Great Are the Works of the Lord: A Devotional on Psalm 111

Psalm 111

PSALMDAILY DEVOTIONALS

9/6/20263 min read

Psalm 111 is an acrostic psalm of praise, with each line beginning with a successive letter of the Hebrew alphabet. It serves as a deliberate, beautifully ordered hymn designed to help God's people slow down, reflect, and celebrate the character and deeds of the Lord.

Together with its twin, Psalm 112, it forms a balanced pair: while Psalm 111 focuses on the magnificent character and works of God, Psalm 112 describes the life of the person who fears and mimics that same God. It is a devotional for anyone needing to recalibrate their heart, shifting attention away from daily noise and onto the enduring wonders of the Creator.

The Scripture

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...

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.

— Psalm 111 (NIV)

Extolling Him with All My Heart

The psalmist begins with an intentional commitment to praise:

"Praise the Lord. I will extol the Lord with all my heart in the council of the upright and in the assembly." (v. 1)

Worship here is both personal ("with all my heart") and communal ("in the assembly"). The psalmist doesn't hold back or offer a half-hearted gesture.

In the busyness of life, it is easy to let our worship become routine or passive. Psalm 111 calls us to bring our whole heart—our emotions, mind, and intellect—into praising God, sharing our gratitude openly among fellow believers to encourage one another.

Pondering His Works

In verse 2, the psalmist highlights a key practice of spiritual growth:

"Great are the works of the Lord; they are pondered by all who delight in them."

The word "pondered" means to study, trace, or meditate deeply upon something. Just as an artist studies a masterpiece or a scientist examines a discovery, believers are invited to study the works of God.

God’s works include both the vast beauty of creation and His specific acts of redemption in our lives. Verse 4 notes that "He has caused his wonders to be remembered." God actively gives us reasons to look back—through answered prayers, daily provisions, and historical acts of deliverance—so that we don't fall into spiritual amnesia. When we take time to ponder His deeds, our delight in Him deepens naturally.

The Fear of the Lord and True Wisdom

The psalm culminates in verse 10 with a foundational biblical truth:

"The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; all who follow his precepts have good understanding."

"Fear of the Lord" does not mean a cowering, anxious terror. It refers to a posture of deep reverence, awe, and submission before the holiness and authority of God. It is recognizing who God is and who we are in relation to Him.

When reverence for God is the starting point of our thinking, every decision, relationship, and priority aligns correctly. Without the fear of the Lord, human knowledge can easily lead to pride or confusion. But when we anchor our lives in His trustworthy precepts (v. 7–8), we gain true discernment and a solid foundation that outlasts shifting cultural trends.

Reflection & Application

Pondering a Wonder: Take 5 minutes today to practice verse 2. Identify one specific work of God—either in nature or in your own life history—and sit quietly, pondering His goodness and wisdom in it.
Wholehearted Praise: Before your next gathering with other believers or your personal prayer time, pray verse 1. Ask the Lord to help you worship Him with your whole heart rather than out of routine.
Starting with Reverence: As you face decisions this week, pause and ask: "How does the fear of the Lord shape this choice?" Let reverence for His word guide your next step.

Prayer

Praise the Lord! I will praise You with all my heart! Great are Your works, and glorious are Your deeds. Thank You for being gracious, compassionate, and faithful in all Your ways. Forgive me for the times I rush past Your wonders without stopping to ponder Your goodness. Teach me to walk in the fear of the Lord every day, grounding my choices in Your trustworthy precepts and wisdom. To You belongs eternal praise, through Jesus Christ. Amen.

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