Listen

Praise the Lord! I thank the Lord with all my heart in the company of those who do right, in the congregation. The works of the Lord are magnificent; they are treasured by all who desire them.
God’s deeds are majestic and glorious. God’s righteousness stands forever. God is famous for his wondrous works. The Lord is full of mercy and compassion.

Psalm 111:1-4

Think

Psalm 111 is an acrostic poem. That means that each sentence or verse begins with successive letters of the Hebrew alphabet. This was a teaching psalm, and this pattern was probably used to aid in memorization. The psalmist wanted to teach others about God. In this section, the poet teaches that God is magnificent, majestic, and glorious in all that the Lord does. That should not surprise us as we think about “true authority.” However, there is another characteristic that may not normally come to mind in thinking about those in authority. The true authority of our Lord God is “full of mercy and compassion.” The Hebrew word translated “compassion” is connected to the Hebrew word for “womb.” The poet is describing God’s motherly love. God’s authority isn’t harsh and cruel. It is kind, merciful, compassionate, and loving. The strength and power of God’s authority are displayed in grace that never fails, mercy that sees us as we truly are, and love that is wide and deep enough for all of creation.

LaMon Brown

Question to Ponder: Why do we believe that God is merciful and compassionate?

Pray

Help me, Lord, to be more compassionate.

Amen.

Go

I live today in the love and truth of my Lord, Jesus Christ.