Remember His Works
Here’s my go at the structure of the first of these seven praise psalms. (The introduction is here.) Apparently, it has five verses, following the Covenant structure. Within this, each stanza also has five lines, which echo the same structure while maintaining the theme of the stanza. The only exception is verse 4 which concerns the Sanctions. It has seven lines. As I maintain, the 5-point Covenant model expands into the 7-point matrix as Ethics gets split into three: Law opened/Death under the Law/Resurrection fulfilling the Law. 5-point Word creates 7-point History. The Sanctions correspond to the Day of Atonement (Conquest) which has the theme of the resurrected body ascending to govern under God. On that Day, every year, Israel died and rose again.
Psalm 111
Transcendence – source of authority
Praise the LORD!
…..I will praise the LORD
……….with my whole heart,
…..In the assembly of the upright
and in the congregation.
Hierarchy – delegated authority
The works of the LORD are great,
…..Studied by all who have pleasure in them.
……….His work is honorable and glorious,
…..And His righteousness endures forever.
He has made His wonderful works to be remembered;
Ethics – laws of the Covenant
The LORD [is] gracious and full of compassion.
…..He has given food to those who fear Him;
……….He will ever be mindful of His covenant.
…..He has declared to His people the power of His works,
In giving them the heritage of the nations.
(This stanza above not only reflects the fivepoint model, it also covers the subject matter of the middle three points of the Bible Matrix: Ascension, Testing and Maturity. Compassion and Food Cover the Altar and Table, the Covenant Lampstand is at the centre, and the deuteronomic declaration and government over the Gentiles — the Altar of Incense — complete the stanza. Amazing).
Sanctions – Covenant blessings and curses
The works of His hands are verity and justice; Sabbath – God’s initiative
…..All His precepts are sure. Passover – Sin covered
……….They stand fast forever and ever, Firstfruits – Ascension
……………and are done in truth and uprightness. Pentecost – Rule of Law
……….He has sent redemption to His people; Trumpets – Armies
…..He has commanded His covenant forever:
…..Atonement - Mediator of a Better Covenant
Holy and awesome is His name. Booths – Shekinah
Succession – A new beginning
The fear of the LORD
…..is the beginning of wisdom;
……….A good understanding
…..have all those who do [His commandments.]
His praise endures forever.
The final step concerns government by the wise king, which is the goal of the dominion pattern. Solomon’s wisdom was a new beginning. God takes the Covenant head through the pattern so He can lead the Covenant body. So it is interesting that the analysis of this structure puts a very big spin on the significance of this well-known verse. It is not just a random fact: it is the beginning of a new administration under God that mediates between heaven and earth.
Regarding the entire Psalm, science tells us that the universe is law-abiding. Life experience shows us that, as with the natural laws, we don’t break God’s Laws so much as bounce off them.
Psalm 111 also shows us that all God’s works are Covenantal, ie. they involve a delegation of authority to a law-abiding mediator, whose self-sacrifice gathers a body which grows to dominate the Creation. Old earth creationists need to deal with this. In the Bible, there is no such thing as an autonomous wilderness, ever. See Hugh Ross and a Shotgun.
