Psalms 111

Overview. This chapter is a hymn of thanksgiving that celebrates the LORD’s majestic works, faithful covenant, and enduring righteousness, culminating in the revelation that the fear of the LORD is the foundation of true wisdom. It stands within the sequence of praise psalms that exalt God’s character and mighty acts on behalf of His people.

Flow.

• The psalm opens with a resolute commitment to wholehearted praise in the gathered assembly of the upright (v. 1).
• It moves to extol the greatness, beauty, and permanence of God’s works, which are worthy of deep reflection (vv. 2–4).
• The focus shifts to God’s covenant faithfulness—His provision, power in giving the land, and the reliability of His just precepts (vv. 5–8).
• It concludes with the declaration of redemption, the eternal covenant, and the climactic truth that the fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom (v. 10).

Connections. Following chapter 110, which presents the LORD’s sovereign rule and priestly decree, this psalm complements that royal and divine authority with a focus on God’s wondrous deeds in history and the moral order He establishes. Where chapter 110 emphasizes enthronement and judgment, chapter 111 highlights gratitude for covenant mercies and the wisdom found in revering the LORD—themes which chapter 112 takes up in describing the life of the one who fears the Lord and walks in His ways.

What it teaches. The psalm affirms that God’s works reveal His character—holy, gracious, and unchanging—and that His covenant includes both provision (food, land) and moral order (sure, upright precepts). Redemption and covenant are linked, showing that God’s saving acts are grounded in His eternal promises. Central to the psalm is the doctrine that true wisdom begins not in human insight but in the fear of the Lord, a reverent trust and obedience that leads to understanding (Prov. 9:10; cf. WCF 1.6). The permanence of God’s righteousness, precepts, and praise points to His immutability and the enduring nature of His kingdom (WCF 7.1–2; LC 34).

Apply. The psalm invites the hearer to ground their understanding of life and the world in the worship of the one true God, whose works disclose wisdom and whose covenant assures mercy.