Overview

Psalm 111 is a hymn of praise, celebrating the greatness of God’s works, His righteousness, and His faithfulness. The psalmist begins by calling upon the community to praise the Lord with a whole heart in the congregation of the upright, emphasizing God’s goodness and His works that are worthy of meditation. The psalmist specifically focuses on God’s actions in creation, His covenant with Israel, His justice, and the provision He has given to His people. This chapter points to God’s wisdom, power, and the blessings that come from fearing Him. The psalm closes by stressing the reverence due to God and the wisdom that comes from understanding His ways. Throughout the chapter, the psalmist encourages the reader to see God’s greatness in His character and in His dealings with humanity. This text calls the believer to be in awe of the Lord’s majesty, and it emphasizes that true wisdom is rooted in the fear of the Lord.

Historical and Literary Context

Psalm 111 is part of a group of psalms that focus on praise (often referred to as Hallelujah Psalms, as they begin with “Praise the Lord”). It is a declarative psalm that looks back at God’s acts of mercy, justice, and power, and serves as an invitation for the faithful to join in praise. This psalm does not directly reference a particular event in Israel’s history, but rather reflects on God’s timeless attributes—His faithfulness, righteousness, and providence. Historically, it would have been used in public worship, both in the temple and among the people, to celebrate God’s greatness and to encourage reverence and fear of God.

In the broader context of the psalms, Psalm 111 is paired with Psalm 112, with both psalms focusing on the themes of wisdom and the fear of the Lord. This pairing highlights the connection between divine wisdom and the response of the faithful in fearing and honoring God.

Key Themes and Doctrinal Points

1. God’s Works and His Righteousness: The psalmist praises God for His great works, emphasizing that these works are done in righteousness and are worthy of praise. The theme here underscores the perfection of God’s deeds and His moral goodness. As believers meditate on these works, they are called to respond with awe and reverence.
2. The Fear of the Lord as the Beginning of Wisdom: The psalm concludes by stating that the “fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom” (v. 10). This echoes a core biblical doctrine: true wisdom begins with reverence for God. To know God rightly is to begin to live wisely.
3. God’s Covenant and Faithfulness: The psalm emphasizes God’s covenantal faithfulness with His people. His promises are trustworthy, and His provision is reliable. This reinforces God’s unchanging character, as He remains faithful to His covenant, which points us to the ultimate fulfillment of God’s promises in Christ.
4. God’s Sovereignty and Power: The psalmist praises God’s mighty works in creation and His governance over the earth. These themes remind the believer of God’s sovereign rule over all creation, a foundational truth of biblical theology.

Verse-by-Verse Analysis

Verse 1: “Praise the Lord. I will extol the Lord with all my heart in the council of the upright and in the assembly.”

• Explanation: The psalmist opens with a declaration of praise to God. The phrase “Praise the Lord” is a call for the community of faith to engage in worship. “I will extol the Lord with all my heart” indicates that this praise is not just a verbal acknowledgment but a heartfelt worship. The psalmist’s commitment to praising God is in the “council of the upright,” meaning in the gathering of the righteous and in public worship. This establishes a communal aspect of praise, highlighting the importance of corporate worship.
• Cross-References:
• Psalm 34:1: “I will bless the Lord at all times; his praise shall continually be in my mouth.”
• Hebrews 13:15: “Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise—the fruit of lips that openly profess his name.”
• Application: The verse emphasizes the need for wholehearted and public worship. Christians are called to praise God not only in private but also in the fellowship of the believers. It challenges the believer to engage deeply in worship, not just in ritual but with true devotion.

Verse 2: “Great are the works of the Lord; they are pondered by all who delight in them.”

• Explanation: The psalmist highlights the greatness of God’s works. These works are not just seen but are to be “pondered,” meaning meditated upon and deeply considered by those who delight in the Lord. This reflects the idea that true worship involves thoughtful reflection on God’s actions and character. His works—whether in creation, redemption, or providence—are significant and should stir awe and admiration in those who love Him.
• Cross-References:
• Psalm 145:3: “Great is the Lord and most worthy of praise; his greatness no one can fathom.”
• Romans 11:33: “Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable his judgments, and his paths beyond tracing out!”
• Application: Christians are encouraged to reflect on God’s greatness in a way that leads to deeper worship. It is not enough to acknowledge God’s greatness superficially; true worship involves deliberate meditation on His works, which leads to greater understanding and appreciation of His majesty.

Verse 3: “Glorious and majestic are his deeds, and his righteousness endures forever.”

