111:1 Praise the Lord! I will give thanks to the Lord with my whole heart, in the assembly of the godly and the congregation.
The author of this song is unknown. It is an acrostic song, as each verse begins with a letter of the Hebrew alphabet. There are two Hebrew acrostics in each verse. This song was to be sung at the Jewish festivals.
The Hebrew for “praise the Lord” is Hallelujah. Psalms 111-113 are Hallelujah songs.
The first acrostic is the Hebrew letter aleph, which is a silent letter which carries many vowel sounds. The Hebrew word is אוֹדֶ֣ה (audah), meaning “I will give thanks.” The psalmist will praise God and give Him thanks.
The second Hebrew acrostic is the Hebrew letter bet, which is the English “b” sound. The Hebrew word is בְּס֖וֹד (b-sur), meaning “in the assembly.” The praise and thanksgiving will be given to Jehovah publicly.
111:2 The Lord’s deeds are great, eagerly awaited by all who desire them.
The first acrostic is the Hebrew letter gimmel, which is the English “g” sound. The Hebrew word is גְּ֭דֹלִים (gdolim), a plural nominative noun, meaning “extremely great.” The works of God are extremely great.
The second Hebrew acrostic is the Hebrew letter dalet, which is the English “d” sound. The Hebrew word is דְּ֝רוּשִׁ֗ים (dorushim), a plural nominative noun, meaning “greatly and eagerly studied.” Those who desire to know Jehovah’s great works do so by intensely and eagerly studying them.
It is important to note that the only way to know the works of God is by studying His thoughts and actions. The thoughts and actions of God are revealed in the entire counsel of the Word of God.
111:3 His work is majestic and glorious, and his faithfulness endures forever.
The first acrostic is the Hebrew letter hey, which is the English “h” sound. The Hebrew word is הוֹד (hod), meaning “glorious, honorable, and beautiful.” The works of God are glorious, beautiful, and honorable. God’s works are also הָדָר (hadar), meaning “majestic or king-like.”
The second Hebrew acrostic is the Hebrew letter vav, which is the English “v” sound. Some Hebrew scholars give it a “w” sound. The Hebrew word is וְ֝צִדְקָת֗וֹ (va-tsadkitu), meaning “and his righteousness.” God’s character will never change. God will be righteous forever.
111:4 He does amazing things that will be remembered; the Lord is merciful and compassionate.
The first acrostic is the Hebrew letter zayin, which is the English “h” sound. The Hebrew word is זֵ֣כֶר (zacar), meaning “remembered.” The amazing works of God are recorded in the written Word of God so that they can be remembered. The stones of archaeology continually prove over and over again that the Bible is 100% truthful in all that it records.
The second Hebrew acrostic is the Hebrew letter hect, which is the German “h” sound. The Hebrew word is חַנּ֖וּן (hacun), meaning “gracious, kind, and compassionate.” Jehovah is a nice and compassionate God. He is not evil, mean, capricious. deceitful, destructive, fickle, or untrustworthy (like the pagan, Greek, and Roman gods)
It is important to note that the only way to know the works of God is by studying His thoughts and actions. The thoughts and actions of God are revealed in the entire counsel of the Word of God.
111:5 He gives food to his faithful followers; he always remembers his covenant.
The first acrostic is the Hebrew letter tet, which is the English “t” sound. The Hebrew word is טֶ֭רֶף (teraf), meaning “food or prey.” God will provide food to His followers. God has promised to give all believers food, clothing, and shelter, unless they are called to wear the martyr's crown.
The second Hebrew acrostic is the Hebrew letter yod, which is the English “y” sound. The Hebrew word is יִזְכֹּ֖ר (yizachar), a qal imperfect verb meaning “he will remember.” Jehovah will always remember His covenants with the Jewish people. The Abrahamic Covenant promised the Jews the Messiah. The Land Covenant promised her the land. The Davidic Covenant promised her an eternal King from the line of David. The New Covenant promised her national salvation. The Mosaic Covenant was conditional, promising them either blessings or cursings.
111:6 He announced that he would do mighty deeds for his people, giving them a land that belonged to other nations.
