Tehillim 111 | “I Will Praise the Lord with All My Heart”

This psalm opens with a title verse and closes with a concluding one. In the title, the poet declares he will praise the Lord, and in the conclusion, in a style characteristic of wisdom literature (like Mishlei, Kohelet, Iyov, and parts of Tehillim), he asserts that the highest form of wisdom is fear of the Lord, and that the praise of God endures forever. The body of the psalm presents the subjects for which the poet wishes to offer thanks. While some verses are open to multiple interpretations, the overall thanksgiving focuses on four domains: the creation of the world (“Great are the Lord's works” (v. 2)), God’s providence over His creatures (“He provided food for those who fear Him” (v. 5)), His guidance over the people of Israel (“granting them their share of the nations” (v. 6)), and the Torah (“truth and justice are His handiwork” (v. 7)).

Rav Elchanan Samet offers an interpretation and structure of the psalm in which the first half of the praises refers to universal matters, and the second half to the people of Israel. In the first half, the thanks is given for creation, and then for God’s governance of the world; in the second half, thanks is given for God’s governance of Israel, and for the Torah. This structure creates a chiastic parallel: creation corresponds to the Torah — both are expressions of God's will and means of encountering Him, but the Torah is a higher, more spiritual expression than creation, one that offers a more intimate connection with God. Similarly, God's governance of Israel parallels His governance of the world, but elevates it to a higher level and a more personal relationship.

The psalm is structured alphabetically, and in this context, it seems to signify that the theme — the praise of God, is infinite and impossible to fully contain. It is true from aleph to tav (beginning to end).