• Explanation: This verse affirms that God’s deeds are both glorious and majestic, emphasizing the splendor of His actions in the world. The mention of God’s righteousness enduring forever stresses that His moral perfection and faithfulness are not temporary; they are eternal. This underscores the unchanging nature of God’s character and His justice.
• Cross-References:
• Psalm 145:17: “The Lord is righteous in all his ways and faithful in all he does.”
• Isaiah 9:7: “Of the greatness of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David’s throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever.”
• Application: The verse calls believers to acknowledge the eternal nature of God’s righteousness. His perfect justice and faithfulness provide a firm foundation for trusting Him in all circumstances. It challenges Christians to reflect on God’s justice as a model for how they live out righteousness in their own lives.

Verse 4: “He has caused his wonders to be remembered; the Lord is gracious and compassionate.”

• Explanation: God’s deeds are not only majestic and glorious but also memorable, being “wonders” that provoke awe and reflection. The psalmist highlights two key aspects of God’s character: grace and compassion. God’s grace is His unmerited favor toward His people, and His compassion reflects His deep empathy for His creation. These characteristics of God encourage His people to trust in His love and care.
• Cross-References:
• Exodus 34:6: “The Lord, the Lord, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness.”
• Ephesians 2:4-5: “But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved.”
• Application: This verse speaks to the believer about God’s active love and His tendency to show grace and compassion. In times of trouble, the believer can rely on the gracious and compassionate nature of God, knowing that He remembers and acts on behalf of His people.

Verse 5: “He provides food for those who fear him; he remembers his covenant forever.”

• Explanation: Here, God’s provision is emphasized. God provides for those who fear Him, ensuring that their physical and spiritual needs are met. The mention of God “remembering His covenant forever” refers to His faithfulness to His promises, particularly the covenant He made with His people Israel. God’s covenant is an enduring commitment that guarantees His ongoing relationship with His people.
• Cross-References:
• Matthew 6:11: “Give us today our daily bread.”
• Genesis 17:7: “I will establish my covenant as an everlasting covenant between me and you and your descendants after you for the generations to come, to be your God and the God of your descendants after you.”
• Application: This verse encourages believers to trust in God’s provision. It assures Christians that those who revere God will be cared for, both physically and spiritually. It also speaks to the unbreakable nature of God’s promises, encouraging the believer to live in light of God’s ongoing covenant faithfulness.

Verse 6: “He has shown his people the power of his works, giving them the lands of other nations.”

• Explanation: The verse speaks of God’s power in giving Israel victories and land that belonged to other nations. It recalls the conquest of Canaan and the fulfillment of God’s promises to the patriarchs. This act of divine power is a demonstration of God’s ability to bring about His will on earth, even in the face of seemingly impossible odds.
• Cross-References:
• Joshua 21:43-45: “So the Lord gave Israel all the land he had sworn to give their ancestors, and they took possession of it and settled there.”
• Isaiah 41:2: “Who has stirred up one from the east, calling him in righteousness to his service? He hands nations over to him and subdues kings.”
• Application: Christians can be encouraged by this verse that God has the power to accomplish His promises, even through earthly events. It reassures believers that God is sovereign over nations and history, ensuring that His purposes will always be fulfilled, no matter how difficult the circumstances may seem.

Theological Implications and Connection to Jesus Christ

Psalm 111 underscores the greatness and majesty of God, particularly through His works, faithfulness, and covenant. These attributes point forward to Jesus Christ, who is the ultimate revelation of God’s power, grace, and eternal covenant. Jesus is the fulfillment of the promises that the psalmist celebrates—He is the incarnate Word through whom all creation was made and all things are held together (John 1:3, Colossians 1:16). In the same way God’s covenant with His people is everlasting and unbreakable, Jesus establishes a new covenant through His blood, offering forgiveness and eternal life to all who believe (Luke 22:20, Hebrews 9:15).

Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection are the ultimate demonstration of God’s “wondrous works” that the psalmist alludes to. As the psalmist delights in God’s righteousness and faithfulness, Jesus embodies these qualities. He perfectly reveals God’s righteousness through His sinless life, and He demonstrates God’s faithfulness by fulfilling the Old Testament promises, ensuring that God’s plan for redemption reaches its climax in Him.

As believers reflect on the majesty and awe of God’s works in Psalm 111, they are invited to look to Christ as the full expression of God’s greatness. Through Christ, God’s power and majesty are not merely observed from a distance but are tangibly experienced in the life of the believer, especially in His sacrificial death and resurrection, which brought ultimate victory over sin and death.

