Scripture:
Vs 2 Great are the works of the Lord,
studied by all who delight in them.
Vs 3 Full of splendor and majesty is his work,
4 He has caused his wondrous works to be remembered
6 He has shown his people the power of his works
7 The works of his hands are faithful and just;
10 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom;
all those who practice it have a good understanding.
Observation:
This psalmist is consumed with the works of the Lord.
He states early that the Lord’s works should be studied.
The psalmist then lists many attributes of the Lord’s works.
They are “full of splendor and majesty”, they are “studied” and “remembered”, they are “shown to the people”, and they are “faithful and just”.
Interestingly, the psalmist eventually turns his attention to everyone else.
He says that we are now to do a “work”. We are to now put into “practice” something.
What are we to put into practice? Not the work of the Lord, but the “fear of the Lord”.
Application:
The psalmist tells me to “study” the “work of the Lord”.
And to “put into practice” the “fear of the Lord”.
This is fascinating because I so often want to do the opposite.
I want to “study” the “fear of the Lord” and “put into practice” the “work of the Lord”.
If fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, shouldn’t I be studying it? Then I get wise enough to go out and put into practice the work of the Lord.
(How often do I hear the Christian cliche: “doing the Lord’s work”.)
But No! The psalmist says the Lord’s work is what I study, not what I do.
What I do is fear the Lord!
This actually makes so much sense, though.
When I study the work of the Lord, I will see His faithfulness, His Justice, His power, majesty, and might, His splendor, His wonder!
And what will my response be to seeing all of this from the Lord? In a word … “Delight”!
When I study what the Lord has actually done, I will delight in it!
How could I not?!
And then, having studied and been delighted by the wonder and majesty, and faithfulness of the Lord, I will then walk in the fear of the Lord!
Prayer:
Thank you God for your word
But thank you also for your works
He’ll me to study them and be delighted by them
Help me to see your works clearly
And then help me put into practice fear of the Lord
I’m Jesus name
Amen