Goodness at the Heart
Opening Prayer
Take some time to look back on the growth of your relationship with God and give thanks.
Read Psalm 111
For additional translations of the passage, use this link to Bible Gateway.
1 Praise the Lord.
I will extol the Lord with all my heart
in the council of the upright and in the assembly.
2 Great are the works of the Lord;
they are pondered by all who delight in them.
3 Glorious and majestic are his deeds,
and his righteousness endures forever.
4 He has caused his wonders to be remembered;
the Lord is gracious and compassionate.
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,
giving them the lands of other nations.
7 The works of his hands are faithful and just;
all his precepts are trustworthy.
8 They are established for ever and ever,
enacted in faithfulness and uprightness.
9 He provided redemption for his people;
he ordained his covenant forever—
holy and awesome is his name.
10 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom;
all who follow his precepts have good understanding.
To him belongs eternal praise.
New International Version (NIV)
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Reflect
What has God done for you?The key word in this psalm comes right in the middle: covenant (5). Covenant is all about a committed relationship and it is central to the nature of God. So this song celebrates his character. He is gracious and compassionate (4), faithful and just, trustworthy (7) and upright (8). These are the qualities that are essential for a lasting, stable and healthy relationship.
This song is set in the context of the gathered community who have been brought into
covenant relationship with him (1). It is always God who takes the initiative in the relationship. He acts (2); he provides (5); he rescues (9). He is truly holy and awesome (9). The obvious response to such a great God is to respect him, obey him and praise him (10).
So at the heart of the universe is a relational God, as our readings in Romans have shown. His plan is to bring all things into relationship with him (Rom. 8:21). Because people become like the object of their worship (Psa. 115:8; 135:18), worshipping such a wonderful God makes us more capable of faithful relationships.
Apply
The lines of this psalm begin with successive letters of the Hebrew alphabet; write a short acrostic poem on a name of God.
Closing prayer
How amazing are Your deeds, O Lord! How gracious and merciful You are! Thank You for Your covenant faithfulness to me.
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