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Psalms 111

10 verses

TL;DR

A hymn of praise celebrating God's righteous works, covenant faithfulness, and the wisdom that arises from fearing Him.

Summary

Psalm 111 opens with a call to praise the LORD wholeheartedly among the upright. It recounts God’s great works, honoring and glorious deeds that endure forever. The psalm highlights God’s grace, compassion, and provision of food for those who fear Him, reminding them of His enduring covenant. It affirms that His power is shown to His people, granting them dominion over the nations. The steadfastness of His judgments and commands is praised for their truth and uprightness. The psalm concludes by affirming that the fear of the LORD is the foundation of wisdom, and that those who keep His commandments possess true understanding, whose praise will endure eternally.

Outline
  1. Call to praise and description of God's glorious works
  2. Affirmation of covenant faithfulness and provision for the faithful
  3. Statement of enduring wisdom and the enduring praise of the righteous
Themes
God’s enduring righteousnessFaithful covenant and provisionWisdom arising from reverence for God
Keywords
praiserighteousnesscovenantwisdomredemptionjudgment
People
The LORDThe people
Places
Things
CovenantRedemptionWisdomRighteousnessJudgment
Key Verses
  • Psalms 111:4: Highlights God's graciousness and compassion, a central motif of the psalm.
  • Psalms 111:10: Connects fear of God to wisdom, a key theological claim.
Questions
  • How does the psalm define the relationship between God's works and the faithfulness of His people?
  • In what ways does the psalm portray the concept of covenant, and why is it central to the psalmist’s praise?
  • What does the psalm imply about the nature of wisdom when it says the fear of the LORD is its beginning?
  • How might the psalm’s emphasis on God’s enduring judgments influence a contemporary believer’s view of justice?
  • Why is the imagery of provision ('meat unto them that fear him') significant in the context of the psalm?
Sentiment

positive
The psalm is celebratory, praising God’s works, covenant, and wisdom.