Psalms 111-113

Thoughts

Psalm 111

Great Are the Lord’s Works

Praise the Lord!
I will give thanks to the Lord with my whole heart,
in the company of the upright, in the congregation.
Great are the works of the Lord,
studied by all who delight in them.
Full of splendor and majesty is his work,
and his righteousness endures forever.
He has caused his wondrous works to be remembered;
the Lord is gracious and merciful.

• Thankfulness offered both privately (“my whole heart”) and publicly (“in the congregation”).
• God’s works are not only great but meant to be studied.
• God wants His works to be remembered because forgetfulness leads to unbelief

He provides food for those who fear him;
he remembers his covenant forever.
He has shown his people the power of his works,
in giving them the inheritance of the nations.
The works of his hands are faithful and just;
all his precepts are trustworthy;
they are established forever and ever,
to be performed with faithfulness and uprightness.

• God’s provides (“food for those who fear him”) 
• God never forgets His promises.
• Giving Israel “the inheritance of the nations” the land promise fulfilled.

He sent redemption to his people;
he has commanded his covenant forever.
Holy and awesome is his name!
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom;
all those who practice it have a good understanding.
His praise endures forever!

• “He sent redemption” looks back to the Exodus
• God “commanded his covenant forever” as His promises are permanent 
• “Holy and awesome is his name” God’s character inspires worship.
• “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom” means true wisdom starts with a right view of God

from: https://basicsofthebible.org/projects/psalm111-112/

Psalm 112

Psalm 112

The Righteous Will Never Be Moved

Praise the Lord!
Blessed is the man who fears the Lord,
who greatly delights in his commandments!
His offspring will be mighty in the land;
the generation of the upright will be blessed.
Wealth and riches are in his house,
and his righteousness endures forever.

• These two psalms (111 and 112) form a pair and are both acrostics (see image above)
• The blessed person “fears the Lord” and he “delights” in God’s commands
• Blessing is generational — stability and spiritual strength flow to his children.

Light dawns in the darkness for the upright;
he is gracious, merciful, and righteous.
It is well with the man who deals generously and lends;
who conducts his affairs with justice.
For the righteous will never be moved;
he will be remembered forever.

• God brings “light in darkness” 
• The righteous person mirrors God’s character 
• Righteous will “never be moved” , stable and rooted in God

He is not afraid of bad news;
his heart is firm, trusting in the Lord.
His heart is steady; he will not be afraid,
until he looks in triumph on his adversaries.
He has distributed freely; he has given to the poor;
his righteousness endures forever;
his horn is exalted in honor.

• “Not afraid of bad news” shows trust
• “Heart is firm… steady” shows confidence
• Triumph over adversaries – God’s vindication 
• His generosity to the poor is repeated 

The wicked man sees it and is angry;
he gnashes his teeth and melts away;
the desire of the wicked will perish!

• The wicked resent the blessing and stability of the righteous 
• Ultimately, the wicked “melt away” 

Psalm 113

Who Is like the Lord Our God?

Psalms 113-118 is known as the Egyptian Hallel to remember all God did for His people in Egypt

Praise the Lord!
Praise, O servants of the Lord,
praise the name of the Lord!
Blessed be the name of the Lord
from this time forth and forevermore!
From the rising of the sun to its setting,
the name of the Lord is to be praised!

• This psalm begins and ends with Hallelujah הַלְּלוּיָהּ (Halleluyah) (“Praise the Lord”).
• “Servants of the Lord” includes all who belong to Him 
• God’s name is worthy of praise not just now but forever.

The Lord is high above all nations,
and his glory above the heavens!
Who is like the Lord our God,
who is seated on high,
who looks far down
on the heavens and the earth?

• God’s exaltation is universal 
• He is “seated on high” yet not distant

He raises the poor from the dust
and lifts the needy from the ash heap,
to make them sit with princes,
with the princes of his people.
He gives the barren woman a home,
making her the joyous mother of children.
Praise the Lord!

• God reverses human conditions such as lifting the poor from dust and ashes or the barren woman being given a home and children (Sarah, Hannah, and Elizabeth)
• He not only lifts them but seats them with princes 

Questions

Application

Psalm 111 shows God’s works are meant to be “studied,”  and delighted in. We should pause and take time to see who God actually is and what He has done. Psalm 112 is essentially the human response to Psalm 111. After describing God’s greatness, it describes the kind of person shaped by that greatness. We should strive to cultivate a heart like one described in this chapter. Psalm 113 begins and ends with “Praise the Lord,” and everything in between explains why. God is exalted yet stoops down to lift up the poor and needy. He is great above all, but loves His creation.