Thoughts On Four Verses From Psalms

One

“The works of the Lord are great, sought out of all them that have pleasure therein. The works of his hands are verity and judgment; all his commandments are sure. They stand fast for ever and ever, and are done in truth and uprightness” (Psalm 111:2,7-8).

The works of the Lord are great not just in number but in magnitude, power and capacity. This is explained in the parable of the mustard seed.

“And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you.” (Matthew 17:20)

Folks generally compare the small size of the mustard seed to the extremely large size of the mountain to understand that a little bit of faith can do a whole lot of things. But the parable is addressing power and capacity, not necessarily physical size. The reality of the situation is that both power and capacity are unlimited. This is what Jesus means when he adds, “nothing shall be impossible unto you”. It’s like potential and kinetic energy. Potential energy is stored energy. It is the capacity or potential of what something can do. Kinetic energy is actual output. God is unlimited so his potential and kinetic energy, (potential and power) are also unlimited. This is what we have access to by faith. This is what the Psalmist is addressing. The works of the Lord have unlimited power and capacity.

These works of the Lord are sought out by, “them that have pleasure therein”. That’s a rather interesting statement. Who wouldn’t have pleasure in such power? But a little further into the Psalm we find out what these works are that are being talked about.

“The works of his hands are verity and judgment; all his commandments are sure. They stand fast for ever and ever, and are done in truth and uprightness” (Psalm 111:2,7-8).

Only a child of God would have pleasure in and seek such works as verity (truth & faithfulness), judgment, and God’s commandments, knowing that these things are done in truth and righteousness and last for all time. No reprobate would want anything to do with these things.

We pray in the Lord’s Prayer for God’s will to be done in earth, as it is in heaven (Matthew 6:10). And we know that if we pray according to God’s will that whatever we ask, “we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him” (1 John 5:14-15). The Psalmist explains what our desire is. It is the holy and righteous works of our Lord, the works that are for all time, for truth is always for all time.

Bill Hitchcock

Two

“Unto the upright there ariseth light in the darkness: he is gracious, and full of compassion, and righteous. He shall not be afraid of evil tidings: his heart is fixed, trusting in the Lord” (Psalm 112:4,7)

Here’s what is so very fascinating about the Lord. Bad is going to happen. We know this because Jesus warned us about it. He said, “In this world ye shall have tribulation” (John 16:33). It’s not “may have”. It is “shall have”. It’s going to happen.

The Psalmist tells us that the upright, the child of God will arise out of the darkness and not be afraid when we stay focused on the Lord in faith. The bad is going to happen. But we will find peace in Christ during every storm. We will rise above the fray and not be afraid. God doesn’t keep troubles away, he gives us the tools, the ability, the desire and will to defeat any and every foe, to see clear through every fog, and to be able to light our path through the darkest black.

“Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; nor for the arrow that flieth by day; Nor for the pestilence that walketh in darkness; nor for the destruction that wasteth at noonday. A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand; but it shall not come nigh thee. Only with thine eyes shalt thou behold and see the reward of the wicked. Because thou hast made the Lord, which is my refuge, even the most High, thy habitation; There shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling. For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways. They shall bear thee up in their hands, lest thou dash thy foot against a stone. Thou shalt tread upon the lion and adder: the young lion and the dragon shalt thou trample under feet.” (Psalm 91:5-13)

Bill Hitchcock

Three

Do you ever feel like life is just one big pile of poo? So did the Psalmist.

“He raiseth up the poor out of the dust, and lifteth the needy out of the dunghill; That he may set him with princes, even with the princes of his people.” (Psalm 113:7-8)

Hope isn’t through Jesus Christ. Hope is Jesus Christ. He is our peace, tranquility of soul, and salvation. Yes, Jesus will lift you out of the dunghill and set you with the princes. But in so doing, your thoughts about the prince changes. No longer does the seat of the earthly prince have any real value to you. Your interests will be with the Prince of Peace, our everlasting Father. We will call Him Wonderful, Counsellor, the mighty God and the government shall be on His shoulders.

Bill Hitchcock

Four

“Help me, O Lord my God: O save me according to thy mercy: That they may know that this is thy hand; that thou, Lord, hast done it” (Psalm 109:26-27).

Can you think of anything better? To ask the Lord for help. To be saved by God according to His way, His will, His truth, and mercies, and for the divinity of the act to be obvious to all. This would be the greatest testimony of all, a testimony without words!

Bill Hitchcock