Psalm 111—Psalm
111 is a song of high praise to the LORD for His many and continued blessings
upon His people—physical and spiritual blessings. The LORD’s great works and
His provision of food are recounted before the His greatest blessing is
extolled: He sent redemption to his people. In the face of the mighty deeds,
awesome power, and goodness of the Lord, the psalmist concludes, 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 – The
Greatness of God’s Works
This is another of the acrostic psalms, arranged
according to the Hebrew alphabet. Except for the opening line of “Praise the
Lord” (Hallelujah), each of the 22 lines of Psalm 111 begins with a successive
letter of the Hebrew alphabet.
The great art used in the composure of this and some
other psalms (after the order of the Hebrew alphabet) both to set forth their
excellence and for the help of memory.
Many commentators note the connection between Psalms
111 and 112. James Montgomery Boice observed, “The two psalms are an obviously matched pair. The first is an acrostic
poem about God; the second is an acrostic poem about the godly man.”[2]
Collect for
Psalm 111: Merciful and gentle Lord, the crowning glory of all the saints, give
us, your children, the gift of obedience, which is the beginning of wisdom, so
that we may be filled with your mercy and that what you command we may do by
the might of Jesus Christ our Lord.[3]
[1] The Ten Lepers copyright © Ed Riojas, Higher Things
[3] Collect for Psalm 111, For All the Saints, A Prayer Book For and By the Church, Vol. II © 1995 The American Lutheran Publicity Bureau, Delhi, NY
[4] Ibid, Collect for Tuesday of the week of Pentecost 17
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