Great are the works of the Lord; they are pondered by all who delight in them. Psalm 111:2
Fingerprints have long been used to identify people, but they can be faked by creating copies. Similarly, the pattern of the iris in the human eye is a reliable source for ID—until someone alters the pattern with a contact lens to skew the results. The use of biometrics to identify individuals can be defeated. So, what qualifies as a unique identifying characteristic? It turns out that everyone’s blood-vessel patterns are unique and virtually impossible to counterfeit. Your own personal “vein map” is a one-of-a-kind identifier, setting you apart from everyone else on the planet.
Pondering such complexities of human beings should prompt a sense of worship and wonder for the Creator who made us. David reminded us that we are “fearfully and wonderfully made” (Psalm 139:14), and that is certainly worth celebrating. In fact, Psalm 111:2 reminds us, “Great are the works of the Lord; they are pondered by all who delight in them.”
Even more worthy of our attention is the divine Maker Himself. While celebrating God’s great deeds, we also must celebrate Him! His deeds are great, but He’s even greater, prompting the psalmist to pray, “For you are great and do marvelous deeds; you alone are God” (86:10).
Today, as we consider the greatness of what God does, may we also marvel at the greatness of who He is.
1 Praise the Lord.b
I will extol the Lordu with all my heartv
in the councilw of the upright and in the assembly.x
2 Great are the worksy of the Lord;
they are pondered by allz who delight in them.
3 Glorious and majestic are his deeds,
and his righteousness enduresa forever.
4 He has caused his wonders to be remembered;
the Lord is gracious and compassionate.b
5 He provides foodc for those who fear him;d
he remembers his covenante forever.
6 He has shown his people the power of his works,f
giving them the lands of other nations.g
7 The works of his handsh are faithful and just;
all his precepts are trustworthy.i
8 They are established for everj and ever,
enacted in faithfulness and uprightness.
9 He provided redemptionk for his people;
he ordained his covenant forever—
holy and awesomel is his name.
10 The fear of the Lordm is the beginning of wisdom;n
all who follow his precepts have good understanding.o
To him belongs eternal praise.p
INSIGHT
- What things instill a sense of awe and wonder in you?
- How will you make time to praise God for His marvelous works today?
Psalms 111 and 112 are written in a similar poetic form. As alphabetical acrostics, each subsequent line begins with the next letter of the Hebrew alphabet. The care with which the structure is developed seems to have been designed not only for its poetic beauty but to make it easier to memorize and to be remembered for its “A to Z” completeness of thought.
In Psalm 111, the reader is called to remember the description of God’s nature and works. In Psalm 112, the focus is on the hearts and actions of those who believe in such a God. Psalm 111 focuses on what God has done for His people in power and compassion. Psalm 112 offers a poetic description of how the people of such a God live, so that in ways from “A to Z” they reflect the power, goodness, and mercy of Him.
PRAYER
Father, I can easily be sidetracked into thinking too much about creation without truly considering You—the One who made all of creation. Help me to marvel at You. In Jesus name, I pray. Amen!!
Read: Psalm 111:1-10 (NIV) | Bible in a Year: 2 Kings 4-6; Luke 24:36-53
