Studies in the Psalms - Psalm 112

Well, I spent a lifetime lookin' for you
Single bars and good time lovers were never true
Playin' a fools game, hopin' to win
Tellin' those sweet lies and losin' again

Those are the lyrics of a good, ole country song sung by Johnny Lee back in 1980. They still ring true today. We live in a society where people just cannot find the love they need and happiness escapes them. Alcohol, drugs, and sex are just three of the vices that we seek in the quest for happiness. But as Johnny Lee sang, we are looking for love in all the wrong places. Psalm 112 is a wonderful reminder of how to find happiness.

Psalm 112:1
Praise the LORD! How blessed is the man who fears the LORD, Who greatly delights in His commandments.

The word blessed means happy. Though this psalm is written in view of the physical promises God made to Israel through the Old Covenant, they apply in spiritual basis to the New Covenant believer. Listen to what life is like for the one who fears God and delights in His commandments.

Psalm 112:2-6
His descendants will be mighty on earth; The generation of the upright will be blessed.  Wealth and riches are in his house, And his righteousness endures forever.  Light arises in the darkness for the upright; He is gracious and compassionate and righteous.  It is well with the man who is gracious and lends; He will maintain his cause in judgment.  For he will never be shaken; The righteous will be remembered forever.

The righteous will be remembered forever. The false prosperity teachers who fill our televisions at night and tell us God will give us anything we want because we deserve them, misuse scriptures such as these. They leave out the story of Job in their preaching. There will be plenty of suffering in the life of a believer. Some believers will not be wealthy in terms of money. But because of this promise, the righteous will be remembered forever, God has guaranteed to those who fear Him and turn to Christ for salvation, an eternal blessedness. Though you may live in a shack on earth, listen to this promise from Jesus in John 14:2
 

“In My Father's house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.”

Psalm 112:7-8
He will not fear evil tidings; His heart is steadfast, trusting in the LORD.  His heart is upheld, he will not fear, Until he looks with satisfaction on his adversaries.

Believers need not fear anything. We can trust the Lord, even in the midst of the scariest storm.

Psalm 112:9
He has given freely to the poor, His righteousness endures forever; His horn will be exalted in honor.

We can trust in God to provide all we truly need and are free to give in His name. Psalm 112 ends by explain what happens when the wicked see a Christian living his faith out.

Psalm 112:10
The wicked will see it and be vexed, He will gnash his teeth and melt away; The desire of the wicked will perish.

Christians, we must stand in awe of God and worship Him with all our being. That worship must be cloaked in reverence of God and in delight of His Word and the commandments within It.

Looking for love and happiness?

Psalm 112:1
Praise the LORD! How blessed is the man who fears the LORD, Who greatly delights in His commandments.

Amen