17/08/2014

PM August 17th Psalm 111

August 17th


Psalm 111

Praising God
1: Praise ye the LORD. I will praise the LORD with my whole heart, in the assembly of the upright, and in the congregation. 2: The works of the LORD are great, sought out of all them that have pleasure therein. 3: His work is honourable and glorious: and his righteousness endureth for ever. 4: He hath made his wonderful works to be remembered: the LORD is gracious and full of compassion. 5: He hath given meat unto them that fear him: he will ever be mindful of his covenant. 6: He hath shewed his people the power of his works, that he may give them the heritage of the heathen. 7: The works of his hands are verity and judgment; all his commandments are sure. 8: They stand fast for ever and ever, and are done in truth and uprightness. 9: He sent redemption unto his people: he hath commanded his covenant for ever: holy and reverend is his name. 10: The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: a good understanding have all they that do his commandments: his praise endureth for ever.


Psalm 112

A good person is happy
1: Praise ye the LORD. Blessed is the man that feareth the LORD, that delighteth greatly in his commandments. 2: His seed shall be mighty upon earth: the generation of the upright shall be blessed. 3: Wealth and riches shall be in his house: and his righteousness endureth for ever. 4: Unto the upright there ariseth light in the darkness: he is gracious, and full of compassion, and righteous. 5: A good man sheweth favour, and lendeth: he will guide his affairs with discretion. 6: Surely he shall not be moved for ever: the righteous shall be in everlasting remembrance. 7: He shall not be afraid of evil tidings: his heart is fixed, trusting in the LORD. 8: His heart is established, he shall not be afraid, until he see his desire upon his enemies. 9: He hath dispersed, he hath given to the poor; his righteousness endureth for ever; his horn shall be exalted with honour. 10: The wicked shall see it, and be grieved; he shall gnash with his teeth, and melt away: the desire of the wicked shall perish.
Today we are reading Psalm 111 & 112. Psalm 111 is a song dedicated to the praise of the Lord for all his works. It is the first of three Hallelujah songs. The song begins and ends with praise to the LORD and between these things we have two verses that first describe his works and then speak of its bounty and the objects of his works. He begins saying Praise the LORD with me because I will praise the LORD with my whole heart. Praise the Lord in the assembly of the righteous. He says the works of the Lord are great and those who find pleasure in them seek out all of them. The works of the Lord are honourable, glorious and right and they will be eternal. The Lord has made his glorious works memorable because he is kind and full of compassion. Then he explains how Gods kindness is seen. He provides food for the righteous and he will not forget his promise of blessing. He has demonstrated to his people the almighty power of his deeds, so that he may give them the inheritance of the gentiles. All of his works are truth and righteous judgment and all his commandments are trustworthy. They will stand fast forever and ever and they will be lived out in truth and uprightness. The Lord sent redemption to his people and he has confirmed his covenant forever. His name is holy and reverent. Those that fear him start to be wise and those who have a good understanding of his laws keep his commandments. And they will praise his name for all eternity. Psalm 112 is a song of praise for the LORD’s ways. The song starts with Hallelujah then it begins and ends with a description of the righteous man and then wicked man. The blessed man fears the Lord and the wicked man will gnash with his teeth and fall. He begins with the statement that the man that fears the Lord is the object of Gods blessing and he delights to keep the commandments of the Lord. This of course is a description of the man who lives under the Mosaic Law and is in contrast to the Christian who is redeemed from the law of commandments. He continues, his children will be strong in the earth and his generation will know Gods blessing if they follow him. They will know riches in their houses and his righteous life will endure for ever. The Mosaic Law promises wealth riches, many children and health to those who remained faithful to the Lord whereas the blessing of God to Christians is the joy of serving God in the midst of persecution, suffering, sickness, toil, struggles and trials are the daily meat and drink of NT believers who are righteous by faith in Christ. The Psalmist continues the righteous under the law have light in the midst of darkness, because the Lord is gracious and full of compassion and righteous toward them. A good man is generous to the needy but he will also be wise. He will be secure forever and he will be remembered forever. He will not be disturbed by bad news because his heart is fixed – trusting in the LORD. His mind will be steady and he won’t be afraid until he eventually sees his wishes carried out against his enemies. How different to the Christian who loves his enemies. The righteous man under the law gives money in charity to the poor. He will endure forever. His strength will be lifted up in honour. The wicked will see this and be grieved. They will grind their teeth and melt away and their wicked plans will never be fulfilled.

  • How does the Psalmist praise the Lord?
  • What is the secret of being blessed?
  • What will happen to the wicked?

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