Salmos 111
Bob Utley · You Can Understand the Bible
Salmos 111
CONTEXTUAL INSIGHTS Psalms 111 and 112 are acrostic, wisdom psalms. Each line of poetry begins with the next letter of the Hebrew alphabet. The acrostic starts at Ps. 111:1b. These two Psalms are also linked by the phrase, "His righteousness endures forever," which occurs in the Psalter only in Ps. 111:3 and Ps. 112:3,9. Psalm 111 praises YHWH, while Psalm 112 praises the faithful followers of YHWH.
Salmos 111:1-6
111:1 "Praise the Lord" This is the translation of the Hebrew, "hallelujah." It is made up of the VERB "praise" (BDB 237 II, KB 248, Piel IMPERATIVE) and "Yah" (BDB 219). It denotes a worship setting and is used liturgically at the beginning or ending of many Psalms (i.e., Ps. 102:18; 104:35; 105:45; 106:1,48; 111:1; 112:1; 113:1,9; 115:17,18; 116:19 and twenty-one more times). The liturgical aspect is confirmed by Ps. 111:1c. This first line is not part of the acrostic but serves as a title to this Psalm. ▣ "Lord" This is the covenant name for Israel's God. SPECIAL TOPIC: NAMES FOR DEITY, D. ▣ "I will give thanks to the Lord" Notice the parallel with line 1, different form but same concept. hallelujah - BDB 237, KB 248, Piel IMPERATIVE give thanks - BDB 392, KB 389, Hiphil IMPERFECT used in a COHORTATIVE sense ▣ "with all my heart" This is a Hebrew idiom of complete dedication (cf. Ps. 9:1; 86:12; 138:1). For "heart." SPECIAL TOPIC: THE HEART ▣ "In the company of the upright and in the assembly" This phrase could refer to one group of worshipers at the temple two groups (cf. Ps. 107:32) a group of leaders (cf. Exod. 3:16) the large worshiping group 111:2-6 Notice the parallel between great are the works of the Lord, Ps. 111:2a splendid and majestic is His work, Ps. 111:3a (cf. Ps. 96:6; 104:1) his wonders to be remembered, Ps. 111:4a He has made known to His people the power of His works, Ps. 111:6a See SPECIAL TOPIC: WONDERFL THINGS to see the different ways that YHWH has revealed Himself through His acts and words. 111:2b As a teacher/preacher, the phrase speaks so strongly to me "God's revelations are available to all but must be studied/pondered and applied" (cf. Ps. 111:10b; Ezra 7:10)! Do you delight in them, live them, teach them? 111:3b "His righteousness endures forever" This phrase is repeated in Ps. 112:3,9, and no where else in these exact words. This implies that Psalms 111 and 112 were written by the same person. For the recurrent concept of YHWH's righteousness see the SPECIAL TOPIC: RIGHTEOUSNESS. The PARTICIPLE "endures" (BDB 763, KB 840) is also used of God's revelation in Ps. 19:9. Jesus addresses the OT's inspiration and eternality in Matt. 5:17-19! 111:4b One of the crucial questions after belief in God is, what is He like? What is His nature? This phrase reflects the OT characterization of the God of Israel (cf. Exod. 34:6-7; Num. 14:18; Deut. 4:31; Neh. 9:17; Ps. 86:15; 103:8; 145:8). SPECIAL TOPIC: CHARACTERISTICS OF ISRAEL'S GOD (OT) 111:5-6 These verses describe some of the things God has done. gives food to those who fear/awe Him (i.e., Exodus and Numbers; Matt. 6:11,31-33) remembers His covenant forever (i.e., this refers to His promises to the Patriarchs, cf. Genesis 12; 15; 18; 22; Ps. 105:8; see SPECIAL TOPIC: COVENANT and SPECIAL TOPIC: COVENANT PROMISES TO THE PATRIARACHS) made Himself known to His people (cf. Ps. 19:7-12) gives His people the nations for an inheritance in a Messianic sense in Ps. 2:8; 67:7 in a conquest of Canaan sense in Gen. 15:12-21 SPECIAL TOPIC: YHWH'S ETERNAL REDEMPTIVE PLAN
Salmos 111:7-10
111:7-10 This strophe affirms the trustworthiness of God and His revelation/promises. It foreshadows Psalm 119 and reflects Psalm 19. Notice the ways God's revelations are described. truth and justice (cf. Ps. 19:9) sure (cf. Ps. 19:7; 93:5) upheld forever and ever (cf. Ps. 19:9) performed in truth and uprightness Notice the ways God Himself is described. He sent redemption to His people He ordained His covenant forever He is holy and awesome Notice the different words used to describe His revelations. precepts ‒ BDB 824 (cf. Ps. 19:8) commanded ‒ BDB 845 (cf. Ps. 19:8; using the NOUN, BDB 846) fear ‒ BDB 432 (cf. Ps. 19:9) SPECIAL TOPIC: TERMS USED FOR GOD'S REVELATION 111:7 "His hands" See SPECIAL TOPIC: GOD DESCRIBED AS HUMAN (anthropomorphism) ▣ "truth" This FEMININE NOUN (BDB 54) occurs in Ps. 111:7 and 8. It is literally "faithfulness." The same Hebrew root (BDB 54) forms the word "sure" (BDB 52, Niphal PARTICIPLE) in Ps. 111:7 (cf. Ps. 19:7). SPECIAL TOPIC: BELIEVE, TRUST, FAITH AND FAITHFULNESS IN THE OT 111:8 "forever and ever" This Hebrew idiom of permanence is formed by forever ‒ BDB 723 I (cf. Ps. 111:3,8; 112:3,9) and ever ‒ BDB 761 (cf. Ps. 111:9; 19:9; see SPECIAL TOPIC: FOREVER ['olam]) 111:9 "redemption" See SPECIAL TOPIC: RANSOM/REDEEM ▣ "holy" "Holy" (BDB 872) and "awesome" (BDB 431) appear together in Ps. 99:3. SPECIAL TOPIC: HOLY SPECIAL TOPIC: THE HOLY ONE ▣ "awesome" This is the common Hebrew VERB "to fear" (BDB 431, KB 432, Niphal PARTICIPLE). It is used of YHWH Himself ‒ Deut. 7:21; 10:17,21; Neh. 1:5; 4:14; 9:32; Ps. 47:2; 68:35; 76:7; Dan. 9:4 of His acts ‒ Ps. 65:5; 66:3,5; 106:22; 145:6 of the appropriate response of His people - Deut. 4:10; 5:5; 6:2,13,24; 10:12,20; 13:11; 14:23; 17:13,19; 19:20; 21:21; 25:18; 28:58; 31:12; Josh. 4:24 of the Gentiles ‒ Deut. 28:10; Josh. 4:24; 9:24; Ps. 67:7 SPECIAL TOPIC: FEAR (OT) 111:10a This is the first principle and the central theme of Proverbs (cf. Prov. 1:7; 9:10), also note online at Eccl. 12:13. SPECIAL TOPIC: KEEP 111:10b Notice that knowing God's revelation demands obeying it/them! Biblical faith is not only a theological creed to be affirmed but a lifestyle (cf. Matt. 7:13-27; Eph. 2:8-9,10).