Psalm 111
1 Hallelujah. I will praise the LORD with all my heart in the assembled congregation of the upright.
2 Great are the works of the LORD, to be treasured for all their delights.
3 Majestic and glorious is your work, your wise design endures forever.
4 You won renown for your wondrous deeds; gracious and merciful is the LORD.
5 You gave food to those who fear you, mindful of your covenant forever.
6 You showed powerful deeds to your people, giving them the lands of the nations.
7 The works of your hands are right and true, reliable all your decrees,
8 Established forever and ever, to be observed with loyalty and care.
9 You sent deliverance to your people, ratified your covenant forever; holy and awesome is your name.
10 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom; prudent are all who live by it. Your praise endures forever.
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This is the responsorial psalm from tomorrow's daily mass, and was written by David.
God called David a man after His own heart (1 Samuel 13:14). Have you ever wondered why? What do we see in David that merits this praise from the almighty Lord?
One thing that always strikes me about David is shown in verses 7-10. David doesn't see the Lord's commands as onerous/painful/restrictive/whatever. He says the Lord's decrees are reliable, established forever, and are to be observed with loyalty and care.
Many have said such things. The difference with David is that he LIVED that way He put his faith in the Lord and did what the Lord told him to do. That's the model to follow. As it says in James 1:22, we are to be doers of the Word, not hearers only.
PS - Psalm 111 gives just a taste of David's take on obedience. Read Psalm 119 for the full picture.
PPS - I highly recommend diving into David's life in 1 Samuel, 2 Samuel, the beginning of 1 Kings, and also reading his songs of praise in the Psalms. In those writings we can see what a man after God's own heart is really like.
