Coke's Commentary on the Holy Bible · Psalms Kabanata 112

Psalms 112:0.

Godliness hath the promises of this life, and of the life to come. The prosperity of the godly shall be an eye-sore to the wicked.

הללויה halleluiah. THIS psalm is composed after the same manner as the former, and seems to be a short commentary upon the last verse of it. It sets forth the wisdom of being religious, and the good effects that attend it. Concerning the main subject of it, we refer the reader to the note on Psalms 1:4. Fenwick is of opinion, that the psalm speaks of the Messiah, under the character of the man that fears the Lord; declaring that his seed shall be mighty on earth, and that he shall be had in everlasting remembrance, or be the praise of all ages; and that his horn or kingdom shall be exalted with honour, while Satan, the wicked one, beholds and grieves. These things, says he, cannot with truth or propriety be applied to any but Christ; but in Him, and his seed, or faithful servants, they will all in due time be fulfilled.

Psalms 112:1. That delighteth greatly in his commandments— As He did, whose meat and drink it was to do his Father's will; and of whom, by this character, we may reasonably presume the whole psalm is speaking. Fenwick.

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Psalms 112:4. And righteous— Fenwick renders it, The just one, meaning the Messiah.

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Psalms 112:5. A good man sheweth favour, &c.— A man that sheweth favour and lendeth, shall do well. He shall support his matters in judgment, Psalms 112:6. For he shall never be shaken, &c. Mudge: who observes, that it seems agreeable to the language to make טוב tob, good, the predicate in the first clause; "a generous man shall look cheerful, and enjoy himself;" and in the second, it is natural to say that he shall support his matters in judgment. Absalom used the same expression; thy matters are right: It is a common sentiment, that the righteous shall stand in judgment; shall carry his cause, because by his goodness he has made God and man his friends. Fenwick, agreeably to his idea of the psalm, renders the clause thus:

This kind communicative man's our joy; He in the judgment will his cause maintain,

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Psalms 112:6. For he by no means can be overthrown; But every age the Just One's praise shall tell.

And he observes, that the Hebrew word טוב tob, should be rendered a good thing: "He is a good thing, what we delight in, and esteem our joy; since he is kind, communicative, or ready to lend the gifts or talents of his grace or good Spirit."

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Psalms 112:7. He shall not be afraid of evil tidings— Heb. He is not afraid of ill reports: "He fears not, though his name or religion be evil spoken of, as trusting in the Lord, and knowing that he shall be able to maintain the cause for all his servants in the judgment." Fenwick.

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Psalms 112:8. Until he see his desire upon his enemies— Until he look upon his enemies, i.e. as seeing them all subdued, and made his footstool.

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Psalms 112:9. He hath given to the poor— To the poor helpless sons of Adam. He is distributing his gifts and graces among them, and will ever do it, because his righteousness endureth for ever. Fenwick.

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