Show How the Chapter Connects to the Father

Psalm 111 speaks of God’s righteousness, faithfulness, and covenant. These qualities reflect the Father’s character as revealed throughout Scripture. In the New Testament, Jesus affirms that He has come to do the will of the Father (John 6:38), demonstrating that God’s righteousness and faithfulness are embodied in His Son. The Father is the one who established the covenant and is faithful to it, just as He is faithful to His people now through the work of Christ.

Furthermore, the Father’s work is evident in the acts of creation, redemption, and provision that Psalm 111 celebrates. The Father initiates the redemptive work that Christ accomplishes, and this redemptive work continues through the Spirit, all of which culminate in the revelation of God’s glory in the person of Jesus.

The Father’s eternal covenant, as seen in the Old Testament and confirmed in Christ, assures believers that God’s love for His people is unbreakable, that He is righteous, and that He will always fulfill His promises. As the psalmist reflects on God’s covenantal faithfulness, this leads believers to understand that the Father’s promises are anchored in the person of Christ, and that all of God’s promises find their “yes” in Him (2 Corinthians 1:20).

Show How the Chapter Connects to the Holy Spirit

Psalm 111’s emphasis on God’s righteousness, holiness, and faithfulness is deeply connected to the work of the Holy Spirit in the believer’s life. The Spirit, given to believers after Christ’s ascension, is the one who continues to reveal God’s works and righteousness. Jesus promised that the Spirit would teach and remind believers of everything He had said (John 14:26), guiding them in the knowledge of God’s truth and enabling them to live in accordance with God’s will.

The Holy Spirit is also the one who empowers believers to reflect God’s character. In the same way that Psalm 111 celebrates the works of God and calls people to meditate on them, the Spirit helps Christians reflect on God’s works in Christ and leads them into deeper worship and obedience. The Spirit’s role is to continually reveal Christ to believers, allowing them to experience the ongoing transformation that comes from being conformed to the image of God’s Son (Romans 8:29).

Furthermore, just as Psalm 111 speaks of God’s provision and faithfulness, the Holy Spirit ensures that believers experience this provision in a tangible way, empowering them to live according to God’s will. It is by the Spirit’s work that the believer can partake in the righteousness and faithfulness of God, applying these eternal truths to daily life.

Connection to God’s Love

Psalm 111 reveals God’s love for humanity through His covenantal faithfulness and righteous acts. God’s love is not passive or fleeting but is shown through His actions and His ongoing relationship with His people. In the psalm, God’s works, such as providing food for those who fear Him and remembering His covenant forever, point to His active involvement in the lives of His people. His love is expressed in tangible ways, both in the past acts of redemption and in His continuing care for His people.

This theme of God’s love culminates in the New Testament, where the love of God is most fully revealed in Jesus Christ. Jesus embodies God’s steadfast love by laying down His life for His friends (John 15:13), ensuring that God’s love reaches its highest expression in His sacrificial death and resurrection. Just as God’s covenant was established with Israel and guaranteed His faithful love, the new covenant in Christ offers believers a deeper relationship with God, founded on His love for them (John 3:16).

The love of God is not just a theological concept but is a dynamic force that changes lives. In Christ, God’s love is poured into the hearts of believers through the Holy Spirit (Romans 5:5). As believers grow in their understanding of God’s love and faithfulness, they are called to respond with praise, worship, and obedience, just as Psalm 111 calls for reflection on and celebration of God’s great works. This connection to God’s love through Christ transforms believers, motivating them to live in ways that reflect God’s love to the world.

Sermon Outline and Flow

Title: “The Righteousness and Faithfulness of God”

I. Introduction:

• Begin by emphasizing that Psalm 111 is a hymn of praise that magnifies God’s greatness, righteousness, and faithfulness.
• In our world where faithfulness is often questioned and righteousness is ignored, Psalm 111 invites us to reflect on and rejoice in the unchanging nature of God’s character.
• Key Question: How do we respond to the greatness and faithfulness of God?

II. God’s Righteousness: The Foundation of Our Trust (Psalm 111:3-4)

• Point 1: God’s righteousness is glorious and everlasting.
• Explanation: God’s righteousness is a central attribute; it is part of His eternal nature. In a world where moral standards often shift, God’s righteousness is unchanging.
• Cross-reference: Isaiah 9:7 – “Of the increase of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David’s throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness.”
• Application: Encourage believers to trust in God’s unchanging justice. In times of uncertainty or injustice, we can trust that God’s righteousness will prevail.
• Illustration: A judge in a courtroom who adheres strictly to the law, no matter who is before him, is a picture of righteous judgment. Unlike human judges, God’s judgment is always perfect and without error.
• Transition: But God’s righteousness is not just theoretical; it has practical, personal implications for us.

