Beloved, I am glad to share with you today the above theme from Ps 112:1 and following. Indeed, this psalm is related to the previous one, as shown by the same alphabetical arrangement of the verses. In Psalm 111 the righteousness of Jehovah subsists in perpetuity. In Psalm 112 it is the righteousness of the one who fears Jehovah that subsists in perpetuity. Our verse 1 goes on and goes beyond Psalm 111:10. The fear of God, the way of wisdom, is also that of blessing. It is no longer just a matter of practicing the commandments of Jehovah, but of taking great pleasure in them. It was Jesus’ part that could say, “It is my delight, O my God, to do what is your good pleasure” (Ps 40:7-11; Jn 4:31-34).
Some people are always afraid of learning bad news. Well! the fear of God removes this fear of men or of unfortunate events. The heart of the one who trusts in God is not troubled by what is happening (Pr 1:29-33); he is firm, because the Lord sustains him (John 14:1-27). But a firm heart can be at the same time a sensitive heart full of love. The righteous use grace, spread and give to the poor. “He is full of grace and merciful” like God Himself (Ps 111:4; John 5:10-11).
“Blessed is the man who fears Jehovah” Although the prophet begins with an exhortation, he has something further in sight, than simply the call to the faithful to praise God: To practice wickedness and commit injustice is, in all areas, a great happiness; and, although integrity can sometimes be praised, there is hardly one in a hundred who pursues it, because everyone imagines that they will be miserable unless they grasp as loot everything that is in their way. In contrast to this, the prophet tells us that more benefits must be expected from God’s paternal consideration than from the infliction of all kinds of wounds and the perpetration of all kinds of injustices in our power; and by putting before us the certain hope of reward, he brings us back to the practice of fairness and beneficence.
For while the law is boldly despised by mankind, nothing is more common than pretending that they fear God. Such ungodliness is well refuted by the prophet, when he recognizes no one as belonging to the worshippers of God, but one who strives to keep his law. For the prophet makes a distinction between a voluntary and prompt effort to keep the law, and that which consists of simple servile and coerced obedience. We must therefore cheerfully embrace God’s law, and this too, in such a way that his love, with all its meekness, can overcome all the seductions of the flesh, otherwise mere attention to it will be useless. Therefore, a man cannot be considered a true observer of the law, until he has achieved this — that the pleasure he takes in God’s law makes obedience pleasing to him. The prophet, in affirming that God’s worshippers are happy, guards us against the dangerous deception that the ungodly practice on themselves, imagining that they can reap some kind of happiness, whatever, of doing evil.
‘The wicked will see it’ Here is a contrast similar to the one we encountered in Ps 2:5, which makes God’s grace to the faithful the most illustrious. Its meaning is that, although the wicked may reject all regard for piety and banish from their minds all thoughts of human affairs under the supervision of God’s providence, they will nevertheless be led to feel, whether they like it or not, that the righteous, in accordance with God’s commandment, do not devote themselves in vain to the culture of charity and mercy. Let them harden as they wish, but he declares that the honor that God bestows on His children will be exposed to them, whose sight will make them cringe and excite a desire that will consume them by inches. In conclusion, he adds that the bad guys will be disappointed with their desires. They are never satisfied, but are always thirsty for something, and their confidence is as presumptuous as their avarice is unlimited. And so, in their crazy expectations, they do not hesitate to seize the whole world. But the prophet tells them that God will snatch from them what they already imagined in their possession, so that they will always leave destitute and hungry.
The following verses have been compiled for your edification and grouped together for your better understanding.
The quiet happiness of upright people:
· Examples of righteous men dominated by the Fear of God
Neh 5:15 Before me, the first governors overwhelmed the people, and received from them bread and wine, in addition to forty sicles of money; their servants themselves oppressed the people. I did not do so, out of fear of God. Jon 1:9 He answered them: I am Hebrew, and I fear Jehovah, the God of heaven, who made the sea and the earth. Acts 5:11 A great fear took hold of the whole assembly and all those who learned these things. Acts 10:2 This man was pious and feared God, with his whole house; he gave many alms to the people, and prayed to God continuously.
· Prosperity of the righteous
Gen 39:3 His master saw that Jehovah was with him, and that Jehovah made all that he undertook prosper in His hands. Dt 29:9 So you will keep the words of this covenant, and put them into practice, so that you may succeed in all that you do. 2 Ch 31:21 He acts with all his heart, and he succeeds in all that he undertook, seeking his God, for the service of God’s house, for the law, and for the commandments. Ps 1.3 It is like a tree planted near a stream of water, Which gives its fruit in its season, And whose foliage does not wither: Everything it does succeeds in it.
