In awe, we study His grand design,
The works of the Lord, truly divine.
Great in measure, vast in span,
A testament to the Almighty's plan.
His work, honorable and bright,
Glorious in every believer's sight.
His righteousness, a constant light,
Enduring, eternal, forever in flight.
With whole hearts, His name we raise,
In private whispers and public praise.
Acknowledging His works so vast,
Appreciating a love that's meant to last.
His provision for those who revere,
His name, His word, so clear.
Reverence to God, wisdom's key,
Opens the door, sets our spirits free.
So let us live with faith so grand,
With reverence deep, on God's holy land.
Gratitude in our hearts, forever we hold,
For His love is more precious than gold.
REFLECTION:
Great are the works of the Lord, exquisite in all their delights. (Psalm 111:2)
The works of the Lord are great, studied by all who have pleasure in them. His work is honorable and glorious, and His righteousness endures forever. We should always praise the Lord with our whole heart, both privately and publicly, and acknowledge and appreciate His great works and His enduring righteousness. God’s provision are for those who revere Him. Reverence to God is the foundation of wisdom. Let us live a life of faith, reverence, and gratitude towards God.
Dear Heavenly Father,
We stand in awe of Your great works, studied and admired by all who find pleasure in them. Your work is honorable and glorious, Your righteousness endures forever.
We commit to praising You, Lord, with our whole heart, both privately and publicly. We acknowledge and appreciate Your great works, and Your enduring righteousness. We thank You for Your provision, bestowed upon those who revere You. We understand that reverence to You, Lord, is the foundation of wisdom.
Help us to live a life of faith, filled with reverence and gratitude towards You. Guide us on this journey, Lord, as we strive to follow Your righteous path.
In Jesus' name, we pray,
Amen.
Pericope:
Fifth Book of Psalms 107-150
PRAISE OF GOD FOR GOODNESS TO ISRAEL
Psalm 111:1-10
Responsorial Psalm | Psalm 111:1-2, 5-6, 9, 10
R: The Lord will remember his covenant forever.
1 I will give thanks to the Lord with all my heart in the company and assembly of the just. 2 Great are the works of the Lord, exquisite in all their delights. (R) 5 He has given food to those who fear him; he will forever be mindful of his covenant. 6 He has made known to his people the power of his works, giving them the inheritance of the nations. (R) 9 He has sent deliverance to his people; he has ratified his covenant forever; holy and awesome is his name. 10 His praise endures forever. (R)
Background:
Psalm 111 is an acrostic psalm, arranged according to the Hebrew alphabet. Each of the 22 lines of Psalm 111 begins with a successive letter of the Hebrew alphabet. This structure serves both to set forth the psalm’s excellence and to aid memory.
The psalm is a hymn of praise to God for His works and deeds. It begins with a declaration of praise to the Lord, followed by a commitment to praise the Lord with the whole heart, both privately (in the assembly of the upright) and publicly (in the congregation).
The psalmist acknowledges God’s provision for those who revere Him, reminding us of God’s eternal covenant. He describes God’s powerful works that demonstrate His faithfulness and justice. The works of the Lord are great, studied by all who delight in them. His work is honorable and glorious, and His righteousness endures forever.
Many commentators note the connection between Psalms 111 and 112. James Montgomery Boice observed, "The two psalms are an obviously matched pair. The first is an acrostic poem about God; the second is an acrostic poem about the godly man".
In verse 9, the psalmist speaks of God’s redemption sent to His people and His eternal covenant. The final verse, verse 10, emphasizes the fear of the Lord as the beginning of wisdom.
Learning Lessons:
Psalm 111:1-2, 5-6, 9, 10 offers several profound lessons for believers:
Wholehearted Praise: The psalm begins with a declaration of praise to the Lord, followed by a commitment to praise the Lord with the whole heart, both privately (in the assembly of the upright) and publicly (in the congregation). This teaches us the importance of praising God wholeheartedly and in community.
God’s Great Works: The works of the Lord are great, studied by all who have pleasure in them. His work is honorable and glorious, and His righteousness endures forever. This reminds us to acknowledge and appreciate God’s great works in creation and His enduring righteousness.
God’s Provision and Covenant: The psalmist acknowledges God’s provision for those who revere Him, reminding us of God’s eternal covenant. This teaches us about God’s faithfulness and the importance of revering Him.
Fear of the Lord: The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. This emphasizes the importance of revering God as the foundation of wisdom.
God’s Redemption: The psalmist speaks of God’s redemption sent to His people and His eternal covenant. This reminds us of God’s redeeming love and His eternal promises.
These lessons remind us of the importance of praising God, acknowledging His great works, trusting in His provision, revering Him, and appreciating His redemption. They encourage us to live a life of faith, reverence, and gratitude towards God. (Conversation with Copilot)