He has caused his wondrous works to be remembered; the LORD is gracious and merciful.
English Standard Version (ESV)
It's easy to read this verse as two separate statements, but the real beauty is how God's character enables His works to be remembered. He doesn't just do amazing things; He intentionally creates "memorials" for them, so that His grace and mercy, so clearly displayed in those actions, will never be forgotten.
He has caused his wondrous works to be remembered; the LORD is gracious and merciful.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This psalm begins with a declaration of wholehearted praise to God, focusing on His mighty deeds and decrees. The psalmist is prompted to remember God's wonderful works, especially those performed on behalf of Israel like the Exodus from Egypt, and to reflect on the loving-kindness and faithfulness that underpin them. This leads directly into the description of God's character: He has established enduring reminders of His acts, and He is indeed gracious and merciful.
Have you ever felt like your memories of God's goodness fade too quickly? You're not alone. The Psalmist highlights that God Himself is the architect of memory.
The verse says, "He has caused his wondrous works to be remembered." This isn't just about us trying to remember; it's about God actively ensuring His deeds aren't forgotten.
Divine Memorials
God doesn't leave His acts of faithfulness to chance. He institutes them in ways that demand remembrance:
God knows our hearts are prone to wander and forget. So, He crafts His relationship with us through events and traditions that keep His grace in our view.
Why does God make sure we remember His works? It's not just to impress us, but to reveal His very nature. The two parts of this verse are deeply connected.
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The second half of the verse, "the LORD is gracious and merciful," isn't an afterthought; it's the reason for the wonders and the heart behind them.
From Wonder to Character
When we look at God's mighty acts, the ultimate lesson is His incredible kindness and compassion towards us, even when we falter.
Understand the original words
ḥannûn / raḥûm · Hebrew Adjective
Describes the compassionate, forgiving, and benevolent nature of God. It signifies His unmerited favor and His deep compassion toward those in need.
This Psalm seems to echo the profound relief and renewed faith experienced after the return from the Babylonian exile, a time when God's 'wonderful works' of deliverance and faithfulness were acutely remembered, reminding them of His enduring graciousness.
c. 1446 BC
Exodus from Egypt
God powerfully delivers the Israelites from slavery in Egypt, marking a foundational event of remembrance and a display of His gracious and merciful character.
c. 1400 BC
Conquest of Canaan
Following the Exodus, the Israelites enter and conquer the Promised Land, a significant act of God's faithfulness to His covenant promises.
c. 538 BC— this verse
Return from Babylonian Exile
After decades of exile, a decree allows many Jewish people to return to Jerusalem, marking a pivotal moment of divine remembrance and restoration.
c. 516 BC
Rebuilding of the Temple
The Second Temple is completed in Jerusalem, symbolizing God's continued presence and faithfulness to His people after their return from exile.
This passage directly describes God's character as gracious and merciful, echoing the second half of Psalms 111:4 and showing the foundational attributes that drive His wonderful works.
Joshua 4:6-7This passage describes the creation of a memorial from stones to remember God's mighty acts, directly illustrating the concept in the first part of Psalms 111:4 about making His wonders remembered.
Nehemiah 9:16-17This prayer recounts God's past 'wonderful works,' particularly His deliverance of Israel, and highlights His 'gracious and compassionate' nature, drawing a clear parallel to the themes in Psalms 111:4.
Psalm 103:8This verse explicitly states that 'The LORD is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love,' reinforcing the description of God's character given in Psalms 111:4.
clarkePsalms 111:4: "He hath made his wonderful works to be remembered: the LORD is gracious and full of compassion."
He hath made his wonderful works - He who seeks them out will never forget them; and every thing of God's framing is done in such a way, as to strike the imagination, interest the senses, and charm and edify the intellect. But the psalmist may here intend principally the works of God in behalf of the Jewish people; and particularly in their deliverance from the Babylonish captivity, w…
wesleyPsalms 111:4: "He hath made his wonderful works to be remembered: the LORD is gracious and full of compassion."
111:4 Remembered - By their own nature, and the lasting benefits flowing from them, which are such as cannot easily be forgotten.
It's easy to read this verse as two separate statements, but the real beauty is how God's character enables His works to be remembered. He doesn't just do amazing things; He intentionally creates "memorials" for them, so that His grace and mercy, so clearly displayed in those actions, will never be forgotten.
This psalm begins with a declaration of wholehearted praise to God, focusing on His mighty deeds and decrees. The psalmist is prompted to remember God's wonderful works, especially those performed on behalf of Israel like the Exodus from Egypt, and to reflect on the loving-kindness and faithfulness that underpin them. This leads directly into the description of God's character: He has established enduring reminders of His acts, and He is indeed gracious and merciful.
This psalm begins with a declaration of wholehearted praise to God, focusing on His mighty deeds and decrees. The psalmist is prompted to remember God's wonderful works, especially those performed on behalf of Israel like the Exodus from Egypt, and to reflect on the loving-kindness and faithfulness that underpin them. This leads directly into the description of God's character: He has established enduring reminders of His acts, and He is indeed gracious and merciful.
"He has caused his wondrous works to be remembered; the LORD is gracious and merciful." — It's easy to read this verse as two separate statements, but the real beauty is how God's character enables His works to be remembered. He doesn't just do amazing things; He intentionally creates…
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Last reviewed October 2026