PRAISING GOD’S WORKS

(Psalm 111)

Mike Johnson

Psalm 111 starts with the exclamation, “Praise the Lord!”  This psalm fits into a category of psalms known as “Hallelujah Psalms.”  These psalms start and end, or start or end, with “hallelujah” or “praise the Lord.”  Psalm 111 is the first in a trilogy of Hallelujah Psalms.

This Psalm fits into another classification known as the acrostic (alphabetical) psalm. An acrostic psalm is one where the first letters of consecutive verses make up a word in the Hebrew alphabet. (Two other examples are Psalms 119 and 37.) Psalm 111 is a complete acrostic psalm as it contains all 22 letters of the Hebrew alphabet.

Many take the view that this psalm was written after the exile of Judah. Another view has David being the author. If true, it would mean Israel was still intact when the writing took place. An argument for this is the reference to the assembly in verse 1, which might indicate their formal worship still existed.

This study will use the following divisions: 1. Praise for God (v. 1); 2. The Great Works of God (vs. 2-7a); 3. Reliance on God’s Word (vs. 7b-8); 4. What God Has Done (9a) 5. Who God Is (9b) 6. Fear, Obey, and Praise God (v. 10).

Praise for God (1)

Psalm 111:1 exclaims, “Praise the Lord! I will praise the Lord with my whole heart, in the assembly of the upright and in the congregation.”

The verse starts by exclaiming, “Praise the Lord!” Many use this phrase as the title of the psalm, or at least the keynote phrase. Please note some critical concepts in this verse regarding worshipping God.

First, the Psalmist asserts he would praise the Lord. By saying he would praise the Lord, the writer is saying what he would do, i.e., he does not just encourage others to glorify God.  Also, by praising God himself, he is setting a good example, which means his admonition would have even more impact. It is appropriate for us to praise God, our Creator and Sustainer.  Speaking of God, Acts 17:28 exclaims, “for in Him we live and move and have our being, as also some of your own poets have said, ‘For we are also His offspring.’”

Next, he points out he would praise God with his whole heart. We should never worship God in a half-hearted, insincere way; we must honor and serve God with our whole heart. Psalm 86:12 exclaims, “I will praise You, O Lord my God, with all my heart, and I will glorify Your name forevermore.” Deuteronomy 10:12 points out, “And now, Israel, what does the Lord your God require of you, but to fear the Lord your God, to walk in all His ways and to love Him, to serve the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul.” On one occasion, a lawyer asked Jesus a question, testing Him, wanting to know which commandment was the greatest. Jesus revealed (Mt. 22:37) “…You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind” (Note also John 4:24, Mt. 15:8-9, Ps. 25:1)

Barnes, in his commentary, has an excellent explanation of what it means to praise God with the whole heart. Please note the following:

With undivided affections; holding back nothing. I will allow nothing to be in my heart that would interfere with the fullness of praise; no coldness or dividedness of affection; no love for other things that would deaden my love for God; no suspicion respecting him that would chill my ardor; no unbelief that would drag me down to earth, while the language of my lips ascended to God. (Barnes’ Notes)

We need to worship, serve, and praise the Lord, but an insincere, half-hearted effort is unacceptable.

In the later part of the verse, the Psalmist points out where he would do this by saying, “in the assembly of the upright and in the congregation.” It is so essential for us to assemble. In another place (Ps. 122:1), the Psalmist reveals, “I was glad when they said to me, Let us go into the house of the Lord.” Assembling is a command; when we do so, we praise God and receive encouragement from others (Heb. 10:25). From our text, we also learn that assembling is a quality of the upright or the righteous. Sadly, many do not share the same enthusiasm as the Psalmist for assembling, not understanding its importance.

Thus, it is crucial that we praise God personally and not just tell others to do so. Further, we must worship God with our whole heart, and we are to praise Him in the assembly of the upright.

The Great Works of God (2-7a)

In these verses, the Psalmist praises the works of God, listing and describing a number of them.

1.  The works of the Lord are great. Verse 2 asserts, “The works of the Lord are great, studied by all who have pleasure in them.” It is not difficult to contemplate the works of the Lord and understand how great they are.  Four of His great works quickly come to mind.

a.  God’s Creation(Gen. 1)- We stand amazed realizing God created the universe, and that His power is so great, He spoke things into existence. Psalm 19:1 states, “The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament shows His handiwork.” Romans 1:20 points out, “For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse.” Jeremiah 10:12 observes, “He has made the earth by His power, He has established the world by His wisdom, and has stretched out the heavens at His discretion.” (Note also Acts 17:24, Rev. 4:11.)

b.  God Sustains the Universe– Paul, speaking to the Athenians (Acts 17:28), revealed, “For in Him we live and move and have our being, as also some of your own poets have said, ‘For we are also His offspring.’” (Note also Col. 1:17, Heb. 1:3.) We are entirely dependent on God.

