Psalm 112:1-10 NIV
Praise the Lord. Blessed are those who fear the Lord,
who find great delight in his commands.
Their children will be mighty in the land; the generation of the upright will be blessed.
Wealth and riches are in their houses, and their righteousness endures forever.
Even in darkness light dawns for the upright,
for those who are gracious and compassionate and righteous.
Good will come to those who are generous and lend freely,
who conduct their affairs with justice.
Surely the righteous will never be shaken; they will be remembered forever.
They will have no fear of bad news; their hearts are steadfast, trusting in the Lord.
Their hearts are secure, they will have no fear;
in the end they will look in triumph on their foes.
They have freely scattered their gifts to the poor, their righteousness endures forever;
their horn will be lifted high in honor.
The wicked will see and be vexed, they will gnash their teeth and waste away;
the longings of the wicked will come to nothing.
Psalm 112 is a celebration of the blessed life lived in covenant with the living God. Israel was chosen to be God's holy people, a sign to the rest of the world that obedience to God and keeping His right ways leads to blessings of abundance, health, security and happiness.
The psalmist lists the many blessings the obedient enjoy. They are: many strong children who are a source of pride, wealth, enduring character, and a source of light not dependent upon the weather (no seasonal mood disorders here). The covenant keeping people of God are just, righteous, generous and gracious, showing compassion for the poor. They use their blessings to lift those in need. They are excellent stewards of what God has given to them. They are blessed to be a blessing.
What speaks to me most is the spiritual security reflected here.
Psalm 112:7-8 NIV
They will have no fear of bad news; their hearts are steadfast, trusting in the Lord. Their hearts are secure, they will have no fear; in the end they will look in triumph on their foes.
Just as light shines on God's obedient children even in darkness, the presence of the Almighty brings a bedrock security to the soul. People of faith cannot be shaken completely off their moorings. Like the writer of Hebrews wrote,
Hebrews 6:19a NIV
"We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure."
The psalms are filled with the people of God who are sad, sick, terrified, and frustrated. It's not that people of faith are never distressed. It's that they trust ultimately in God's promises. Eventually our human emotions of fear, anger and sadness give way to faith that all shall be well. The longer one lives in faith, the quicker their bodies respond to trust in the Lord and the sooner their unpleasant feelings melt away in the light of God.
I'm not there yet, but I know the Lord is in the transformation business and I am happy to place my life in His hands.
Thou art the potter; I am the clay.
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