Thursday, March 26, 2009

Reflections on Psalm 112

    Psalm 112 (Contemporary English Version)

  1. Shout praises to the LORD! The LORD blesses everyone who worships him and gladly obeys his teachings.
  2. Their descendants will have great power in the land, because the LORD blesses all who do right.
  3. They will get rich and prosper and will always be remembered for their fairness.
  4. They will be so kind and merciful and good, that they will be a light in the dark for others who do the right thing.
  5. Life will go well for those who freely lend and are honest in business.
  6. They won't ever be troubled, and the kind things they do will never be forgotten.
  7. Bad news won't bother them; they have decided to trust the LORD.
  8. They are dependable and not afraid, and they will live to see their enemies defeated.
  9. They will always be remembered and greatly praised, because they were kind and freely gave to the poor.
  10. When evil people see this, they angrily bite their tongues and disappear. They will never get what they really want.




The previous psalm, Psalm 111, concluded by saying that, "The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom." This 112th Psalm picks up from there to tell more about the person who fears the Lord. Not only does he gain wisdom, he is happy, he delights in the Lord's commandments, his descendants will become powerful, and he will also attain wealth. Today this might be called "prosperity theology." I would not want to understand these benefits too directly. As the Believer's Bible Commentary states, "we are wise to transfer them from their earthly, material meaning to the spiritual counterpart." Certainly the point is made in this psalm that fear of the Lord will lead to a lifestyle that reaps blessings. And though such a person may not actually become wealthy, they will live a lifestyle of "honesty, diligence, and frugality" (BBC) that avoids excess.

Notice the psalm and these reflections are not only referring to the benefits one gains by fearing the Lord, they refer also to what a person becomes. Fear of the Lord is more than an attitude which, when embraced, brings reward. It is a way of life that reaps its own rewards. The character and benefits of the person who fears the Lord continue in verse 4 and following. The promise is not given that darkness will be avoided, but when darkness does come there is the promise that light will shine in it to show the way. Notice the character of the one who fears the Lord. They are gracious, compassionate, righteous, lend generously, conduct business fairly, and distributes freely to the poor. The result of such character is that one will "be exalted in honor."

Verse 7 adds another dimension. The one who fears the Lord also trusts in the Lord. And because of that trust they will not fear bad news because of the confidence they have in the Lord. But it is a very different story for the wicked (verse 10). They will see the benefits of those who fear the Lord and be angry. The wicked will "gnash his teeth in despair." Further, his desire will come to nothing. Though nothing is stated, there is an assumed contrast in the psalm. That assumption is that those who fear the Lord are righteous and those who do not are wicked.

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