The first acrostic is the Hebrew letter kof, which is the English “k” sound. The Hebrew word is כֹּ֣חַ (coch), meaning “ability, strength, or power.” Literally, this verse reads as “Power of His works He has demonstrated to His people.” The people of Israel knew that Jehovah was God, because His power was demonstrated to them through miracles which no man or demon could repeat.
The second Hebrew acrostic is the Hebrew letter lamed, which is the English “l” sound. The Hebrew word is (לָתֵ֥ת), a lamed preposition with a verb, meaning “to give, appoint, or pledge.” Jehovah appointed the land of Canaan to Israel. God vomited the Canaanites out of the land. He took money, livestock, and material possession from the Egyptians to jump-start the economy of the Israelites. He gave them a perfect, theocratic, political system and a truthful monotheistic religious system.
111:7 His acts are characterized by faithfulness and justice; all his precepts are reliable.
The first acrostic is the Hebrew letter mem, which is the English “m” sound. The Hebrew word is מַעֲשֵׂ֣י (maasu), meaning “his workmanship.” Jehovah is a Master Artist. The art of the world is evil, paganistic, satanic, crude, pornographic, humanistic, and degrading. The art of God is the opposite. It exemplifies faithfulness and justice.
The second Hebrew acrostic is the Hebrew letter nun, which is the English “n” sound. The Hebrew word is נֶ֝אֱמָנִ֗ים (ne-aminim), meaning “it is truthful, trustworthy, reliable, and honest.” The precepts is the Bible doctrine which is found in the entire counsel of the Word of God. There are many religious books in the world, but they are not reliable. They mix truth with error. The only reliable divine resource is the written Word of God.
111:8 They are forever firm, and should be faithfully and properly carried out.
The first acrostic is the Hebrew letter samek, which is the English “s” sound. The Hebrew word is סְמוּכִ֣ים (samucim), meaning “firm, able to support, or able to sustain.” The written Word of God is strong enough to hold up and stabilize the one who studies it.
The second Hebrew acrostic is the Hebrew letter ayin, which is a silent letter which carries many different vowel sounds. The Hebrew word is עֲ֝שׂוּיִ֗ם (asunim), meaning “accomplished.” Those who study the Word of God need to faithfully apply it in their life. They need to faithfully accomplish the command which is given in Scripture.
111:9 He delivered his people; he ordained that his covenant be observed forever. His name is holy and awesome.
The first acrostic is the Hebrew letter pey, which is the English “p” sound. The Hebrew word is פְּד֤וּת (padut), meaning “redemption.” God redeemed His people. His people were physically enslaved in Egypt. They were spiritually enslaved in sin. God went to the slave market, purchased Israel, and then set her free. Some of the Jews willingly became Jehovah’s personal slaves. Most of them went back into slavery. People will make themselves either a slave of God or a slave of the Devil.
The second Hebrew acrostic is the Hebrew letter tsade, which is the English “ts” sound. The Hebrew word is צִוָּֽה (tsivah), meaning “he commanded or ordained.” God commanded that His covenants were to be observed forever. God is not through with Israel. He promised Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob that they would receive the land of Israel forever. He promised David that the Messiah would come from his seed and establish the eternal kingdom. He promised Jeremiah that the entire nation of Israel would one day receive salvation.
111:10 To obey the Lord is the fundamental principle for wise living; all who carry out his precepts acquire good moral insight. He will receive praise forever.
The first acrostic is the Hebrew letter resh, which is the English “r” sound. The Hebrew word is רֵ֘אשִׁ֤ית (roshit), meaning “beginning or first.” The first priority of every living being is to obey Jehovah. Jehovah cannot be obeyed unless the entire counsel of the Word of God has been studied and mastered. This is why it is so important for the believer to study the entire Bible at the deepest level
The second Hebrew acrostic is the Hebrew letter sin, which is the English “s or sh” sound. The Hebrew word is שֵׂ֣כֶל (sekel), meaning “understanding, insight, or wisdom.” Those who study the entire counsel of the Word of God will possess a spiritual insight which others do not possess. They will be able to discern the truths and lies of the satanic world system. If they apply Bible doctrine, then they will become an active participant in the angelic warfare. They will become a soldier for Jehovah and a feared enemy of the Devil. The only way to defeat the devil is by understanding and applying Bible doctrine at the deepest level.