Acrostic Majesty

Series: Changes

Psalm 111:3 MSG

Psalm 111 is an acrostic song and after the opening line of introduction the subsequent line begins with the first letter of the Hebrew alphabet.

Psalm 111:3 is marked by the Hebrew letter Gimel (the third letter of the Hebrew Alphabet).

Psalm 111:3 in English tells us,

“God’s works are so great, worth

A lifetime of study—endless enjoyment!

Splendor and beauty mark his craft;

His generosity never gives out.”

I’ve always loved poetry and symbolism as a form of expression. The psalms often speak to a deep and wide place in our hearts and minds. The author for Psalm 111 isn’t mentioned but it’s clear that he understood the value of praising God. See, God created us so that when we praise God (or something else) it does something to our human brain.

At the time the psalms were written they would not have known the names of the chemicals in the brain that are produced, but they would have known praising God produced something (neurochemicals) that change us. “Endocannabinoids are self-produced cannabis that work on the CB-1 and CB-2 receptors of the cannabinoid system. Anandamide (from the Sanskrit “Ananda” meaning Bliss) is the most well-known endocannabinoid.” Scientists have identified these super chemicals our brain produces when we engage in specific activities. For example, runner’s high is produced (https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/the-athletes-way/201211/the-neurochemicals-of-happiness).

Other chemicals produced in the brain include dopamine, which makes us seek rewards (doing good), oxytocin which gives us the desire to bond with others, endorphins which help us deal with pain, and GABA that helps us to relax.

Meditating on the psalms not only connects us to God, the source of life it does something in the human brain.

So while I’ve never been a runner, I do walk and I meditate. When I started meditating and walking 50 years ago I had no idea God created our bodies so that those activities produced neurochemicals in our brain. Even though it might be zero degrees outside, through meditation and praising God in the psalms we are producing chemicals that give us joy.

God’s works are indeed great!

We can never learn too much about God but when we meditate in God we are given enjoyment…God IS the source of all life.

God created splendor and beauty and that includes God creating me (and you).

God’s generosity is never ending.

Today meditate on Psalm 111:3…be aware of how God changes your brain.

Isn’t God marvelous?!?

In God, Deborah

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