c.  God’s Plan of Redemption– Colossians 1:14 speaks of us having redemption (the forgiveness of sins) through the blood of Jesus Christ. Hebrews 2:2-3 refers to salvation as being “great” and points out, “For if the word spoken through angels proved steadfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just reward, how shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation, which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed to us by those who heard Him.” The fact God sent His son to die for the sins of everyone, allowing us to obtain eternal salvation, is undoubtedly one of God’s great works.

d.  God’s Providence– God’s providence involves His care through natural means; it is God working behind the scenes. Ecclesiastes 8:12 points out, “…I surely know that it will be well with those who fear God, who fear before Him.” (Note also Mt. 6:33, Rom. 8:28, I Pet. 3:10-12.)

After speaking of God’s works as being great, the writer continues by saying (2b) they are “studied by all who have pleasure in them.”

The great works of God may not interest many, but those who appreciate His works, carefully study them. Natural revelation (observing God’s creation) displays God’s works (Ps. 19:1) while special revelation (the Scriptures) even further reveals them. Consider the follow comments:

There is a pleasure in the contemplation of the works of nature and providence; to behold the power, wisdom, and goodness of God in them, and his care over all his creatures; and particularly how he makes all things to work together for the good of his people… (John Gill’s Exposition of the Old and New Testaments)

2.  God’s works are honorable and glorious. Verse 3 continues, “His work is honorable and glorious, and His righteousness endures forever.” One translation (NASB) renders it, “Splendid and majestic is His work.” Psalm 104:1 attests, “Bless the Lord, O my soul! O Lord my God, You are very great: You are clothed with honor and majesty.” Examples of God’s works mentioned earlier are honorable and glorious.

God’s great works also include specific events such as His delivering His people from the Egyptian bondage.

Verse 3 continues, “And His righteousness endures forever.”

At times, people do not continue to be righteous, and at a certain point, their righteousness may not stand up to investigation. This fickleness does not exist with God.

3.  God’s works are wonderful and are made to be remembered(4a). The first part of verse 4 reveals, “He has made His wonderful works to be remembered….” We should not forget God’s wonderful works. We tend to forget people, events, and deeds from the past.

Consequently, our nation has ceremonies and holidays to commemorate and to bestow honor, such as Pearl Harbor Day, Armistice Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, and Veterans Day. Monuments, such as the Washington Monument and the Lincoln Memorial, honor historical figures. There is a great danger of forgetting God’s works, even though God intended for us to remember them. Throughout the Old and New Testaments, God has given his people various aids to remember His works. Consider them now:

a.  The Bible– God’s Word will endure forever (1 Pet. 1:24-25). In addition to guiding us (Ps. 119:105), it also reminds us of the great works of God. Many have studied the Bible extensively but, in time, forget knowledge obtained. As we continue to study, however, we regain what we have lost. After speaking of entering the everlasting kingdom, Peter explained, “For this reason I will not be negligent to remind you always of these things, though you know and are established in the present truth” (2 Peter 1:12).

b.  The Rainbow– During the days of Noah, God destroyed the world with a great flood.  Afterward, God pointed out, “‘Thus I establish My covenant with you: never again shall all flesh be cut off by the waters of the flood; never again shall there be a flood to destroy the earth.’ And God said: ‘This is the sign of the covenant which I make between Me and you, and every living creature that is with you, for perpetual generations: I set My rainbow in the cloud, and it shall be for the sign of the covenant between Me and the earth’” (Gen 9:11-13). Today, when we see a rainbow, it is a reminder of the flood sent by God, and that He will never again destroy the world by water. This sign might also cause us to contemplate a future destruction of the earth by fire. (2 Thess. 1:7-8, 2 Peter 3:10-12).

c.  Circumcision– God commanded circumcision to Abraham, who would be the Father of the Jewish nation, as a token of His covenant with him and his descendants. He told Abraham that from his lineage, great nations would come forth, and even kings would descend from him. His descendants would also receive a land — the land of Canaan. In Genesis 17:10, God told Abraham, “This is my covenant, which you shall keep, between me and you and your offspring after you: every male among you shall be circumcised.” God went on to say it would be a sign of the covenant. If a question came up about why this practice existed, the Jews could point out that it was a covenant between God and Abraham and, ultimately, their people. It served as a reminder.

d.  The Passover– When the children of Israel were in the Egyptian bondage, God sent plagues on the Egyptians to influence their ruler (Pharaoh) to let His people go, and one of the plagues would be the death of the first-born. However, God would spare the first-born of the Jews if they put the blood of a lamb on the sides and top of their doors (Ex. 12). God further revealed (Ex. 12:13-14), “Now the blood shall be a sign for you on the houses where you are. and when I see the blood, I will pass over you; and the plague shall not be on you to destroy you when I strike the land of Egypt. ‘So this day shall be to you a memorial; and you shall keep it as a feast to the Lord throughout your generations. You shall keep it as a feast by an everlasting ordinance.’” (Note also verses 26-27.) This feast would remind them of the events surrounding their escaping bondage and of God’s great power and His works.

