Psalms 111

Psalms 111:1

Psalm 111: The Wonderful Works of the LordThere are three threads that run through Psalm 111: the works of Jehovah (vv. 2, 3, 4, 6, 7). the words of Jehovah, under such synonyms as covenant (vv. 5, 9), precepts (v . 7). the everlasting character of all that He is and does (vv. 3, 5, 8, 9, 10). In the Hebrew it is an acrostic Psalm. Each of the first eight verses has two lines. The last two have three lines each. Each of the twenty-two lines begins with a letter of the Hebrew alphabet in proper order. The subject of the Psalm is the excellencies of the enthroned Christ. Israel is singing the praises of the One who called them out of the darkness of Egypt and of the Babylonian captivity into His marvelous light. 111:1 The song opens with a call to the faithful to praise the LORD (Heb., “Hallelujah”), and with the psalmist’s own determination to praise the LORD without inhibition or distraction. He will do this both in small assemblies of believers and in the great gatherings of the people, or as we might say, both in private and in public. 111:2, 3 The four descriptions of the works of the LORD here are true of all He does, but the “Mt. Everest” of all God’s works to the OT Jew was the deliverance from Egypt. The works of the LORD are great; they form a fruitful study by all who have pleasure in them. They are stupendous displays of His glory and majesty, and His righteousness endures forever. 111:4, 5 He established the Passover as an enduring memorial of Israel’s salvation by the blood of the lamb, a lasting remembrance of His grace and mercy. In the Lord’s Supper, He left a memorial of our salvation by the blood of a better Lamb, the unforgettable reminder that He is gracious and full of compassion. Perhaps verse 5 refers especially to God’s miraculous provision of food (lit. “prey”) for the Israelites during their wilderness journeys. He never forgot that they were His covenant people. But it is always true that He is faithful to the promises He has made. 111:6 He gave His people another demonstration of His mighty works by dispossessing the Canaanite nations and bringing His people safely into the Promised Land, which the psalmist here calls “the heritage of the nations.“111:7-9 All God’s works demonstrate that He is always faithful and just. All His precepts are absolutely dependable. He keeps His promises forever, and fulfills them faithfully and honorably. He sent redemption to His people at the time of the exodus, then later when He brought them back from the captivity in Babylon. He will do it again when He brings the twelve tribes back to the land of Israel prior to His glorious reign. It is all part of His covenant, and it can never fail. His name is holy and awesome, or reverend, and as His name is, so is He! 111:10 Only the man who reverences Him has started on the road to wisdom. The more we obey Him, the more light He gives us. “Obedience is the organ of spiritual knowledge.” He is worthy to be praised forever!