Psalms 111 and 112 are the introduction to the “Hallelujah psalms” that were called by the Jews the “Hallel.” The Hallelujah psalms are the ones from 111 through 118. In public worship, these would be sung in praise to the Lord, and according to the opening words of this psalm, to be sung without inhibition but by every person, and with the whole heart. The first part of this psalm is praise to the Lord for His works. The second part is praise to the Lord for His provisions. The third part is praise to the Lord for His faithfulness, and then it concludes with “the fear of the Lord,” which is the beginning of wisdom.
The old song was the praise song of creation. The new song is the praise song of redemption. Redemption is recovering something or someone when a ransom is paid. Both are in this psalm - His great works and the redemption He sent to His people. The works of the Lord are open and available to those who love the Lord and appreciate His righteousness, grace, and compassionate concern for those who fear Him. The praise of His wonderful works follows a vow of praise to God, and then the psalm closes with a commendation to fear the Lord.
Uninhibited praise of an individual or a few individuals can be contagious and promote public and corporate praise. When we study the works of the Lord, we experience and understand much of why it is so important that we know and love Him. His marvelous acts are the acts of His saving grace to meet the needs of our souls and the provision He has made for His people.
Evolutionists rob God of His glory by taking the position that everything comes from nothing. Instead of admitting to an overall intelligent design of everything from space to the evidence of DNA, they attribute everything to chance. Believers in Christ accept our Lord as the Creator and our personal Savior. The provisions of the Lord are evidence of His commitment to His people and the assurance that His covenants do not fail. The works of the Lord, the Lord's words, and the Lord's character are really the theme of this psalm.
Descriptions of the power and majesty of creation that we might try to give cannot adequately portray the beauty of the real thing. God’s redemption of His people surpasses even the recounting of the meanings of the sacrifices and offerings. They are only shadows compared to the fact of redemption that is in Christ Jesus. To describe the sufferings of Christ beyond what is written is to intrude upon the holy ground that is not our right. But to testify as to what redemption means to me personally is our right and our responsibility.
The visible display of creation and the personal experience of redemption produce “the fear of the Lord,” which opens our hearts and minds to Him. His omnipotence and eternal wisdom are easily seen in creation, yet in a more excellent way in redemption. Creation reveals the omnipotence, omniscience, and omnipresence of God. Redemption reveals the righteousness, honor, glory, mercy, grace, and love unseen but in our Savior. That is one of the reasons the assembly of God’s people was called together to praise the Lord with the psalmist and without the restrictions of inhibitions imposed by the fear of man that brings a snare.
The Lord's faithfulness is shown in His declaring and giving His truth, and our confidence in Him is based on the solid foundation of His uprightness. He gives insight and wisdom to every aspect of our lives through His works we observe and His word we read. The reverence, respect, and awe that believers have for our Lord are not just a religious form, but the reality of gratitude and understanding that comes from grateful hearts.
The more we reverence and respect our Lord, the more wisdom He bestows. What God does and what He says harmonize. The only way to be truly wise is through “the fear of the Lord,” which is the first step to gaining wisdom. That reverential fear expresses our accountability to Him. Accountability to Him is the foundation upon which any wisdom He chooses to give us is based. Academic knowledge and life experiences may be helpful, but they do not provide true wisdom. The more wisdom he gives us, the more we want to obey Him. The more we obey Him, the more spiritual light He gives. The more spiritual light we have, the more praise we will give Him.