February 21
Reading: Psalm 111
1 Praise the LORD!
I will give thanks to the LORD with my whole heart,
in the company of the upright, in the congregation.
2 Great are the works of the LORD,
studied by all who delight in them.
3 Full of splendor and majesty is his work,
and his righteousness endures forever.
4 He has caused his wondrous works to be remembered;
the LORD is gracious and merciful.
5 He provides food for those who fear him;
he remembers his covenant forever.
6 He has shown his people the power of his works,
in giving them the inheritance of the nations.
7 The works of his hands are faithful and just;
all his precepts are trustworthy;
8 they are established forever and ever,
to be performed with faithfulness and uprightness.
9 He sent redemption to his people;
he has commanded his covenant forever.
Holy and awesome is his name!
10 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom;
all those who practice it have a good understanding.
His praise endures forever!
Psalm 111 is pure praise. The first word of this psalm in the Hebrew is “Halleluia.” It is translated, “Praise the Lord!”
Following this, the psalm is an alphabetical acrostic. The Hebrew language has twenty-two letters, all consonants, beginning with “aleph” (which is silent) and ending with “tav.” Each line of this psalm begins with the next letter in the Hebrew alphabet. This is the structure of the psalm, as if to say the praises of God from aleph to tav.
This psalm is a giving of thanks to the Lord for all His works.
I find verses 9-10 particularly powerful. The Lord is praised for the redemption He has sent His people, even though it has yet to be completed in Jesus Christ. This is trust in the certainty of Yahweh who keeps His covenant. This is faith and thankfulness.
At the end of verse 9 we read “Holy and awesome is His name.” The word awesome is really the word for “fear.” The psalmist is saying, “Holy and feared is His name.” Then, the next line applies this praise to our thoughts; “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.” This reminds the reader of the book of Proverbs. To praise God that His name is to be feared is to begin to think rightly.
As you read this psalm and think about it, take the opportunity to think about how the Lord has worked in your life and in your world. Can you see His work? Can you see that the Lord is holy and feared in your life?
You might make a list of all that the Lord has done that you would call awesome works.