Reflecting, Rejoicing, Renewal

Reflecting, Rejoicing, Renewal

Psalm 111:1-10

29 Dec 2024

Today, the last Sunday of 2024, we thought we could take time for reflection, rejoicing, and in prayer for the new year. As we reflect on God’s character and His hand in our lives it is a reason for rejoicing. But God doesn’t want us to simply rejoice in Him and because of His works - He wants us to experience His life, transformation, and renewal. If you have your Bibles, let’s turn to Psalm 111.

Psalm 111:1-10 (ESV)

1 Praise the Lord! I will give thanks to the Lord with my whole heart, in the company of the upright, in the congregation. 2 Great are the works of the Lord, studied by all who delight in them. 3 Full of splendor and majesty is his work, and his righteousness endures forever. 4 He has caused his wondrous works to be remembered; the Lord is gracious and merciful.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, in giving them the inheritance of the nations. 7 The works of his hands are faithful and just; all his precepts are trustworthy; 8 they are established forever and ever, to be performed with faithfulness and uprightness. 9 He sent redemption to his people; he has commanded his covenant forever. Holy and awesome is his name! 10 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; all those who practice it have a good understanding. His praise endures forever!

This particular Psalm is believed to have been written after the Babylonian exile and so when the psalmist looks back on his life and the lives of God’s people, he’s reflecting on the long journey God has brought them through. They returned to Jerusalem but they were in a very difficult place - just coming out of captivity, still under threat from other nations, in an unfortified city which provided no protection, and so they were understandably shaken and distracted.

This Psalm was carefully constructed by the writer to tune their hearts back to God so that they could sing His praises once again. In verse 1, the psalmist was determined that no matter what difficulties they had faced in the past and would be facing in the future, he was going to reflect on God’s goodness and praise and worship Him with all his heart. And he was not going to do it alone - he openly praised God in the company of the assembly and in the congregation.

We’re reminded here in Psalm 111 that though our faith is personal and intimate, it’s not individualistic. Godliness involves heartfelt worship (Deut 6:5; Ps 100:1-2), and it involves public participation in worship. In other words, it’s one thing to praise the Lord in your personal devotional time, but it’s another to praise the Lord with others in the assembly and in the congregation. The assembly speaks of a smaller gathering (like a life group) and the congregation speaks of the whole church. God wants us to reflect on how He has worked in our own lives and share this testimony with others.

Why is the psalmist able to praise the Lord? It’s because he has studied His works. What does it mean to study the works of God? The word “study” in v. 2 conveys a sense of diligent searching or investigation - with the intent of obtaining deeper knowledge or understanding. It’s the act of seeking God, His will, His guidance and wisdom in order to align one's life with divine principles. Many have studied the works of God and given Him glory.

Johannes Kepler (1571-1630), while observing half a million stars and discovering over 2600 planets said: "I am thinking over again the first thoughts of God." What was Kepler referring to? Genesis 1:1 “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” Copernicus before him (1473-1543) said:

For who would not, while constantly studying the universe so clearly arranged in the most beautiful order and directed by divine wisdom – who would not, through the constant contemplation of this… be induced to admire the Architect who created all this.

The historian, who sees God’s hand in the course of history and the theologian who sees His perfect plan of redemption throughout the Scriptures are delighting in the sovereign works of God. What one delights in reveals much about their character and priorities. OT scholar John Goldingay said, “studying the work of God shapes people’s faith, hope, trust, and life.”

Not only are God’s works full of splendor and majesty as we see in verse 3, but His righteousness endures forever. The psalmist observed that everything the Lord does and teaches and calls us to do is right. The psalmist was reflecting on God’s character, His goodness, grace, and mercy, and then rejoicing over all His works which were full of splendor and majesty.