How often do you stop to ponder the things God has done? In Psalm 111, we are reminded to pause and consider the works of God. We are urged to gather with the family of God and rejoice with grateful hearts over the things we have seen and observed our God perform, particularly and most importantly, the work of salvation.

I’m not a Hebrew scholar but just looking up the definitions and uses of a certain word strengthens our understanding of a passage. In this psalm, the writer uses three different Hebrew words to describe God’s work which helps us deepen our appreciation and understanding of His work.

The first word translated as “works” is the noun maʿăśê, meaning an action, deed, work, or thing made or wrought, such as a poem or a property. It is used to describe achievement, pursuit, or undertaking; business.

Great are the maʿăśê of the Lord; they are studied by all who delight in them (v. 2).

He has made known to His people the power of His maʿăśê in giving them the heritage of the nations (v. 6).

The maʿăśê of His hands are truth and justice; all His precepts are sure. They are upheld forever and ever; they are performed in truth and uprightness (v. 7-8).

What is the “business” of God? What has He undertaken and pursued? What has He achieved? His chief business in regard to humanity is salvation – a great work that is studied by all who delight in it. The power of this work, and its results, is the heritage of the nations – the great company of believers who will worship God for eternity, a company from every tribe, tongue, people, and nation.

Remember Psalm 2:7-9, a Messianic prophecy about Jesus? He said to Me, “You are My Son, Today I have begotten You. Ask of Me, and I will surely give you the nations as Your inheritance, and the very ends of the earth as Your possession. Jesus has accomplished the work of God in truth and justice. He has accomplished His purpose. He has sent redemption to His people; He has ordained His covenant forever; holy and awesome is His name (Psalm 111:8-9).

Revelation 5:9 – And they sang a new song, saying, “Worthy are You to take the book and to break its seals; for You were slain, and purchased for God with Your blood men from every tribe and tongue and people and nation.”

The second word translated as “works” is the noun pōʿal, which simply means a deed, a thing done or made. It’s only used once in the psalm.

Splendid and majestic is His pōʿal, and His righteousness endures forever (v. 3).

The KJV translates this verse this way: His work is honorable and glorious. The words refer to the beauty and glory of God, worthy of honor. His righteousness endures forever, and the great work of salvation has bestowed that righteousness on His people, through Christ. No wonder the psalmist says God’s work is worthy to be studied! He is telling us, “Look at this beautiful thing God has done – a glorious thing that reflects and reveals His own enduring righteousness!” He has made us new creations (2 Corinthians 5:17), as He transforms us into the image of His Son (Galatians 4:19). Only God can take a dirty old sinner and remake him or her into the beauty of Christ!

The last word translated as “works” is pālā’, a verb meaning to be marvelous, wonderful, surpassing, extraordinary, and separate by distinguishing action. It refers to miracles; hard, hidden things too high.

He has made His pālā’ [wonders, wonderful works/KJV] to be remembered; the Lord is gracious and compassionate (v. 4).

We should never take the work of God on a human soul for granted. It is a marvelous thing – extraordinary, without comparison. It can’t be accomplished by human effort, but only by the mysterious, hidden work of the Holy Spirit who draws us to the Father, convicts us of our sins and grants repentance, and transforms us into the beauty of Christ. It is evidence that God is a gracious and compassionate God.

Salvation is a work to be remembered (v. 4), to be studied (v. 2), and to be proclaimed often as we gather as believers (v. 1). We should never get tired of telling our stories of what God has done for us, and in us.

Have you found yourself a bit blasé about the gospel? Have you taken it for granted, your heart not stirred with gratitude and humility and praise whenever the story of Jesus is told again? Either you’ve forgotten how miraculous it is that God saved you, or you’ve embraced an intellectual assent to the facts of the gospel, but not truly received the transforming Holy Spirit-work of salvation. In either case, the solution is to retrace your steps to the cross and see the miraculous, glorious work of God on your behalf.

Psalm 111:1,10 – Praise the Lord! I will give thanks to the Lord with all my heart, in the company of the upright and in the assembly. … The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; a good understanding have all those who do His commandments; His praise endures forever.