gratitude

A Sheep’s Journey Through Psalms -117

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The Shortest Song with the Greatest Reach

Dear friend in Christ,

Come, let us linger together over one of the Bible’s most precious treasures. Though Psalm 117 is the shortest chapter in all of Scripture—just two verses—its heart beats with the expansive love of our sovereign God. We cherish how even the briefest portions of God’s Word reveal His eternal purposes, His electing grace, and His glory that fills the earth. Let this little psalm warm your soul today as we open it together.

Praise the LORD, all nations! Extol him, all peoples!
For great is his steadfast love toward us,
and the faithfulness of the LORD endures forever.
Praise the LORD!

The Call That Breaks Every Boundary (v. 1)

The psalmist does not whisper an invitation to Israel alone. He cries out with joyful boldness: “Praise the LORD, all nations! Extol him, all peoples!” In Hebrew, “nations” (goyim) and “peoples” point to the Gentile world—the very peoples outside the covenant community at that time. From a Christian perspective, this is breathtaking. Our God is not a tribal deity confined to one people; He is the sovereign Creator and King of the universe. This call echoes the missionary heart of God we see throughout Scripture—from the promise to Abraham that “in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed” (Genesis 12:3) to the Great Commission. The same Lord who chooses and preserves a people for Himself also commands the world to worship Him.

This psalm was likely part of the Egyptian Hallel (Psalms 113–118), sung during Passover. Our Savior Himself sang these words with His disciples on the night He was betrayed. Even as He faced the cross, Jesus had the nations on His heart. What tender mercy!

The Reason That Melts Every Heart (v. 2)

Why should all the earth praise Him? “For great is his steadfast love [hesed] toward us, and the faithfulness [emet] of the LORD endures forever.” Hesed—that rich covenant love, loyal and kind, the loyal love that will not let His people go. Emet—truthfulness, reliability, rock-solid faithfulness. The psalmist says this love is great (or abundant) toward “us.” Even in a psalm addressed to the nations, the “us” likely includes Israel’s experience of God’s deliverance, now extended as good news to the world.

In Christianity, we see this as a beautiful glimpse of God’s sovereign grace. He did not choose Israel because they were numerous or righteous, but out of His own free mercy (Deuteronomy 7:7-8). And that same mercy now reaches the nations through Jesus Christ, the true Passover Lamb. The steadfast love that rescued Israel from Egypt is the same love that rescues sinners from every tribe, tongue, people, and nation at the cross. God’s faithfulness is not temporary or conditional; it “endures forever.” What security this brings to weary souls!

The apostle Paul quotes this very psalm in Romans 15:11 to celebrate the inclusion of Gentiles in the people of God. In Christ, the dividing wall is broken down. Jew and Gentile together glorify God for His mercy. This little psalm, nestled at the very center of the Bible, prophetically shouts the gospel: God’s glory and salvation are for the world!

A Devotional Response

Beloved, does your heart swell with gratitude? This psalm invites you into the chorus. Whether you feel strong in faith today or weak and wandering, the reasons for praise remain the same: God’s great steadfast love has been poured out on you in Christ, and His faithfulness will never fail.

  • If you feel small or insignificant: Remember that the God of the universe calls even the distant nations to praise Him. You are not overlooked.
  • If you battle doubt: Cling to His enduring faithfulness. His promises in Christ are “Yes” and “Amen.”
  • If you long for the lost: This psalm stirs us to mission. The same God who commands the nations to praise also sends us to tell them of His love.

Let us make this our joyful response today:

Lord Jesus, thank You for singing this psalm before Your suffering. Thank You that Your steadfast love reached even me—a sinner from the nations. Forgive me for the times my praise grows cold or narrow. Enlarge my heart to rejoice in Your sovereign grace and to long for every people group to extol Your name. May my life, however brief or ordinary, echo this short psalm: “Praise the LORD!

”Hallelujah! Praise the LORD!

May the God of all comfort fill you with joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope (Romans 15:13). Go forth and praise Him today, dear brother or sister. He is worthy.

A Sheep’s Journey Through Psalms -111

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Heartfelt Praise

Dear friend,

Imagine stepping into a warm, sunlit room where the air itself seems to hum with gratitude. That’s the feeling of Psalm 111—an acrostic hymn of praise where every line in the original Hebrew begins with the next letter of the alphabet, as if the psalmist is saying, “From A to Z, God deserves it all.” This beautiful psalm invites us, not with cold commands, but with joyful urgency, to fix our eyes on the Lord’s works and character. Let’s open our Bibles together and let the Holy Spirit speak to our hearts through these inspired words.

Look at verse 1. The psalmist doesn’t whisper a polite “thank you.” He declares, “I will give thanks… with my whole heart.” This is whole-souled worship—no divided attention, no half-hearted Sunday routine. And notice where it happens: “in the company of the upright, in the congregation.” God never meant for our praise to stay private. There’s something powerfully encouraging about lifting our voices together with brothers and sisters in Christ. When was the last time you felt that holy joy in church? Psalm 111 reminds us it’s not optional; it’s the natural overflow of a heart captured by God.

