The angels surrounding God’s throne see His greatness and the greatness of His works, and they never stop praising Him (Revelation 4:8). They are a window through which God’s purposes for each generation of his people can be clearly discerned. You can check these in your browser security settings. You always can block or delete cookies by changing your browser settings and force blocking all cookies on this website. They occur as well in Psalms 108:3 and 109:30. Great are the works of the LORD; they are pondered by all who delight in them. You are free to opt out any time or opt in for other cookies to get a better experience. The words of thanks by this individual worshiper are unusual, however, for they recount not an event of God’s … Continue reading "Commentary on Psalm 111" These cookies collect information that is used either in aggregate form to help us understand how our website is being used or how effective our marketing campaigns are, or to help us customize our website and application for you in order to enhance your experience. Please be aware that this might heavily reduce the functionality and appearance of our site. Click to enable/disable _gid - Google Analytics Cookie. “It is not only the beginning of wisdom, but the middle and the end. b. It also signifies spoil taken from enemies.” (Clarke). i. We need 2 cookies to store this setting. Wisdom cannot advance further until this starting point is established. The idea that the fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom is also found in Job 28:28; Proverbs 1:7; 9:10; and Ecclesiastes 12:13. ii. The NASB translates it as “A good understanding have all those who do His commandments.” Let’s dig … Psalm 111. i. He has declared to His people the power of His works, In a mere seventy-two words, the psalmist summarizes the whole history of God’s deliverance of ancient Israel in the following structure: Verse 1: A Vow to Give Thanks Verses 2-4: The Deeds of the Lord Praised Verses 5-9: The Deeds of the Lord Described Verse 10: An Introduction to Wisdom. Psalm 111 – The Greatness of God’s Works. All His precepts are sure. Due to security reasons we are not able to show or modify cookies from other domains. “No small things are done by so great a hand.” (Trapp), iii. ii. Professor of Old Testament and Biblical Languages, McAfee School of Theology, Mercer University, A resource for the whole church from Luther Seminary. Psalm 111 Commentary by Brad Boyles. Such was the power of the clergy, that, when they walked not in the fear of the Lord, they caused the people to fear, and they themselves were to be feared; but, when the secular power was added to the spiritual, they were then truly reverendi and reverendissimi, to be feared and greatly to be feared.”. Psalm 111:1 This psalm is an acrostic poem, each line beginning with the successive letters of the Hebrew alphabet Cross references Psalm 111:1 : See Ps. These cookies are strictly necessary to provide you with services available through our website and to use some of its features. i. Psalms 108:1-13 With God’s Help we Can Do More Than we Think. To them shall the gate of true science open; they shall understand the mysteries of creation, providence, and redemption; and they who thus ‘seek,’ shall find the treasures of eternal wisdom.” (Horne), v. “But while this verse is well taken as God’s charter for the scientist and artist, verse 10 must be its partner, lest ‘professing to be wise’ we become fools, like the men of Romans 1:18-23.” (Kidner), vi. Full of honor and majesty is his work, and his righteousness endures forever. The word “fear” (yara’) appears in the Hebrew Bible as a synonym for “love” (Deuteronomy 10:12); “cling to” (Deuteronomy 10:20); and “serve” (Deuteronomy 6:13; Joshua 24:14). Like Psalm 111 before it, Psalm 112 is an acrostic psalm. All of these are referred to as “wonderful deeds,” things transcending the power of human intelligence and imagination. It is more about being in the presence of the holy other with cautious reverence than it is about the sweaty-palmed, shaking, gasping for breath kind of fear we often experience. Psalm 111 is classified as an Individual Hymn of Thanksgiving, a psalm type in which the singer gives thanks for God’s goodness in delivering him/her from various life-threatening situations such as illness, oppression, or enemy attack. When we enter into a relationship with the God of the Bible, it is a high calling. A central theme in this section is the nature and issue of Jesus’ authority (exousia), especially seen through the literary structure of our material. 1. The text assigned is an entire, but fairly brief, chapter in 1 Corinthians, located at the beginning of a longer unit extending over three chapters (1 Corinthians 8:1 through10:33). Both of these twin psalms are composed of the same number of Hebrew syllables" (note on Psalm 111). 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