Psalms 111:4
He hath made his wonderful works to be remembered: the LORD is gracious and full of compassion.
Psalms 111:4
Verse 4 says: “He hath made his wonderful works to be remembered: the LORD is gracious and full of compassion.” The psalmist notes that God’s deeds are memorable—worthy of recall and celebration. This memorial aspect serves as a didactic tool: remembering God’s works strengthens faith, teaches future generations, and fosters gratitude. The second clause highlights two attributes: graciousness and compassion. God’s generosity and mercy are core to his action toward humanity. The rhythm of memory and mercy in this verse invites believers to appropriate the memory of God’s saving acts as a foundation for trust and conduct. In ancient Israel, ritual feasts, festivals, and recounting of deliverances functioned as public memory. The verse ties memory to character: as we remember God’s gracious acts, we encounter and imitate his compassion.
Memory of God’s works is not nostalgia but theological formation. It anchors identity in grace and mercy, countering fear or despair with the assurance of God’s character. The verse points to the doctrine of God’s benevolence: gracious and full of compassion. It complements the Melchizedek motif in Psalm 110:4 by reinforcing that God’s graciousness is the motive for priestly mediation and rescue. The memory of divine acts becomes the bedrock for trust in present trials and future hope.
Practically, cultivate daily or weekly practices that recount God’s gracious deeds—family prayers, storytelling, gratitude journals, or sermons. In times of hardship, recall past mercies to strengthen faith and respond with compassion toward others. Use reminders like anniversaries of deliverances or testimonies in community to foster encouragement. Let memory of God’s goodness shape generosity and mercy in your interactions, especially with those who are marginalized or hurting. This verse invites you to live as someone who keeps God’s graciousness in view, which empowers you to act mercifully and to extend forgiveness just as you have received grace.
Cross-References: Psalm 103:2; Lamentations 3:22–23; Exodus 34:6; Nehemiah 9:17; Psalm 77:11–12