His work is majesty and splendour, and his righteousness abideth for ever.
Psalm 111 is a song of thanks for what God has done. Verse 3 raises three questions: what is "His work," why does majesty belong to it, and why does Psalm 112 say the same words of a believing man?
One writer marks off which works the psalm has in view, and sets them against anything people do.
This psalm celebrates Jehovah's works — not creation here, but what He does for His people. They are great in themselves, powerful in their effects, and permanent in result. How different are man's works! It is wise to fear Him, and the praise of Him lasts.
Read with the rest of the psalm, "His work" has a specific content.
Psalm 111 — This psalm and the next one compare and distinguish the righteousness of Jehovah and the righteousness of the man who fears Him. His work means those great works that express His righteousness, whose power He has shown to His people. That work is His giving them the heritage of the nations.
The second half of the verse explains the first. The majesty of God's work rests on the everlasting righteousness inside it, and one writer pairs that with a second side of His character.
Now we find His character shown in these works: righteousness and tender mercy at heart; or light and love, as the New Testament joins the Old in declaring Him. "Full of splendor and majesty is his work," and the reason is this: in it all there is enduring, everlasting righteousness — "his righteousness endures forever." That is one side; but there is another. He has made sure His wonderful works are remembered. In this His tender care for His creatures has shone out, so that they might have the joy and fruit of knowing them: "the LORD is gracious and merciful."
Does mercy have to soften truth? One writer answers the other way round: grace shows more clearly, not less, when righteousness stands at full height.
Now we see that His work is honorable, glorious and righteous (v. 3). He will not compromise the perfection of His truth in any way to show His goodness. His grace and compassion show all the more clearly when pure righteousness holds its proper place (v. 4).
Psalm 112:3 ends with the same phrase, but says it of a man. Two writers treat this pairing as deliberate.
Put the two acrostic Psalms, 111 and 112, side by side, and we see how those who belong to Christ take their character from Him. The first speaks of Christ, the second of the one who trusts in Him. The first ends by telling us that "the fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom." The second begins with the blessing and happiness of "the man who fears the LORD, who greatly delights in his commandments." In verse 3 of the first, Christ's "righteousness endures forever"; in verse 3 of the second, the psalm says the same of the believer's righteousness. That must be so, because Christ is his righteousness.
Another writer explains why that shared phrase holds.
Jehovah's character is, as it were, handed over to us as blessing. There is this whole difference, though, because of what that blessing is and because Jehovah's Name is a Name that lasts. It is not like Adam's blessing, which could be forfeited and lay open to evil. It is like Jehovah Himself: "his righteousness endures forever." The psalms affirm this wonderful blessing of both alike; compare verses 3 and 4 of each psalm, and verse 9 of each psalm.
One writer draws out what these works ask of us.
These works of deliverance always agree with God's character, rest on it, and make it good. They are truth and judgment. They prove His commandments sure. They stand fast for ever and ever, and God does them in truth and uprightness. So, to enjoy the fruit of them, our path is to walk in the Lord's ways, count on the sureness of His promise, and, if He delays, wait for Him.
- Work. The psalm praises what God does for His people: rescue, and the inheritance He gives them. Not creation.
- Reason. The honour and majesty of that work come from what is inside it: righteousness that stands for ever.
- Balance. God never discounts truth to show goodness. Grace shows best when righteousness keeps its full place.
- Transfer. Psalm 112 says the same words of the believing man, because Christ is his righteousness. No one can forfeit it, as Adam forfeited his.
- Result. Works that rest on God's own character are sure; so the response is to walk in His ways, trust His promise, and wait for Him.
He hath made his wonders to be remembered Jehovah is gracious and merciful.
Psalm 111 is a song of thanksgiving for what the Lord has done. Verse 4 says two things at once: God keeps the memory of His acts alive, and He names the character behind them.
The psalm praises God's works of deliverance. One writer shows what those works rest on.
These works of deliverance always agree with the truth of God's character, rest on it, and make it good. They are truth and judgement. They prove His commandments sure. They stand fast for ever and ever, and are done in truth and uprightness... But, as we have always seen, we find and feel His mercy and compassion towards us in them. If we are delivered, it is sovereign goodness.
Verse 3 speaks of righteousness that stands for ever; verse 4 adds grace and mercy. One writer holds the two together, and says why God preserves the memory of what He has done.
Now we find His character told out in these: essentially righteousness and tender mercy; or light and love, as the New Testament joins with the Old to declare Him. "His work is honourable and full of majesty;" and the reason is that in it all there is enduring, everlasting righteousness: "His righteousness endures for ever." That is the one side. But there is another. He has provided for the remembrance of His wonderful works. In this His tender care for His creatures has shone out, so that they might have the joy and the fruitful results of such knowledge: "gracious and merciful is Jehovah."
Another writer says why the mercy shines so brightly: God never sets His righteousness aside to make room for it.
We see His work as honourable, glorious and righteous (v. 3). The perfection of His truth cannot be compromised in any way to show His goodness. Instead, His grace and compassion are seen all the more when pure righteousness has its proper place (v. 4).
God did not only act — He set up a memorial of what He did. One commentator asks what that memorial is, and points to redeemed people themselves.
Verse 4 is full of the sweetest power. He has not only done the work; He has also set up its memorial. And what is this memorial? Better to ask: what single member of redeemed creation, in heaven or on earth, will not be such a memorial in that day of joy? There is, indeed, a memorial of another sort. The power of His anger will be remembered for ever (Rev. 14:11; 19:3). Judgement as well as mercy will last for ever in its results, to the praise of His glory, who is both a Saviour and a Judge. But this verse celebrates the power of redeeming mercy more clearly. And so the last clause of the verse is a delighted echo of the gospel: "The LORD is gracious and merciful."
"Gracious" and "merciful" are not two ways of saying the same thing. Writers keep a clear line between them.
Grace, then, is for the guilty, and mercy is for the miserable. Others have put the distinction this way. Grace is "that energy and outflow of divine goodness which rises above men's evil and ruin, and loves despite it all." Mercy is "God's compassionate consideration for individual weakness, need, or danger."
One writer applies these words to Christ when He fed a hungry crowd.
Was He not among them as the Servant of Jehovah, who was full of compassion and gracious (Ps. 111:4)? More than that, was He not Himself Jehovah, gracious and full of compassion? (Ps. 113:4; Ps. 145:8). So, according to the multitude of His mercies, His heart yearned over their weakness. He purposed in Himself to satisfy their mouth with good things and to renew their strength for the journey home.
Psalm 112 answers Psalm 111 line by line, and verse 4 of each is one of the matching pairs.
Now in Psalm 111 we read of Jehovah showing what He is. His character is set before us. This is followed by Psalm 112, which deals with the ways and the character of the saint... Does Jehovah's righteousness endure for ever (111:3)? So will that of the godly one (112:3). Is Jehovah gracious and full of compassion (111:4)? The same is said of the saint (112:4).
- Works. God's acts of deliverance rest on His character; they are done in truth and uprightness, and mercy is felt in them.
- Memorial. He does not only do the work — He sets up its remembrance, so His people keep the joy and the knowledge of it.
- Character. Two sides shine at once: righteousness that never bends, and grace for the guilty, mercy for the miserable.
- Person. The One described as gracious and full of compassion came among a weary crowd and fed them.
- Reflection. What Psalm 111 says of God, Psalm 112 says of the godly person: gracious, merciful, righteous.