III. God’s Faithfulness: The Anchor of Our Hope (Psalm 111:5-6)

• Point 2: God’s faithfulness extends to His covenant promises.
• Explanation: God has been faithful in keeping His promises to His people, from the covenant with Israel to the new covenant in Christ. His faithfulness is shown through His actions of provision and deliverance.
• Cross-reference: Hebrews 10:23 – “Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful.”
• Application: No matter what challenges or trials we face, we can hold on to the faithfulness of God. His promises are true, and He will fulfill them in His time.
• Illustration: Share a story of someone who had to trust God’s faithfulness in a time of personal trial (e.g., a story of financial difficulty or health struggles that eventually saw God’s provision).
• Transition: As we understand God’s righteousness and faithfulness, we are called to respond to His greatness.

IV. Our Response: Worship and Obedience (Psalm 111:1, 10)

• Point 3: The appropriate response to God’s greatness is worship and reverence.
• Explanation: The psalmist begins by declaring that he will give thanks to the Lord with all his heart. The appropriate response to God’s righteousness and faithfulness is heartfelt worship and living in obedience to Him.
• Cross-reference: Romans 12:1 – “Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship.”
• Application: God’s greatness should inspire us to live lives of worship—not just in song but in our actions, choices, and attitudes toward others. Worship is a lifestyle.
• Illustration: Discuss how one’s response to an act of kindness from a friend may lead to expressions of gratitude and deeper relationship—just as our response to God’s goodness should lead us to live in fellowship with Him.
• Transition: Now that we know how to respond, let’s look at how we can actively apply God’s righteousness and faithfulness in our daily lives.

V. Living Out God’s Righteousness and Faithfulness in Our Lives

• Point 4: Practicing stewardship and discipleship in response to God’s nature.
• Explanation: If we serve a God of righteousness and faithfulness, our lives should reflect those same qualities in how we steward our resources, relationships, and calling.
• Application: Disciple others with the integrity and trustworthiness that God has shown to us. In our stewardship, reflect God’s provision by being generous and faithful to the needs of others.
• Illustration: Share an example of a Christian businessman who conducts business honestly, honoring God through faithful stewardship, even when others may cut corners for profit.

VI. Conclusion and Call to Action

• God’s righteousness and faithfulness should transform the way we live, encouraging us to respond in worship, trust, and obedience.
• Call to Action: Reflect on God’s righteousness and faithfulness this week. What areas of your life do you need to bring in line with His character? Whether it’s in relationships, stewardship, or your personal walk with Him, how can you live out God’s righteousness and faithfulness today?
• Closing Prayer: Ask God to help us respond to His greatness with hearts full of worship, lives marked by obedience, and a commitment to reflect His righteousness and faithfulness in all we do.

Illustrations and Examples

• Story of God’s Provision: Share a testimony of a time when you experienced God’s faithfulness in a difficult time, highlighting how He provided for you when you needed it most. This example will help the congregation connect the psalm’s theme of God’s faithfulness with real-life experience.
• Application to Modern Society: In a world filled with uncertainty and broken promises, people are looking for stability and trustworthiness. This sermon can challenge believers to embody God’s righteousness and faithfulness, becoming a living example to the world around them of the God they worship.

Application for Today’s Christian

• Discipleship: Challenge the congregation to reflect on their personal commitment to discipleship. Are they growing in the knowledge of God’s righteousness and faithfulness, and are they helping others grow in those same truths?
• Stewardship: Consider the application of God’s faithfulness in their finances and resources. Encourage them to be faithful stewards, generously giving to God’s work, and practicing righteousness in their interactions with others.
• Living Out Our Faith: Call the church to be examples of God’s character, living out His righteousness and faithfulness in their relationships with others. Encourage them to think of one specific way they can reflect these qualities in their community and their family.

Reflection Questions

1. How can you cultivate a deeper sense of worship in your daily life in response to God’s righteousness and faithfulness?
2. In what areas of your life can you better reflect God’s faithfulness and righteousness, both in your relationships and your actions?
3. What steps can you take this week to practice God’s faithfulness in a tangible way, whether through stewardship, evangelism, or service to others?
4. How does understanding God’s righteousness and faithfulness shape your trust in His promises, especially in times of hardship or uncertainty?
5. In what practical ways can you model God’s faithfulness in your workplace, school, or community, and how might that impact those around you?
6. Reflecting on Psalm 111, how does your personal worship align with the psalmist’s call to give thanks to the Lord with all your heart? What might it look like for you to grow in this kind of worship?