We like to watch people make things out of things. But making things from nothing? That’s God’s department!
Generally speaking, the richer a man is, the less manual labor he performs. He gets others to tend his garden, clean his house, even drive his car. But God, the richest Person in the universe—He owns everything—is hard at work. In Psalm 111, the psalmist decides to take a tour of His works. He begins by inviting us along to celebrate. “I will praise the Lord with my whole heart, in the assembly of the upright and in the congregation” (v 1). In other psalms, we have celebrated His faithfulness (Ps 101), His mercies (Ps 103), His creation (Ps 104), His loyalty (Ps 105), and so on. But today we will think not so much of the finished products of His works, so to speak, but the quality of His workmanship itself. He begins: “The works of the Lord are great, studied by all who have pleasure in them. His work is honorable and glorious, and His righteousness endures forever” (Ps 111:2-3). First, they are great. The word is described as “great in any sense,” but we know the Lord’s work is great in every sense. They say that humans are just about halfway between subatomic particles and super-novas. Travel as far as you can in both directions, and it will be much farther yet. Stronger telescopes and microscopes only attest to the fact that “the works of the Lord are great.” But His work is also “honorable and glorious, and…endures forever” (v 3). His works are memorable and gracious (v 4), thoughtful and dependable (v 5), powerful and generous (v 6), truthful, just, and permanent (vv 7-8). As we consider His eternal salvation and everlasting covenant, we declare, “Holy and awesome is His name” (v 9). Yes, He fills us with awe. So it is the wisest plan to take God seriously, obey His Word, and praise His name forever (v 10)!