· The promised light
-To those who obey Ps 97:11 The light is sown for the righteous, and joy for those whose hearts are straight.
-To righteous men Ps 112:4 The light rises in darkness for righteous men, for him who is merciful, compassionate and just.
-To the righteous Pr 4:18 The path of the righteous is like the resplendent light, whose brilliance grows until the middle of the day.
-To the benevolent Isa 58:8 Then your light will shine like the dawn, and your healing will germinate promptly; Your righteousness will walk before you, and the glory of the Lord will accompany you.
-To the Church of the future Isa 60:20 Your sun will no longer set, and your moon will no longer darken; For the Lord will be your light forever, and the days of your mourning will be over.
-To the disciples of Christ John 8:12 Jesus spoke to them again, and said: I am the light of the world; he who follows me will not walk in darkness, but he will have the light of life. 1 John 2:10 He who loves his brother dwells in the light, and no opportunity for fall is in him.
· Elevation of the Saints
Ps 91:1 He who dwells under the shelter of the Most High Rests in the shadow of the Almighty. Isaiah 58:14 Then thou shalt put thy pleasure in the Lord, and I will make you ascend to the heights of the land, I will make you enjoy the inheritance of Jacob, your father; For the mouth of the Lord has spoken. Dn 12:3 Those who have been intelligent will shine like the splendor of heaven, and those who have taught righteousness to the multitude will shine like the stars, forever and in perpetuity. Luke 19:17 He said to him: It is good, good servant; because you have been faithful in little, receive the government of ten cities. 1 Cor 6:2 However, it is a wisdom that we preach among the perfect, wisdom that is not of this century, nor of the leaders of this century, that will be annihilated; Rev 3:21 He who overcomes, I will have him sit with me on my throne, as I have conquered and sat with my Father on his throne.
From all of the above, we note the continuity of the enumeration of the blessings that are the part of the one who fears Jehovah. Jesus is fully and truly this obedient man; and all that is mentioned in this psalm was promised to him in resurrection and will be his share in the kingdom. Here we also find a more complete picture of the virtues and privileges of man who practices goodness and justice, and who fears God. But it is another hallelujah that we have here – a new hymn in praise of the same Lord, a new opportunity to raise one’s voice in praise. We have proof that this psalm concerns the Jewish people, in the usage that Paul emphasizes through the Spirit in 2 Cor. 9:8-10. We can notice that what in this psalm is a promise is only a wish in the quoted passage. For the blessings that the Saints are called to enjoy in the present dispensation are not earthly blessings commensurate with the circumstances of the present life, unlike what God’s promise in this psalm suggests. We may wish, out of brotherly love, for the present prosperity of the saints, as John wished to Gaius (3 John 2), but this is not what God promises us. On the other hand, Psalm 112 describes the character of those who fear Jehovah, as well as the blessing that will be shared with them when God’s government is established. All this shows how impossible it is to apply these Psalms to the position of today’s saints, although the exercises of faith and piety often have the same origin in saints of all ages. But it is through the deliverance of Israel that the name of Jehovah is then manifested. Our prayers are with you all.
PRAYER OF ACCEPTANCE OF JESUS CHRIST AS LORD AND PERSONAL SAVIOR
I now invite every person who wants to become a new creation by walking in the truth, to pray with me the following prayer:
Lord Jesus, I have long walked in the lusts of the world ignoring your love for humans. I admit to having sinned against you and ask your forgiveness for all my sins, because today I have decided to give you my life by taking you as Lord and personal Savior. I recognize that you died on the cross of Calvary and rose from the dead for me.
I am now saved and born again by the power of the Holy Spirit. Lead me every day to the eternal life that you give to all who obey your Word. Reveal yourself to me and strengthen my heart and faith, so that your light may shine in my life right now.
Thank you, Lord Jesus, for accepting me into your divine family, so that I may also contemplate the wonders of your kingdom.
I will now choose a nearby waterpoint to baptize myself by immersion, in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
All adoration, power and glory are yours, now and forever and ever. Amen!
I would be happy to respond to any questions and comments you may have, before sharing with you tomorrow ” the many aspects of God’s Word.”
May the Lord Jesus Christ bless you abundantly.
David Feze, Servant of the Almighty God.