with honour. Job 15:15.

REFLECTIONS.

We have here the patriarch’s portion: he has enough of earth, and much of heaven. He delights greatly in the Lord, and the Lord greatly delights in him.

The promises made to the father, are made with equal force to the children. His seed shall be mighty in the earth; they shall inherit all their father’s blessings, provided they inherit all his virtues. Wealth and riches shall be in their house, as the covenant stipulates, unto thousands of generations.

God will save them in the day of trouble. Unto the upright there ariseth light in darkness. God also will make darkness, or afflictions, light before them. He will counsel and support them in affliction, and turn adversity to advantage.

God being liberal to him, his heart is expanded with liberality to the poor and indigent. He will lend to his needy neighbour without interest, and often excite a cheerful countenance among the deserving poor.

This man, guiding his affairs with discretion, and having God to exalt his horn with honour, is not afraid of evil tidings. He lives to the Lord, and has no secret thing to make him afraid or ashamed. Neither the beam of his house, nor the brick in his wall, has anything to cry out against him: he has therefore a noble and an open countenance. Of afflictions, though he reveres the rod, yet he is not afraid, for he knows they shall work for good. Against calumny and the envenomed tongue, a conscious rectitude gives him confidence. He rises with the lustre of innocence in the cloud; envy retires to bite her chains, and serves merely as the dark shades in a painting to distinguish the good man’s worth. Thus the wicked shall see his prosperity and be grieved. He shall see his own substance lavished by pride, his health blasted by intemperance, while a continued tide of prosperity pours affluence on the children of the just. How then will they bear to see the righteous sitting on thrones, while the angry Judge shall bid them depart from his presence. And though this psalm speaks of the patriarch rather than the poor, God will not forget the man in humble life. He will give him the riches of grace, and repay in the world to come, with interest, the temporal portion of good which was wisely withheld in the present life.