The works of his hands are faithful and just; all his precepts are trustworthy; they are established forever and ever, to be performed with faithfulness and uprightness. (Psalm 111:7-8)
The things he does are faithful. Usually I think of a person being faithful. Faithful is loyal, trustworthy, keeping promises. Things like that. How can actions be faithful?
I think it has something to do with his hands. He does those faithful actions with his hands. When we talk about getting our hands dirty it means we’re involved. We’re not supervising, we’re right in the middle of it. So, his works can be faithful and just because that’s what he is – and he’s in what he does right up to his elbows!
His precepts are trustworthy, too. Precepts are rules or commandments. Usually you think of promises being trustworthy—not rules. But think about it, most of the rules God makes have promises attached to them. Do this and you’ll live long in the land. Do this and I will be your God and you will be my people. This section says that they are trustworthy—worthy of trust.
And they are established forever and ever. Established can also be translated to lean, rest, support. Think about the picture those words paint. We can put our weight on them. They’re not going to collapse—we’re not going to fall. They will continue to be support forever and ever.
Look at what else it says. These works of his and his precepts are to be performed with faithfulness and uprightness. Performed with faithfulness. What does that mean to you? To me it’s a picture of something I can put my trust in. Again it’s about loyalty and keeping promises. He has promised, he has done what needed doing and now he loyally continues.
The person who wrote this Psalm really wanted us to know for sure! Look at the words he used—faithful, trustworthy, established—and then there’s just and uprightness. How much more solid could you make it? We can trust what he does. We can trust what he says.
Period!