Psa 111:6 | KingComments | STEP | By “the works of the LORD” ( ) is meant all that He has done. It refers to the redemption of His people. All those works are “great”, that is, numerous, marvelous, and awe-inspiring. They entice one to study them. Not that they can be fully fathomed or counted ( ). This study is done “by all who delight in them”. To be occupied with God’s works gives joy, because God made His works with joy and delights in them. Those who study God’s “work” see that it is “splendid and majestic” ( ). The word “work” indicates action, the performance of an act for a purpose. All of God’s actions are characterized by majesty or greatness, exaltation and glory, splendor. His work reflect this (cf. ). Someone who does not see this is willfully blind. His work originates in His righteousness. His work is characterized by righteousness, that is, it is always in accordance with the covenant He made with the people. Never does He do anything that is contrary to His righteousness. His righteousness is manifest in His redemption of His people. On the basis of Christ’s suffering (Psalm 109), God raised Him up and can save the believing remnant in righteousness. Because His righteousness endures forever, His work also endure forever. Therefore, the realm of peace, a kingdom based on righteousness, endures forever. Many of His works are “wonders” i.e. wonderful acts ( ). Wonders are acts of which the origin is supernatural. He has made them “to be remembered”, literally “a memorial”. Here we can think of the feasts of the LORD, by which the memory of wonders is kept alive. For example, the deliverance of His people from Egypt is a wonder. For this He gave the institution of the Passover as “a memorial” ( ). For us, who are saved by the wonder of the cross, the Lord Jesus instituted His Supper as a meal of remembrance ( ). Wonders, in addition to the power of God, show in a special way that God is “gracious and compassionate”. In celebrating the Passover, God’s people remember that in His grace and compassion He saved them from slavery in Egypt. When we remember the Lord Jesus in the celebration of the Lord’s Supper, we remember that in His grace and compassion He gave Himself for us in the death. A special proof of His grace and compassion was seen by God’s earthly people in the “food” that “He has given … to those who fear Him” ( ). We can think of the manna He gave to His people for forty years as they wandered in the wilderness. He gave it to them by virtue of His covenant, which He remembers “forever”. Therefore, He will never give up or forsake His people. He remains faithful to the promises He has made to them. Another clear evidence of “the power of His works” that He “made known to His people” is that He has given them “the heritage of the nations” ( ). In order to give His people the land promised to them, He drove the nations out of the land before them. He gave them the land as a heritage. This is not only a proof of His power but also a proof of grace and compassion, for they did not deserve it.

‏ Psalms 111:6

The Works of the LORD

By “the works of the LORD” (Psa 111:2) is meant all that He has done. It refers to the redemption of His people. All those works are “great”, that is, numerous, marvelous, and awe-inspiring. They entice one to study them. Not that they can be fully fathomed or counted (Job 5:9). This study is done “by all who delight in them”. To be occupied with God’s works gives joy, because God made His works with joy and delights in them.

Those who study God’s “work” see that it is “splendid and majestic” (Psa 111:3). The word “work” indicates action, the performance of an act for a purpose. All of God’s actions are characterized by majesty or greatness, exaltation and glory, splendor. His work reflect this (cf. Rom 1:19-20). Someone who does not see this is willfully blind.

His work originates in His righteousness. His work is characterized by righteousness, that is, it is always in accordance with the covenant He made with the people. Never does He do anything that is contrary to His righteousness. His righteousness is manifest in His redemption of His people. On the basis of Christ’s suffering (Psalm 109), God raised Him up and can save the believing remnant in righteousness. Because His righteousness endures forever, His work also endure forever. Therefore, the realm of peace, a kingdom based on righteousness, endures forever.

Many of His works are “wonders” i.e. wonderful acts (Psa 111:4). Wonders are acts of which the origin is supernatural. He has made them “to be remembered”, literally “a memorial”. Here we can think of the feasts of the LORD, by which the memory of wonders is kept alive. For example, the deliverance of His people from Egypt is a wonder. For this He gave the institution of the Passover as “a memorial” (Exo 12:14). For us, who are saved by the wonder of the cross, the Lord Jesus instituted His Supper as a meal of remembrance (Lk 22:19).

Wonders, in addition to the power of God, show in a special way that God is “gracious and compassionate”. In celebrating the Passover, God’s people remember that in His grace and compassion He saved them from slavery in Egypt. When we remember the Lord Jesus in the celebration of the Lord’s Supper, we remember that in His grace and compassion He gave Himself for us in the death.

A special proof of His grace and compassion was seen by God’s earthly people in the “food” that “He has given … to those who fear Him” (Psa 111:5). We can think of the manna He gave to His people for forty years as they wandered in the wilderness. He gave it to them by virtue of His covenant, which He remembers “forever”. Therefore, He will never give up or forsake His people. He remains faithful to the promises He has made to them.

Another clear evidence of “the power of His works” that He “made known to His people” is that He has given them “the heritage of the nations” (Psa 111:6). In order to give His people the land promised to them, He drove the nations out of the land before them. He gave them the land as a heritage. This is not only a proof of His power but also a proof of grace and compassion, for they did not deserve it.