This Psalm, and all those down to the 118th, are without any title. This we may take as a little notice that they hang, in some sense, on the preceding Psalms. For the great divine mystery of the “poor and needy man,” exalted to be “lord” in heaven now, with the promise of a kingdom, had been there revealed; and these Psalms appear to be certain exercises of heart over that mystery. And let me say, the soul should always be ready to entertain all divine revelation in this way. When the Apostle had, under the Holy Ghost, traced deep and extensive purposes of God (Rom. 9-11), at the close, he breaks out with a note of admiration, “O the depth of the riches!” And poor and profitless will be all our knowledge, if it lead not to this—“if out of our meditations we do not bring home a few chips to kindle our own fire.”
The Jews connected several of these Psalms (Psa. 113-118), and called them “the Great Hallel,” using them particularly at the feasts.
Jesus Himself, or the Spirit of Christ in the worshipper, is heard in them.
Praise breaks forth at the very outset. Such would be the fruit of the lips, when the soul had been listening (as we have presumed) to the great theme of the preceding Psalms.
Here in this 111Th, the worshipper is celebrating the covenant-works of God, of which, amid the multitude of them, as we know, the sufferings and glory of Jesus form the great material. The “good understanding” of those who feared the Lord is also declared, for the end will surely show the wisdom of having so lived in this present evil world.