Introduction

The psalmist has composed a brief song of praise for all the works of God. This psalm is known as one of the Hallelu-jah psalms because of it’s Hebrew title. Hallelu-jah in Hebrew means "praise the Lord." The arrangement of this psalm is a special form of Hebrew poetry known as an acrostic. Hebrew poetry did not rhyme, but what the author of this, and other psalms, has done is taken the 22 letters of the Hebrew alphabet and written one line that starts with each letter.

Every time an author wrote an acrostic psalm, he was trying to emphasize the completeness or perfection of his topic. As in Psalm 119 we are shown the completeness of God’s word, so here in Psalm 111 we are pointed to the perfection of God’s works. I don’t know if you have ever tried to write an acrostic before, but it is not easy. You are very restricted because of that first letter of each line. And yet here in this psalm we see a beautiful, flowing expression of God’s works – and many of the lines in the psalm only contain 3 words in the Hebrew! What a lovely way for the psalmist to express his praise for all the works of God.

Praise the Lord. I will give thanks to the Lord with my whole heart, in the company of the upright, in the congregation.

As the psalmist ponders the works of God, he begins by praising the Lord and giving thanks with his whole heart. As he describes the company of the upright, in the congregation, we sense that he is joined by others worshipping God. Everywhere we look – the flowers, the birds, the mountains, and the vast expanse of the stars – are all praising God. Let us join the psalmist and give thanks to our God.

Scroggie comments, "The Psalmist resolves to praise the Lord, and no one can find a worthier occupation. He will praise with his whole heart, for half-hearted praise is no praise at all. And he will offer this praise both in private, ‘the assembly of the upright,’ and in public, ‘the congregation.’ "

What many people don’t realize is that some of the greatest philosophers and scientists from past centuries received the inspiration for their profound ideas from a reverence of God and his works. Larry Vardiman wrote concerning Isaac Newton, "Isaac Newton is recognized today by almost all scientists to have been one of the greatest, if not the greatest, scientist who ever lived. His breadth of knowledge, his ability to analyze and synthesize the physical world, his development and use of the calculus, his formulation of the three laws of motion, and the expression of the law of gravitation have been unequaled by any other scientist before or since. Yet, it is not widely known that Newton was also a Christian and a Bible scholar. He studied the Bible diligently and wrote commentaries on portions of scripture, such as his monograph on the book of Daniel. He clearly believed that God is the Creator and sustainer of our universe. Misunderstanding the source of Newton's creativity, some critics have suggested that Newton would have been more productive if he had not wasted so much time studying and writing about the Bible. ... Newton believed that God created the universe and everything in it. He studied the Bible diligently to understand God's revelation, not just on such traditional subjects as theology, sotieriology, and eschatology, but also in relation to creation, the Flood, and Earth history. This revelation available in God's Word informed his worldview and approach to science."

Moll remarks, "He who has pleasure in the works of the Lord, always turns to them in a renewed search. They remain to him ever new and great, wonderful and worthy, deserving of study and most precious, affording an assurance of Divine help, and being a cause why the pious yield themselves to God, and the lasting objects of their praise."

When we examine the works of God in nature and in the universe, we are struck by the majesty and glory of his work. I read about a scientist who had to study different ice crystals under a microscope. He said you could not help but be overwhelmed by the variety and beauty of the crystals that could not even be seen by the naked eye.

Plumer comments, "The studies of good men in all ages and in all parts of the world have been diligently turned to the wonders of what God hath wrought."

God has placed his wonderful works all around us. Everywhere we turn we see his signature, in the snow drifts on the mountain tops, in the autumn leaves falling from the trees, in the birth of new plant and animal life. God has been gracious and merciful to us to partake of this visible expression of his glory.

Tholuck writes, "God comes to meet deluded men in a thousand ways; for each of His works and deeds, if seriously regarded, directs us to Him."

Not only are we surrounded by God’s creative beauty on every side, but God takes care of our everyday needs. This verse says that he provides food for us because he is ever mindful of his covenant. He has promised that he would never leave us nor forsake us, so he takes care of us.

We know from the writings of Theodoret and Augustine that the early church would quote this verse when they celebrated communion. It was their way to remind themselves that not only has God taken care of our spiritual needs, but he takes care of our physical needs as well.

