Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Psalms 111:4

He hath made his wonderful works to be remembered: the LORD [is] gracious and full of compassion.

4. He hath made his wonderful works to be remembered ] Lit. made a memorial for his wonderful works, particularly the deliverance of His people from Egypt, by the continuous tradition which they were charged to hand on from one generation to another (Psa 78:3; Exo 12:26; &c.), and by the festivals and ordinances which commemorated that deliverance, especially the Passover (Exo 12:14). But the words may also be rendered, He hath made (himself) a memorial by his wonderful works, won for Himself honour by them [70] . Cp. Neh 9:10, “So thou didst get thee a name”; Exo 14:4; Exo 14:17.

[70] Zker, ‘memorial,’ is nearly equivalent to ‘name’ (Psa 135:13, and often).

gracious and full of compassion ] Cp. Psa 103:8. Fundamental attributes of Jehovah (Exo 34:6) illustrated in the Exodus, and in all His dealings with Israel (Neh 9:17; Neh 9:31).

Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

He hath made his wonderful works – In heaven and in earth.

To be remembered – literally, Memory hath he made for his wonderful works. They are so made, that man may remember them; the memory of man, also, is so made, that it may retain them. The highest and most appropriate exercise of memory is to retain the lessons which the works of God inculcate; to treasure up for gratitude and for use what he teaches his intelligent creation through those works. Memory can never be better employed than in treasuring up the truths which the Creator teaches in his providential dealings with us, and in his word. How much better would it be for man if he labored more to remember these things; if he sought to forget many of those things which he is so careful now to retain in his recollection.

The Lord is gracious … – See the notes at Psa 86:5. This is stated here as the result of the careful study of the doings of God; as the conclusion to which all will come who carefully study his works. Illustrations of what God has done that deserves to be remembered occupy the remainder of the psalm, except the last verse.

Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible

Psa 111:4

He hath made His wonderful works to be remembered.

The duty of remembering Gods wonderful works

1. In reference to any signal benefits, any extraordinary mercy received, it is necessary we should have a true sense and firm persuasion of the work of God in it, that we may learn to depend on His providence, which we find so vigilant over us, so beneficial to us; that we may attribute nothing to ourselves, or sacrifice to our own nets; that we may discern His hand in His own work, and say (Psa 52:9; Psa 75:1).

2. This design of God teacheth man to make a true estimate, and set a value upon the benefit received as coming from His hand.

3. This design of God ought to be embraced with all comfort and cheerfulness. For what greater honour can man receive, than that God should desire to be honoured by him? What greater advantage can we have, than that He should therefore bless us, that He may receive praise from us, and purchase His glory by the expense of His goodness?

4. The equity and excellency of the duty enforce the obligation. Here is not anything required, but what may be justly challenged, what cannot be with any pretence denied. There is a moral obligation between men, to render to every man his due, honour to whom honour: and this Divine acknowledgment is required upon no other terms (Psa 29:2). It is required in a due proportion (Psa 150:2), according to the manifestation of it. This is the exercise of the blessed saints and angels in the nearest view of His perfections: the language of heaven is Alleluia; and there is nothing more heavenly upon earth. (Bp. Pearson.)

Fuente: Biblical Illustrator Edited by Joseph S. Exell

Verse 4. He hath made his wonderful works] He who seeks them out will never forget them; and every thing of God’s framing is done in such a way, as to strike the imagination, interest the senses, and charm and edify the intellect. But the psalmist may here intend principally the works of God in behalf of the Jewish people; and particularly in their deliverance from the Babylonish captivity, which this Psalm is supposed to celebrate.

Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible

To be remembered; either,

1. By those memorials which he hath left of them in his word; or rather,

2. By their own wonderful nature, and the lasting effects and benefits flowing from them, which are such as cannot easily be forgotten.

Is gracious and full of compassion towards his people, as appears from his works and carriage towards us, in sparing, and pardoning, and restoring, and preserving us when we have deserved to be utterly destroyed.

Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole

He hath made his wonderful works to be remembered,…. All his works are marvellous ones; his works of creation, that they should rise out of nothing at a word of command; his works of providence, which have such a depth of wisdom and knowledge in them, are unsearchable and past finding out; and his works of redemption and grace; and these are so wrought by him, and such methods taken to continue the memory of them, that they cannot well be forgotten: all things in nature are as they were from the beginning; the sun, moon, and stars, keep their course and station; cold and heat, summer and winter, seedtime and harvest, are as they always were; remarkable providences have been carefully recorded, and memorials of them handed down to posterity. The deliverance of Israel out of Egypt was annually remembered in the passover; the feeding of them with manna in the wilderness was caused to be remembered by a pot of manna preserved in the tabernacle and temple; and the great work of our redemption by Christ is brought to remembrance in the ordinance of the Lord’s supper, appointed for that purpose.

The Lord is gracious and full of compassion; so he was in eternity, and is in time; this appears in all his works, and especially in our salvation by Jesus Christ; see Ps 86:5.

Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible

(4) He hath made . . .Literally, He hath made a memorial for His wonderful works, as in Jos. 4:7, &c.

Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)

4. To be remembered Literally, He made a memorial for his wondrous works. Thus feasts, fasts, and other institutions were monumental signs, appointed to keep in remembrance his doings. Num 16:4; Jos 4:6-7

Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

Psa 111:4. He hath made, &c. He hath made him a memorial by his wonderful works; the Lord, gracious, &c.

Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke

Psa 111:4 He hath made his wonderful works to be remembered: the LORD [is] gracious and full of compassion.

Ver. 4. He hath made his wonderful, &c. ] Memorabilia reddidit mirabilia sua clemens et misericors Iehova.

Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)