e.  The Sabbath Day– The requirement of the Jews to observe the Sabbath would serve as a reminder to them of God creating the universe. Exodus 31:16-17 explains, “Therefore the children of Israel shall keep the Sabbath, to observe the Sabbath throughout their generations as a perpetual covenant. It is a sign between Me and the children of Israel forever; for in six days, the Lord made the heavens and the earth, and on the seventh day He rested and was refreshed.”

f.  The Lord’s Supper– When Jesus instituted the Lord’s Supper, just before His death, he broke the bread, and pointed out in verse 1 Corinthians 11:24, “…” Take, eat; this is My body which is broken for you; do this in remembrance of Me.” He then took the cup and said in verses 25b-26, “…This cup is the new covenant in My blood. This do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me. For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death till He comes.” Today, the Lord’s Supper serves as a reminder to us of Jesus’ death, burial, and resurrection as we partake of it on the first day of the week (Acts 20:7).

g.  Baptism– Baptism also serves today as a reminder. Romans 6:3-4 spells out, “…Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? Therefore, we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.” Baptism involves a burial in water, and as Jesus rose from the dead, we are raised from the water and walk in “newness of life.”

The last part of verse 4 reveals, “The Lord is gracious and full of compassion.” After contemplating the works of God, one might draw this conclusion. (Note also Ps. 86:5 and Ex. 34:6-7.) After this, examples of God’s grace and compassion follow in verse 5.

1.  God’s Material Care– Verse 5a gives us the first example as it conveys, “He has given food to those who fear Him.” (Notice this promise is for those who “fear” God.) The “food” might be a specific reference to the quail God provided for the children of Israel during their time in the wilderness (Ex. 16:12-13). Also, the word translated “food” (NKJV) is sometimes rendered “prey” and involves the concept of “booty” or “spoil.” When God’s people were leaving Egypt for the Promised Land, God allowed them to “plunder” the Egyptians (Ex. 12:35-36). In a broad sense, we know God will take care of all of our needs. If we seek first God’s kingdom, He will take care of our physical needs (Mt. 6:33), but, most importantly, God will take care of our spiritual needs (Eph. 1:3). Philippians 4:19 brings out, “And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.” Again, I Peter 5:6-7 points out we are to cast all of our cares upon God who cares for us.
2.  God is Reliable– A second example of God’s grace and compassion is in 5b, which reveals, “He will ever be mindful of His covenant.” God has always kept His promises in the past, and He will be faithful to any unfulfilled promises He has made. These promises include the Second Coming of Christ (Acts 1:11, 2 Thess. 1:8-9), the destruction of the earth (2 Thess. 1:9, 2 Pet. 3:10), the judgment of humanity (Mt. 25:46), and the reward of heaven for the faithful (Jn. 14:3). God’s promises are “exceedingly great and precious” (2 Pet. 1:3-4). People often break their promises, but God will always keep His.
3.  God’s works are powerful and declared. Verse 6 lists another description of God’s great works. The text reveals, “He has declared to His people the power of His works, in giving them the heritage of the nations.”In various ways, God declares His mighty works. For example, Psalm 19:1 exclaims, “The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament shows His handiwork.” God, in His creation, declares his glory and power. In this text, however, the writer is speaking of something different as he adds, “in giving them the heritage of the nations” (6b). The word found here in the original is usually translated “heritage.” However, it might be translated “land,” and this seems to reflect the meaning of the verse. The Psalmist is speaking of the “lands” of other nations, specifically the land of Canaan. God’s power reveals itself in many ways, but this verse seems to refer to the land (heritage) promised to the descendants of Abraham (Gen. 12:1-3). Ps 105:42-44 reminds us, “For He remembered His holy promise, and Abraham His servant. He brought out His people with joy, His chosen ones with gladness. He gave them the lands of the Gentiles, and they inherited the labor of the nations.”
4.  God’s works are verity and justice(7a). The word translated “verity” means truth, and the same Hebrew word occurs in the next verse with the translation “truth” (NKJV). Some translations (NIV, ESV) render it “faithful.” God is God, and whatever He does is truth, i.e., it is correct.

Moses praised God in the Song of Moses (Deut. 32:4) when he pointed out, “He is the Rock, His work is perfect; for all His ways are justice, a God of truth and without injustice; righteous and upright is He.” (Note also Rev. 15:3.)

Reliance on God’s Word (7b-8)

Verses 7b-8 say, “…All His precepts are sure. They stand fast forever and ever, and are done in truth and uprightness.” God’s precepts (KJV-commandments) serve as an example of God’s works. Notice a description of them.

