Adam Clarke's Bible Commentary Verse 1. Blessed is the man that feareth the Lord ] This seems to be the continuation of the preceding Psalm: there it was asserted that the beginning of wisdom was the fear of the Lord; and here the blessedness of the man who thus fears is stated.
That delighteth greatly ] It is not enough to fear God, we must also love him: fear will deter us from evil; love will lead us to obedience. And the more a man fears and loves God, the more obedient will he be; till at last he will delight greatly in the commandments of his Maker.
Matthew Henry Commentary
- The blessedness of the righteous.
--We have to praise the Lord that there are a people in the world, wh fear him and serve him, and that they are a happy people; which i owing entirely to his grace. Their fear is not that which love cast out, but that which love brings in. It follows and flows from love. It is a fear to offend. This is both fear and trust. The heart touched by the Spirit of God, as the needle touched with the loadstone, turn direct and speedily to God, yet still with trembling, being filled with this holy fear. Blessings are laid up for the faithful and their children's children; and true riches are bestowed on them, with as muc of this world's possessions as is profitable for them. In the darkes hours of affliction and trial, the light of hope and peace will sprin up within them, and seasonable relief shall turn mourning into joy From their Lord's example they learn to be kind and full of compassion as well as just in all their dealings; they use discretion, that the may be liberal in that manner which appears most likely to do good Envy and slander may for a time hide their true characters here, but they shall be had in everlasting remembrance. They need not fear evi tidings. A good man shall have a settled spirit. And it is the endeavour of true believers to keep their minds stayed upon God, and s to keep them calm and undisturbed; and God has promised them both caus to do so, and grace to do so. Trusting in the Lord is the best an surest way of establishing the heart. The heart of man cannot fix an where with satisfaction, but in the truth of God, and there it find firm footing. And those whose hearts are established by faith, wil patiently wait till they gain their point. Compare all this with the vexation of sinners. The happiness of the saints is the envy of the wicked. The desire of the wicked shall perish; their desire was wholl to the world and the flesh, therefore when these perish, their joy is gone. But the blessings of the gospel are spiritual and eternal, an are conferred upon the members of the Christian church, through Chris their Head, who is the Pattern of all righteousness, and the Giver of all grace _________________________________________________
Original Hebrew הללו1984 יה3050 אשׁרי835 אישׁ376 ירא3372 את853 יהוה3068 במצותיו4687 חפץ2654 מאד׃3966
