Week of September 7

What is your favorite song? The one that comes to mind whenever you ponder the gift of God’s love and grace? You may say, “Amazing Grace” or the contemporary song, “This is Amazing Grace.” Others may offer “Reckless Love” or “Graves into Gardens!” Like the first rays of sunlight on the horizon, Psalm 111 provides us with the first dawning of the Lord’s eternal desire to warm His people with eternal love and grace. What an amazing psalm it is!

This hymn is written in an acrostic form and ends with the motto of biblical wisdom (see Proverbs 1:7). Each of the 22 lines in the psalm begins with a different letter from the Hebrew alphabet. The song may be divided into three sections: vv. 1-4a, vv. 4b-9, and verse 10 (Handbook). The message of the hymn is timeless, even though we have no way of determining the period in which it was written! The beauty of the hymn is found in its simplicity and the relative ease with which we may learn how to praise the Lord in all circumstances.

Put your heart into it. There was no lip service offered to God in this psalm! When the psalmist writes that he will give thanks to the Lord with his whole heart, he indicates that what he feels within will be expressed in the assembly of the people (v. 1). Well-orbed praise requires us to search deep within our beings to explore fresh and vibrant ways to communicate our thanks to God as a community of worshipers. 

Use your mind (v. 2; cf. “study”). The word the psalmist uses means “worthy of study” and, when combined with the Lord’s great works, it yields the idea that we are to ponder God’s works and offer praise from what we have learned. This will require us to say goodbye to a superficial understanding of God’s activity in the world. God’s presence demands our careful consideration of His mighty deeds in order that we may respond properly with our praise. We are sentient beings who have been created to respond to God with our physical lives as active agents of His will in creation. There is absolutely no reason to lead a black and white existence with all the majestic colors of His grace around us (vv. 3-4). 

Praise with your whole being. God’s mercy and compassion extend to the whole of our existence and we must show Him our gratitude (4b-9). It is quite possible that the middle section of the song suggests a festival atmosphere, perhaps one of the great feasts. There is a reminder that Israel was fed manna and quail by God’s hand throughout the wilderness wanderings (v. 5). Despite their rebellion, God provided for their daily needs. He does the same for us! Ponder the significance of this truth, and then respond to God in worship through your gifts of worship, service, and offerings. God showed His power to these wanderers by opening Canaan to them as a home (v. 6). God completes the circle of benefit by providing His law so that the people may live faithfully with one another and Him (vv. 7-8). What is our expression of gratitude for God’s love and grace?

Ultimately, God’s deliverance (likely from Egypt) came with a price (v. 9; meaning of the word; cf. salvation by Christ’s payment for sin). The word “redemption” is used only here and in Psalm 130:7 and in Exodus 8:23. God has paid the price necessary so that we may be free to live in relationship with Him! Therefore, the beginning of wisdom, or the greatest wisdom, consists in honoring and serving the Lord (v. 10; cf. Proverbs 1:7). Roll all this psalm into your preparation for worship. In doing so, you will grasp the significance of the great hymnist Isaac Watts’ words: “Love so amazing, so divine / demands my soul, my life, my all.”

I must admit that there are occasions that call for me to spend a considerable amount of time trying to find just the right Hallmark card to express my sentiments. I begin with humorous cards first, but many occasions call for the serious expression of gratitude. I move to what I call the “catch-all” section, where cards for any and everyone are categorized from age, to gender, to event, to you name it. This rarely yields the result that I desire! Somewhere along the way my mind begins to reach down inside my heart where the deep waters of gratitude reside. I begin to picture what the relationship means to me, and I look for a card that has words that are rich with meaning. That’s the one I buy, and I cannot wait for the recipient to read it! 

Here is the spiritual point. Worship of the Father is not a “Hallmark moment.” Instead, we express our thanksgiving with the fullness of our minds and hearts and bodies. We desire to share the fullness of our gratitude for God’s love and mercy. Live this week in search of just the right words to express your grateful praise in worship.

1. Take time each day this week writing down the ways that you are thankful for God’s goodness in your life. Follow the body, mind, and heart pattern that we have built above. Glance at these written words when you are worshiping this Sunday and give voice to your gratitude from the depths of your experience.

2. For Families: This is a good week for your family to write cards full of love to God. Your kids can design their own, paying particular attention to how their bodies, minds, and hearts can say, “I love you” to God. Invite your children to write their cards and place them in envelopes. Then, encourage them to put their cards in the offering plate this coming Lord’s Day. He will know exactly what they write to Him!

May your paths be straight,
Larry C. Ashlock