Seventh-day Adventist Bible CommentaryPsalms 111

Praise ye the Lord. Heb. halelu Yah, the expression from which “hallelujah” is derived.

Sought out. The details of God’s handiwork are not always apparent to the casual observer. They must be explored and discovered by eager study. As the miner digs in the earth to find its riches, so the works of God yield their treasure to him who is willing to dig for it.

To be remembered. The clause reads literally, “He made a memorial [or “remembrance,” or “mention”] for his wonderful works.” The Sabbath is a memorial of creation (Gen. 2:2, 3; DA 281). The memorial was held sacred by patriarchs and prophets. God reiterated and re-emphasized the sanctity of the Sabbath when He proclaimed His holy law from Sinai (Ex. 20:8–11). When here on earth Christ worshiped in the synagogue on the Sabbath day (see Mark 1:21; Luke 4:16). The apostle Paul, years after Christ’s resurrection, observed the seventh-day Sabbath (see Acts 13:14; 17:2).

Meat. Heb. ṭereph, “food.” As God made provision for Israel’s wants in the wilderness by providing manna for them, so He will care for the needs of His people in times of distress (see Isa. 33:16; GC 626, 629).

Sure. From the Heb. ’aman, “to be firmly established,” “to be trustworthy.” The commandments of God, in which man’s duties are set forth, are trustworthy and true. They remain steadfast forever, they are unchangeable.

They stand fast. The Lord has certain immutable principles by which He governs the universe. With God there “is no variableness, neither shadow of turning” (James 1:17).

Reverend. From the Heb. yara’, “to fear,” either man (Gen. 50:19) or God (Deut. 6:13). The form of the verb here used, nora’, means literally, “to be feared,” or “to be reverenced.” Nora’ occurs 44 times, but is rendered “reverend” only here. Elsewhere it is generally translated “terrible” (Deut. 7:21; Neh. 1:5; etc.). It is also translated “to be feared” (1 Chron. 16:25; Ps. 96:4), “dreadful” (Dan. 9:4), and “to be had in reverence” (Ps. 89:7). Nora’, though generally applied to God, is used also of things or acts (Ex. 34:10; Deut. 8:15; Ps. 45:4; etc.), though seemingly with reference to divine acts. Nora’ is nowhere applied to human beings except in two instances, where it is applied to a nation (Isa. 18:2, 7), but even here the appellation seems to be used with reference to the acts of God. On the use of the title “reverend” see DA 613.