Verses 2–3 zoom in on the greatness of the Lord’s works. The Hebrew word for “great” carries the idea of vastness and weightiness. These aren’t small, forgettable blessings. The psalmist calls us to study them—to meditate, to pore over them like a treasured love letter. Creation, history, your own story—every sunrise, every answered prayer, every page of Scripture—is packed with “splendor and majesty.” And the best part? God’s righteousness doesn’t fade. It endures forever. In a world of broken promises and shifting standards, our God is the Rock who never changes.

Now pause at verse 4. “He has caused his wondrous works to be remembered.” God doesn’t leave us to guess who He is. He built memory markers into His story: the Passover, the Red Sea, the empty tomb. And right in the middle of that verse, we meet two of the most comforting words in all of Scripture: “gracious and merciful.” These are the very words God used to describe Himself to Moses in Exodus 34:6. Our Creator is not distant or demanding—He is tender, forgiving, and full of compassion. Have you felt that embrace lately? He wants you to.

Verses 5–6 speak of daily provision (“He provides food for those who fear him”) and mighty deliverance (“the inheritance of the nations”). For Israel, this meant the Promised Land. For us, it points to something even sweeter: every spiritual blessing in Christ (Ephesians 1:3). The same God who fed His people manna in the wilderness now feeds us with the Bread of Life—Jesus Himself.

Verses 7–9 take us deeper into God’s character. His works are “faithful and just.” His Word is “trustworthy.” His covenant is commanded forever. And then the crescendo: “Holy and awesome is his name!” The Hebrew for “awesome” means awe-inspiring, causing us to tremble with reverence. This isn’t scary fear; it’s the holy wonder that makes our knees weak and our hearts leap.

Finally, verse 10 ties everything together like a beautiful bow: “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.” True wisdom doesn’t start with a college degree or life experience. It begins on our knees, hearts bowed before this holy, gracious, redeeming God. When we live in reverent awe of Him, everything else—decisions, relationships, even our daily grind—falls into its proper place. And the psalm ends exactly where it began: “His praise endures forever.” Our worship today is just the beginning of an eternity of celebration.

Beloved, Psalm 111 isn’t just ancient poetry. It’s an invitation written to you and me today. The same God who redeemed Israel has sent ultimate redemption through the cross of Jesus Christ. His covenant is sealed with His own blood. His works in your life—big and small—are worth studying, celebrating, and sharing.So here’s our simple response:


Today, choose wholehearted praise.
Open your Bible and study one of God’s “great works.”
Tell someone how gracious and merciful He has been to you.
And let the fear of the Lord—the beautiful, life-giving awe of who He is—shape every choice you make.

Let’s pray together:
Heavenly Father, how our hearts overflow with thanks as we read Psalm 111! Thank You for Your magnificent works, Your tender mercy, and the redemption You purchased for us in Christ. Stir in us a wholehearted love for You. Teach us to study Your ways, to live in reverent fear, and to praise You with everything we are. May Your name be honored in our lives today and forever. In the precious name of Jesus, Amen.

Go in joy, dear friend. The God of Psalm 111 is your God—and His praise truly does endure forever.

Thoughts on Thanksgiving Week Continued

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It is traditional to make a list of things you are thankful for at Thanksgiving. Most of the time we focus on material things we have been blessed with. Some go deeper, thanking God for spiritual blessings bestowed during the year. Thanks for friends, family, health and employment top many lists. One category that gets left off many lists is arguably the most important. We should thank God for the things He has taken away from us.

In order to love the Lord our God with all of our heart, soul, strength and mind as commanded means we have to give up any and everything that obscures Him in our lives. Praise be to Him that He works in our lives to conform us to the image of His Son. To do this, He many times has to prune away those things that hinder us from reaching that goal. It may be that He has helped you to kick a destructive habit, end an unhealthy relationship, stop a hurtful lifestyle. It may be that He has forced you to accept the death of a loved one in order to lean only on Him. He may have taken away your job in order to prove to you that He is sufficient to meet all your needs.

As you make your list this year, how about including thanks for the things taken away that has made your faith stronger? I guarantee that it will surprise you what the Lord has done.

Thoughts on Thanksgiving Week

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As Thanksgiving rolls around, I am once again dismayed by the lack of contentment and gratitude among the masses. It is very hard to be thankful for what you have already been blessed with if you are in a hurry and a worry about getting more stuff the very next day. I know the arguments – stuff is cheaper so it is good stewardship to buy on Black Friday. Or, that a person is buying for others and not themselves, gifts for Christmas Day. My answer – it is even better stewardship not to buy at all unless something is absolutely needed. The same holds true whether you are buying for yourself or others.

I am not saying that one cannot buy things for fun. What I am saying is that we should not try to justify or spiritualize our indulgence. We need to simplify our lives and practice  giving to the kingdom of God rather than secular merchants. Guys – how many guns, video games or fishing equipment do you really need? Ladies – how many shoes, kitchen gadgets or spa treatments do you really need? Do any of us really think $95 designer jeans are better than $20 discount store ones? Do we really need the latest upgraded electronic device, the latest model pickup, the “in-fashion” clothing? Can we not be content and thankful for what we have already been blessed with, instead of telling God that we are not satisfied and we have to have more.

Are we truly grateful for His provision, or are we greedily planning on getting yet more stuff that won’t have any bearing on a person’s eternal destiny?