Heart of a Psalmist - Worshipping Christ Through The Psalms

PSALM 112: HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS ENDURES FOREVER The Generous Person

This psalm is a close relative of Psalm 111 (see Psalm 111) emphasizing the blessings upon the person who applies the righteousness of God to their own lives. While Psalm 111 stresses the public wor- ship of God, this psalm highlights the private wealth of the individual who imitates the life of Christ. ‘ …it bears the same relation to the preceding which the moon does to the sun; for while the first (111) de- clares the glory of God, the second (112) speaks of the reflection of the divine brightness in men born from above 1 .’ Christ is seen as the ‘light’ that arises in the dark times of the believer and verse 9 is the scripture Paul quotes in the New Testament to establish the concept of generosity towards the poor. The “fear (rev- erence) for the Lord” that ends Psalm 111 is now transferred to the personal life of the worshiper in this song creating both temporal and eternal happiness. The psalm is a series of non-negotiable declarations that God promises to those who pattern their lives after his teaching. This beautiful acrostic poem that begins each half verse with the letters of the Hebrew alphabet is a small, literary masterpiece. It is out- lined as:

I

GODLY PEOPLE - v. 1-3

They Are Wealthy Things Go Well They Win in Life

II GENEROUS - v. 4, 5 III GOOD DEEDS - v. 6-9 IV GRIND THEIR TEETH -v10

The Wicked Defeated

I GODLY PEOPLE - v. 1-3 They Are Wealthy

“Praise the Lord!” (1)

Psalm 112 is classified as one of the “Hallelujah” psalms even though it does not close with the call to praise. How easy it is to pass over this declaration as a well worn cliché and not ponder the depth of its meaning. The writer has a ‘Hallelujah’ in their soul. All that they do in life is filled with the praises of ‘Yah’; their families, their finances and their struggles against their foes. This word is the distillation of the message of the entire Book of Psalms; it stands alone, a reason unto itself: “Hallelujah” (Praise the Lord!) • “Happy are those who fear the Lord. Yes, happy are those who delight in doing what he com- mands.” (1) The last verse of Psalm 111 encouraging reverence for God becomes the opening theme of this song. On one side there is great respect for God; and on the other is great delight in him. Karl Barth, one of the twentieth centuries greatest theologians said; ‘what we do not fear above all things we do not prop- erly fear at all 2 …’ Spurgeon observes; ‘Hypocrites rejoice in the doctrines, but never in the commands 3 .’ Personal happiness and joy find their source deep in the well of the fear of God. • Their children will be successful everywhere; an entire generation of godly people will be blessed.” (2) One godly person who determines to imitate Christ can affect an entire generation through their children. Abraham instilled a delight for the laws of God into his family’s heart and is still blessing the nations today; “For Abraham will become a great and mighty nation, and all the nations of the earth will be blessed through him. I have singled him out so that he will direct his sons and their families to keep the way of the Lord and do what is right and just. Then I will do for him all that I have promised.” (Gen. 18:18) • “They themselves will be wealthy, and their good deeds will never be forgotten.” (3)[“Wealth and riches are in his house, and his righteousness endures forever. (NIV)” In the Old Testament mate- rial wealth was a sign of the blessing of God. In the New Testament wealth is internalized into the qual- ity of ‘generosity’ where there is first a richness of faith and service towards God. Jesus taught; “Real life is not measured by how much we own…Yes, a person is a fool to store up earthly wealth but not have a rich relationship with God.” (Lk. 12:15, 21) A person with a ‘generous heart’ will be blessed in any en- vironment because of the richness of Christ within their life. “His righteousness endures forever…(NIV)” Righteousness is first given as a gift to the believer and then expressed in a life of good deeds and gen- erosity that will “never be forgotten” in this life and in eternity.

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