Psalm 111

1 Praise the LORD.
I will extol the LORD with all my heart
in the council of the upright and in the assembly.
2 Great are the works of the LORD;
they are pondered by all who delight in them.
3 Glorious and majestic are his deeds,
and his righteousness endures forever.
4 He has caused his wonders to be remembered;
the LORD is gracious and compassionate.
5 He provides food for those who fear him;
he remembers his covenant forever.
6 He has shown his people the power of his works,
giving them the lands of other nations.
7 The works of his hands are faithful and just;
all his precepts are trustworthy.
8 They are established for ever and ever,
enacted in faithfulness and uprightness.
9 He provided redemption for his people;
he ordained his covenant forever—
holy and awesome is his name.
10 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom;
all who follow his precepts have good understanding.
To him belongs eternal praise.

Key Verse:
1 Praise the LORD.
I will extol the LORD with all my heart
in the council of the upright and in the assembly.

Key Observation:
The first of three hallelujah psalms. McGee: “This is a hallelujah psalm for the works of God. And in the Hebrew it is a perfect acrostic, which we don’t see in our English translation.”

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

Devotion:
The redemption of the people by the hand of the Lord is the main theme of this psalm. As I look back over my forty years with the Lord, I am amazed at his hand of redemption time and again in my life. He rescued me when I was a new believer; he is still rescuing me—sometimes still from my own folly—now that I seem to find a lot of white hair on my head.

What I am trying to say is that this psalm is a memorial for God’s greatness in redeeming the nation of Israel. Notice the promise to Israel: “he remembers his covenant forever.” Again, there are many in the church today who no longer believe God has a plan for Israel. Let me assure you that he does. Just as he is the same yesterday, today, and forever, he is unchanging in his covenant with Israel. I know he is the same as when I started walking with him forty years ago, though I have not been faithful. He is faithful, and his promises remain true. In the last psalm he promised: “Your people will offer themselves freely on the day of your power.” Could that not refer to the Israelites in mass returning to the Lord?

This is not a fantastic scheme on my part; there are many passages that teach the return of the Jews in the tribulation. Are not the 144,000 in Revelation Jews? Are they not lead by the two witnesses that the beast eventually kills? “Oh, my people, I am going to open your graves and bring you up from them; I will bring you back to the land of Israel.” (Ez. 37 NIV) “It will be inhabited; never again will it be destroyed. Jerusalem will be secure.” (Zech. 14 NIV)

“The Lord will be king over the whole earth. On that day there will be one Lord, and his name the only name.” (Zech. 14 NIV)

This Is My Father's World

1. This is my Father's world,
And to my list'ning ears,
All nature sings, and round me rings
The music of the spheres.
This is my Father's world,
I rest me in the thought
Of rocks and trees, of skies and seas;
His hand the wonders wrought.

2. This is my Father's world,
The birds their carols raise;
The morning light, the lily white
Declare their Maker's praise.
This is my Father's world,
He shines in all that's fair;
In the rustling grass I hear Him pass,
He speaks to me ev'rywhere.

3. This is my Father's world,
O let me ne'er forget
That though the wrong seems oft so strong,
God is the Ruler yet.
This is my Father's world,
The battle is not done;
Jesus who died shall be satisfied,
And earth and heaven be one.

Lyrics: Maltbie Davenport Babcock