1. They are sure (7b). – Many translations say, “trustworthy.” The word of God is dependable – we can truly rely on it. Psalm 105:8 expresses of God, “He remembers His covenant forever, the word which He commanded, for a thousand generations.” Psalm 19:7 points out, “The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul; the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple.”
2. They stand forever and ever(8a). – In addition to God’s Word being trustworthy, it will stand forever. In Matthew 24:35, Jesus reveals, “Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away.” (Note also 1 Pet. 1:22-25.) People tend to consider many things permanent such as the mountains, oceans, and even the earth itself. These all have an end, but God’s Word will endure beyond them: it will stand forever. Verse 9 points out that God’s commandments are “commanded forever.”
3. They are done in truth and righteousness(8b). – God’s Word is to be done (carried out or performed) with faithfulness and devotion.

What God Has Done (9a)

The first part of verse 9 declares of God, “He has sent redemption to His people.” (Redemption is also a work of God and can be a part of the earlier list.) In the Old Testament, redemption involves the idea of buying back something in need of deliverance or rescue. In a general sense, the concept of the word is to “deliver.”

The text speaks of deliverance by God in the past. God delivered Israel many times, but perhaps the Psalmist has explicitly in mind God delivering Israel from the Egyptian bondage. In 2 Samuel 7:23, David expressed thanksgiving to God by asking, “And who is like Your people, like Israel, the one nation on the earth whom God went to redeem for Himself as a people, to make for Himself a name—and to do for Yourself great and awesome deeds for Your land—before Your people whom You redeemed for Yourself from Egypt, the nations, and their gods?” (Note also Deut. 9:26.) In Psalm 130:7, the writer stated, “O Israel, hope in the Lord; for with the Lord there is mercy, and with Him is abundant redemption.

In the New Testament, the idea is more of a “ransom.” Although God can deliver us from physical difficulties in life, Christ, our Redeemer, has paid the price for our sins with His death and is our deliverer from its consequences (Eph. 1:7). Our redemption has not come by perishable things, “but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot” (1 Pet. 1:18-19).

What God Is (9b)

The last part of verse 9 declares of God, “Holy and awesome is His name.” Speaking of the name of God, the Psalmist is using metonymy, which is a figure of speech where one idea stands for another. The name of God stands for His character, person, works, and attributes. Thus, God is holy, and He is awesome, which would also include respecting His actual name. (Note also Ps. 5:11, 20:1.)

The basic meaning of the word “holy” is that of separation. God is separate from evil and is intrinsically holy. In Isaiah 6:3, the Seraphim say, “…Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts; the whole earth is full of His glory!” Since God is holy, we are to be holy. 1 Peter 1:15 points out, “but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct.”

Next, it points out that God’s name is “awesome,” which could be translated as “fearful” (UBS Old Testament Handbook Series). Consider the following quote on the Hebrew word, which tells us it “connotes ‘standing in awe.’ This is not simple fear, but reverence, whereby an individual recognizes the power and position of the individual revered and renders him proper respect. In this sense, the word may imply submission to a proper ethical relationship to God…” (Vine’s Expository Dictionary of Biblical Words). We fear God, and we reverence Him, which should result in submission to His will. (Gen. 22:12, Ex. 20:20). Psalm 112:1 exclaims, “Praise the Lord! Blessed is the man who fears the Lord, who delights greatly in His commandments.”

Fear, Obey, & Praise God (10)

Verse 10 continues, “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; a good understanding have all those who do His commandments. His praise endures forever.”

The word translated “fear” is the noun form of the word translated “awesome” in verse 9.

We need to fear God, i.e., have reverence, respect, and be in awe of God. This attribute is the start, or foundation, of us being a wise person (Pb. 1:7, 9:10). The Bible teaches that wisdom is precious (Pb. 3:13-18, 4:7-9), and we are to walk in it (Eph. 5:15-17). The Scriptures teach there is earthly wisdom and heavenly wisdom (James 3:13-18). The wisdom we seek comes from God and is found in the Scriptures (10b, 2 Tim. 2:15, Eph. 5:15).

Continuing in verse 10, the Psalmist points out, “a good understanding have all those who do His commands.”  The phrase “a good understanding” is perhaps intended as synonymous with the “wisdom” just mentioned.  Thus, one who has a good understanding (wisdom) will obey God’s commandments.

The Psalm starts with “Praise the Lord,” and it ends by saying, “His praise endures forever” (10c). After praising God’s wonderful works, speaking of what God has done and who He is, the Psalmist ends fittingly. God is always the same, and He will always be worthy of praise. People, although perhaps at times few in numbers, will recognize Him as God, and having wisdom and understanding, they will gladly praise Him for as long as the earth is standing and beyond into eternity!