Psalms 111:2

DISCOURSE: 685
THE GREAT WORK OF REDEMPTION

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

THIS psalm is one of those appointed by our Church for Easter Day: for which it is sufficiently appropriate, in that it celebrates that redemption of God’s people from Egypt, which was typical of the redemption wrought out for us by Christ upon the cross, and perfected by his resurrection from the dead. The structure of it is very peculiar. Every sentence begins with the different letters of the Hebrew alphabet in their order; the eight first verses consisting each of two sentences, and the two last of three sentences. This artificial mode of writing it seems to have been with a view to its being more easily remembered. The first word of it, “Hallelujah,” was, in fact, no part of the psalm itself, but only the title of it; and it shews us with what disposition of mind the subject should be contemplated, and with what feelings it was recorded. O that our souls might rise to the occasion, whilst we consider,

I. The greatness of God’s works!

Great indeed they were, even the deliverances accomplished for Israel in Egypt. Who can read of all the plagues with which that land was visited; or of the destruction of Pharaoh and all his host in the Red Sea; or of the wonders wrought for Israel in the wilderness; or of their final establishment in the land of Canaan; and not exclaim, “Great and marvellous are thy works, Lord God Almighty!” But, however much we may be disposed, in imitation of David in this psalm, to admire the perfections of God as illustrated in that stupendous work, we are called to the consideration of infinitely greater works, of which the deliverance from Egypt was but a type and shadow. Yes: in the redemption of the world we do indeed behold the perfections of our God shining forth, as it were, in meridian splendour. That was a work beyond all parallel and all conception great,

1. In wisdom and power—

[When Moses saw what God had wrought for the people of Israel at the Red Sea, he sang, “Who is like unto thee, O Lord, among the gods? Who is like unto thee, glorious in holiness, fearful in praises, doing wonders [Note: Exodus 15:11.]?” But St. Paul speaks of our blessed Lord as concentrating in himself all that is great and glorious, and as being, as it were in the abstract, “The wisdom of God, and the power of God [Note: 1 Corinthians 1:24.].” O what unsearchable depths of wisdom were contained in that mystery, the substitution of God’s only dear Son in the place of sinners; whereby the sins of the whole world are expiated, and the kingdom of heaven opened to millions, who, without such a Saviour, must have inherited the blackness of darkness for ever! — — — Nor was the power that effected our redemption less manifest, in forming the human nature of our Lord in the womb of a pure Virgin, free from all the taint of our original corruption; and enabling that body, so wonderfully formed, to bear the curse due to our iniquities, and to work out a righteousness adequate to the wants, and sufficient for the necessities, of a ruined world. View the triumphs of Jesus in the wilderness, and in the garden, and on the cross; in all of which “he spoiled the principalities and powers of hell:” view them also in his resurrection, and ascension, and in the operations of the Holy Spirit, whom he sent from heaven to complete the wonders of his grace: view these things, and say, whether “his work be not indeed honourable and glorious [Note: ver. 3.],” the very summit of wisdom, and the perfection of power.]

2. In goodness and mercy—

[So conspicuous were these perfections in the deliverance of Israel from Egypt, that David could behold, as it were, nothing else. In a psalm where he specifies a great variety of particulars relating to it, he repeats no less than twenty-six times in as many verses, “His mercy endureth for ever [Note: Psalms 136.].” But what shall we say of his goodness and mercy to us in Christ Jesus? Eternity will be too short to enumerate the instances wherein these perfections are displayed, and to make such acknowledgments as this exhibition of them calls for at our hands. The manna from heaven, and the water from the rock, were but faint images of what we receive in and from the Lord Jesus Christ. O what supplies of grace, what rich communications of his blessed Spirit, does he impart to us from day to day! — — — And what forbearance does he exercise towards us! — — — Well indeed may we say with David, that “goodness and mercy have followed us all our days.”]

3. In righteousness and truth—

[In the whole dispensation, whether towards the Lord Jesus Christ himself, as our representative, or towards us whom he has redeemed, there has not been one single act which was not an act of justice, and an accomplishment of some preexisting declaration. Were our iniquities laid on the Lord Jesus, and punished in him? Was he, after having expiated those sins, exalted to glory, and seated on the right hand of the Majesty on high? All, as David speaks, “was verity and judgment [Note: ver. 7.].” In like manner, if we are pardoned, and raised to a participation of his glory, “mercy and truth meet together, and righteousness and peace kiss each other [Note: Psalms 85:10.].” Every threatening denounced against sin has been executed in the person of Christ; and every thing promised to Christ, or to us, is fulfilled, when for Christ’s sake we are restored to God’s favour, and made heirs of his inheritance — — —]

Agreeable to this character of God’s works is,

II.

The respect paid to them by every true Christian.

The Christian is fitly represented as one “who has pleasure in these works”—
[The generality of mankind have, alas! no pleasure in these works, but rather put away the remembrance of them with abhorrence — — — But not so the Christian: he regards them with far different sensations. He indeed is not insensible to pleasures of other kinds, provided they be such as may be enjoyed with a good conscience towards God. He may, as a scholar and philosopher, feel delight in intellectual pursuits; and he may, as a member of society, find pleasure in the intercourse of friendship, or the enjoyment of domestic comforts. But, though he lose not his taste for such pleasures, his delight in them is altogether subordinated to higher and more spiritual enjoyments. Whatever he once accounted gain, is now esteemed by him comparatively as dross and dung [Note: Philippians 3:7.] — — — The wonders of redeeming love are on earth, as they will be in heaven, his constant solace, and his song.]

By him they “are sought out” with care and diligence—
[With a view to a more enlarged knowledge of these works, he reads the Holy Scriptures, searching into them as for hid treasures — — — He attends carefully on the ministry of the word, that he may both obtain a further insight into the Gospel, and have a richer experience of it in his soul — — — By constant meditation also, and by fervent prayer, he dives deeper and deeper into the great mysteries of godliness; musing, as it were, day and night, and crying mightily to God, “Open thou mine eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of thy law!” Never does he imagine that he has yet attained. The more enlarged his views become, the more he sees, that he knows nothing yet as he ought to know: and he looks forward with proportionable earnestness to the eternal world, where the veil shall be taken from before his eyes, and he “will see as he is seen,” and “know even as he is known.”]

Address—
1.

Seek yet more and more this most desirable of all knowledge—

[See with what persevering diligence the philosopher prosecutes the attainment of science — — — And will not ye, for the acquiring of knowledge wherein eternal life consists, and “which the angels themselves desire to look into?” — — —]

2. Endeavour more and more to make a suitable improvement of it—

[“Hallelujah” stands as the introduction to the contemplations of David. Let all your contemplations lead to, and terminate in, a similar acclamation. Such will be the result of all the knowledge which we shall possess in heaven — — — and such should be our improvement of all that we attain on earth — — —]