Think of the tiny nation of Israel. They have never been that large or that strong. For centuries they were trampled under by conquerors and persecuted in the countries where they lived. And yet God has given them a heritage. He has brought them back to the home which he promised their ancestor Abraham. The desert of Zion is blooming again. God takes care of his people.

But not only Israel, God has also promised that he would bless us. He helps us each day of our life as we face trials, troubles, and temptations. Because of his faithfulness to us, he allows men to find favor with us, he causes good things to come into our life from other people. We cannot understand how he does all this except to understand that he is showing us the power of his works.

Not only does God perform his works throughout the universe, but everything he does is faithful and just. He doesn’t have a bad day. He give us the very best. All his creation is beautiful. Notice the second part of this verse tells us that all his precepts are trustworthy. We can trust in what God has said.

Plumer remarks, "We have had no better students of nature or of history than those who have been students of providence and redemption. It is truly a bad sign for one to have no heart for diligently considering any of the works of God. It greatly commends this duty that a devout mind can never be at a loss for matter of praise. Above, beneath, within, and around us, in nature, providence and grace we behold unspeakable wonders."

Everything God does is for eternity. If he promised that he would take care of you yesterday, you can know that he will also take care of you today. God’s promises are established forever. What has he promised you? Do you believe his word? Stand firm and know that he will see you through to the end. He will be there for you every step of the way. And he will set you on higher ground.

This verse tells us that God’s promises will be performed with faithfulness and uprightness. It is because of God’s faithfulness that we can have hope in the most difficult situation. He is not going to abandon us. He will be there for us.

John Milton wrote

For wonderful indeed are all His works,

Pleasant to know and worthiest to be all

Had in remembrance always with delight.

The most important work of God is that he has sent us redemption. We are redeemed from sin and all the awful consequences of disobedience to God. His greatest work is the salvation of our soul. Do you desire wealth? Do you want a long life and good health? Do you wish to be surrounded by the love of family and friends? You have already received the greatest gift of all – the redemption of your soul. What is the rest in comparison to that?

The Hebrew word for "terrible" is < )rawno> nora which means feared or reverenced. So the end of this verse is saying, holy and reverenced is God’s name. After we spend some time studying God’s works, we gain a new understanding of God’s holiness, of his reverence.

The reverence of God that we get as we examine his works leads us to a new mental understanding. This is the beginning of wisdom. As we are overwhelmed by the majesty of God and his creation, we desire to make a practice of living for him. We don’t just want to serve him half-heartedly. We want to enter into his presence. We want to be a part of his love and his kindness. We want to be united with the Eternal.

Plumer writes, "There is such a thing as true religion. It is attainable. It is heavenly wisdom. It is not of an unintelligible nature. It consists in loving, fearing and obeying God. He, who now submits his heart to the teachings and guidance of divine grace, may be poor, or sick, or feeble-minded, or uneducated, or cast off by the world; but he is safe and God will be his portion forever."

As we gain a better understanding of his works, we gain a better understanding of God. As we draw closer to God, we will find ourselves joining the psalmist in saying, "His praise endures forever."

Footnotes:

This study on Psalm 111 © 1998 by David Humpal. All rights reserved.
All scripture unless otherwise noted is from the Revised Standard Version © 1971, A. J. Holman Company

The Hebrew text is from Biblia Hebraica Stuttgartensia pg. 1194 © 1977 Deutsche Bibelgesellschaft

Scroggie: A Guide to the Psalms, vol. 3, pg. 94, Kregel Publications

Vardiman: “Newton’s Approach to Science: Honoring Scripture,” presented at the Christian Scholarship Conference, October 11, 1997

Moll: Lange’s Commentary on the Holy Scriptures, Psalms, pg. 561, Zondervan Publishing House

Plumer: Psalms, A Critical and Expository Commentary with Doctrinal and Practical Remarks pg. 979, Banner of Truth Trust

Tholuck: quoted in Lange’s Commentary on the Holy Scriptures, Psalms, pg. 561, Zondervan Publishing House

Plumer: Psalms, A Critical and Expository Commentary with Doctrinal and Practical Remarks pg. 981, Banner of Truth Trust

Milton: quoted by Scroggie in A Guide to the Psalms, vol. 3, pg. 96, Kregel Publications

Plumer: Psalms, A Critical and Expository Commentary with Doctrinal and Practical Remarks pg. 982, Banner of Truth Trust