Psa 111:8 | KingComments | STEP | In all “the works of His hands” there is nothing twisted or devious, but they “are truth and justice” ( ; ). His works are accomplished by His speaking. What He commands, happens ( ). His words are truth and therefore “all His precepts are sure”. Given the parallel between the first and second line of the verse, we can also think of “the two tablets of the testimony, tablets of stone, written by the finger of God” ( ) which as such can be seen as “works of His hands”. He not only brings works into being, but “they are” also “upheld” by Him “forever and ever” ( ). He upholds all things by the word of His power ( ), which is to say that He carries all things and brings them to the purpose determined by Him. This happens precisely because “they are performed in truth and uprightness”. His works are in accordance with Who He Himself is. Works performed in truth are works done from the right view on things, with each work given its proper place in relation to every other work. They have been done in a way that truth is maintained and passed on. The uprightness in which the works are done means that they are the best works; there are no better ones; neither can they be improved. God can say of each of His works that it is very good ( ). One work in particular that He sustains “forever and ever” is the “redemption”, or ransom ( ), which He has “sent … to His people” ( ). That redemption He has sent by virtue of “His covenant” which He has “ordained … forever”. The people owe their redemption to Him only because He has kept His covenant. It proves the complete trustworthiness of God. “His covenant” points to the eternal covenant, which is based on the blood shed by the Lord Jesus ( ). Since the covenant at Sinai is not forever ( ), this is prophetically about the new covenant. The key to the new covenant is the Mediator and the blood He shed. Both are revealed only in the New Testament (or: New Covenant). In Hebrew, brit chadasha , meaning “new covenant”, is the name for the New Testament. This dealing in faithfulness to His covenant impresses upon the psalmist that God’s Name is “holy and awesome”. This is the essence of the covenant and the redemption that flows from it. He said at the beginning that the works of the LORD are great. He has mentioned a number of works. From those works His Name has become manifest, for every work bears His Name. Those who look closely at His works cannot help but bow before that Name in holy reverence and awe.

‏ Psalms 111:8

Trustworthiness of the Works

In all “the works of His hands” there is nothing twisted or devious, but they “are truth and justice” (Psa 111:7; Pro 8:8). His works are accomplished by His speaking. What He commands, happens (Psa 33:6 ; 9). His words are truth and therefore “all His precepts are sure”. Given the parallel between the first and second line of the verse, we can also think of “the two tablets of the testimony, tablets of stone, written by the finger of God” (Exo 31:18) which as such can be seen as “works of His hands”.

He not only brings works into being, but “they are” also “upheld” by Him “forever and ever” (Psa 111:8). He upholds all things by the word of His power (Heb 1:3), which is to say that He carries all things and brings them to the purpose determined by Him. This happens precisely because “they are performed in truth and uprightness”. His works are in accordance with Who He Himself is.

Works performed in truth are works done from the right view on things, with each work given its proper place in relation to every other work. They have been done in a way that truth is maintained and passed on. The uprightness in which the works are done means that they are the best works; there are no better ones; neither can they be improved. God can say of each of His works that it is very good (Gen 1:31).

One work in particular that He sustains “forever and ever” is the “redemption”, or ransom (Isa 50:1-2), which He has “sent … to His people” (Psa 111:9). That redemption He has sent by virtue of “His covenant” which He has “ordained … forever”. The people owe their redemption to Him only because He has kept His covenant. It proves the complete trustworthiness of God.

“His covenant” points to the eternal covenant, which is based on the blood shed by the Lord Jesus (Heb 13:20). Since the covenant at Sinai is not forever (Heb 7:19 ; Heb 8:6-9), this is prophetically about the new covenant. The key to the new covenant is the Mediator and the blood He shed. Both are revealed only in the New Testament (or: New Covenant). In Hebrew, brit chadasha, meaning “new covenant”, is the name for the New Testament.

This dealing in faithfulness to His covenant impresses upon the psalmist that God’s Name is “holy and awesome”. This is the essence of the covenant and the redemption that flows from it. He said at the beginning that the works of the LORD are great. He has mentioned a number of works. From those works His Name has become manifest, for every work bears His Name. Those who look closely at His works cannot help but bow before that Name in holy reverence and awe.