Psa 111:2 The works of the LORD are great, sought out of all them that have pleasure therein.

Psa 111:2  The works of the LORD are great, sought out of all them that have pleasure therein.  Psalm 111 is a psalm praising the marvellous works of God. The Psalmist says the works of God are: Great: “The works of the LORD are great” (v.2a). Honourable and Glorious: “His work is honourable and glorious” (v.3a). Wonderful and Memorable: “He hath made his wonderful works to be remembered” (v.4a). Mighty: “He hath shewed his people the power of his works” (v.6a). True and Just: “The works of his hands are truth and justice” (v.7a, ASV). When the Psalmist considers the wonderful works of God, the first word that proceeds out of his mouth is “Hallelujah”. You will say: “I don’t see it.” Well, it is in the very first word of verse 1: “Praise ye the LORD.”  The phrase, “Praise ye the Lord” is “Hallelujah” in Hebrew. The Psalmist says he will praise the LORD with his whole heart in the assembly (v.1). Our Lord Jesus could have had reference to this passage when He stated that the greatest commandment is: “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart” (Matthew 22:37). True praise begins in the heart. God hates hypocritical praise when it is only from the lips and not the heart: “Ye hypocrites, well did Esaias prophesy of you, saying, This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me” (Matthew 15:7-8). God does not want a half-hearted love and worship. How can one develop a full-hearted love for God like the Psalmist? 1. Study: “Great are the works of the LORD, studied by all who delight in them” (v.2, ESV). Psalm 111:2 tells us of a fundamental principle: Delight leads to study. The atheists determined themselves not to see the evidence of God in the Creation because they have no delight in God (Psalm 14:1; Romans 1:20). But those who are sincerely seeking God will find Him from the creation: “The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork” (Psalm 19:1). Have you ever looked into the starry sky and pondered the works of a mighty Creator? Have you held a newborn baby in your arms and marvelled at its creation? David did and wrote of it: “I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well” (Psalm 139:14). Delight leads to study and study leads to a conviction. 2. Practice: “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom; all those who practice it have a good understanding” (v.10, ESV). If we want to have a good understanding of our faith, we need to put it into practice. James says: “Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world” (James 1:27). The prophet Micah said: “He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the LORD require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?” (Micah 6:8). Those who have a good understanding of the fear of God are those who practise their religion. Those who complain about the current crisis and their suffering, do not know God. Those who understand their faith know that God is good even in the midst of afflictions. Are you praising God with your whole heart?