Psalm 111:7 God's Faithfulness

Psalm 111:7 The works of his hands are faithful and just; all his precepts are trustworthy.

Psalm 111 is an acrostic and so appears to be a little disjointed in some ways. The psalm begins with a hallelujah and a commitment to wholeheartedly extolling the LORD in the council of the upright and in the assembly. It speaks of God's works, which are great and glorious. They are pondered by all who delight in them. His graciousness, compassion and covenant faithfulness are singled out as well as his power. In verse 7 the psalmist appears to extend the subject of his meditation. Certainly, the reference to providing redemption and ordaining an everlasting covenant in the next verse seems to point that way as does the reference in the final verse of the psalm to all who follow his precepts. On the one hand then, there is indeed the general revelation that is seen in creation and providence - The works of his hands are faithful and just. Then, secondly, there is also the special revelation that is seen in Scripture - all his precepts are trustworthy. The psalmist ties the two ideas together by speaking of the first being faithful and just and the latter being trustworthy. In other words there is something about the way God works and especially about the way he reveals himself as he works that you can rely on. There is nothing fickle or crooked about the Lord in either sphere. Always he can be relied on. This is a great comfort to the believer. He knows that he can rely on what he reads in God's Word and he knows that as God's will unfolds he can be sure that God will always be faithful and just in it. Such a person fears the LORD and that is the beginning of wisdom, as well as praise.