Psalms 111 Overview
The psalm celebrates God's great, honorable, memorable works, gracious provision, covenant power, trustworthy commandments, redemption, and concludes that the fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom.
Before you read Psalms 111
Coming from
Psalm 110 centered on the lord's enthroned priest-king. Psalms is an anthology rather than a continuous chronological story, so the connection here is canonical and thematic.
In this chapter
The psalm celebrates God's great, honorable, memorable works, gracious provision, covenant power, trustworthy commandments, redemption, and concludes that the fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom.
Leads into
Psalm 112 turns to the blessed life of the person who fears the lord, continuing the Psalter’s arranged movement without requiring that the two psalms describe consecutive historical events.
Key understandingExplore deeper
Psalm 111 belongs to Book V of the Psalter (Psalms 107–150). Psalm 111 is alphabetic in Hebrew and pairs naturally with Psalm 112: first God's character and works, then the blessed life shaped by fearing Him.
Major truths in this chapterExplore deeper
Central truth
Wholehearted praise for God's works and covenant faithfulness.
Praise truth
In Psalm 111, praise responds to God’s character and deeds and draws the worshipper beyond self-preoccupation.
Wisdom truth
In Psalm 111, godly wisdom evaluates life by the LORD’s revealed moral order rather than by appearances alone.
Connections to the rest of ScriptureExplore deeper
Praise connection
Hebrews 13:15 speaks of offering to God the sacrifice of praise, the fruit of lips giving thanks to His name. This connection helps frame Psalm 111.
Wisdom connection
Proverbs 1:7 and 9:10 likewise place true wisdom under the fear of the LORD. This connection helps frame Psalm 111.
What is clear, and where care is neededExplore deeper
Keep praise in context
The praise practices in Psalm 111 show the breadth of Israel’s worship; not every listed physical expression becomes a universal church requirement.
Keep wisdom in context
Do not turn a wisdom contrast in Psalm 111 into a mechanical formula that guarantees immediate earthly outcomes in every case.
Read Psalms 111 watching for…
praise in assembly.
works sought out.
remember covenant.
commandments sure.
fear LORD wisdom.