MARKETPLACE PSALM

Marketplace Penang Update

2011 FEBRUARY

A MARKETPLACE PSALM

Psalm 111 belongs to a group of psalms used by the people of God to celebrate the Passover. In this solemn annual re-enactment of the Birth of the Nation of Israel, the three key acts of God to be remembered gratefully are:

Feeding the Nation (v.5)

Housing the Nation (v.6)

Birthing the Nation (v.9)

These three monumental & unforgettable acts of God are woven into the spiritual DNA of God’s people. These will be the benchmarks for subsequent generations of God’s people from which to draw inspiration and direction.

Against this historic backdrop, Psalm 111 paints a 4- D image of God at Work. For me this is an exciting Marketplace Psalm which portrays God’s Work Culture or God’s Style of Working.

SOME GLOBAL STYLES OF WORKING

The Japanese believe in “kaizen” with its focus on continuous change and improving for the better. A major aspect of work culture in the US emphasises similarly on exhaustive & exhausting research and development. The Protestant work ethic is akin to the work ethos of many Asian cultures by promoting hard work & patience. The present day Jewish work philosophy is “chutzpah” or the characteristic of daring & risk taking. For us, our nation claims the slogan, “Malaysia Boleh!”

GREAT WORKS BY A GREAT GOD

God’s works are “great” (v.2) in the sense of their vastness & variety with exceeding height and length. Together, these divine acts are like a loud shout of highest praise to Him our Lord and God!

(re: Strong’s Concordance)

FULLNESS OF GOD

The Revised Standard Version of Psalm 111 gives us an easy-to-remember list of the key qualities of God’s Work Culture:

“Wonderful” (v.4) – Stunning, marvellous, awesome!

“Mindful” (v.5) – Compassionate, considerate, in touch with the needs of the grassroots

“Powerful” (v.6) – For us & not against us in giving us citizenship in His kingdom

“Faithful” (v.7,8)) – Delivering more than He promised

“Merciful” (v.9) – Forgiving our wretched past and freeing us to a glorious future

FULL OF HONOR & MAJESTY

For us, verse 3 sums it up: “Full of honor and majesty is His work, and His righteousness endures forever.”

Picture God’s Trophy Room stacked full, right up to heavenly heights with awards & accolades for flawless excellence & artistry. The angelic “paparazzi” are bursting their pages and screens with superlatives of grandeur and magnificence.

RIGHTEOUSNESS

The works of God dazzle in glorious & majestic splendour because it is not tarnished by hints & tints of corruption & abuse. He is the ultimate “Teflon” professional. You can never find a scandal that will stick and smear His reputation for “Holy is His name!” (v.9). The underlying enduring quality of every act of God is motivated & executed rightly, faithfully & justly (vv.7&8).

To Him belongs eternal praise! (v.10)