Psalms 112 Commentary
Praise ye the Lord. Blessed is the man that feareth the Lord, that delighteth greatly in his commandments.
His seed shall be mighty upon earth: the generation of the upright shall be blessed.
Wealth and riches shall be in his house: and his righteousness endureth for ever.
Unto the upright there ariseth light in the darkness: he is gracious, and full of compassion, and righteous.
A good man sheweth favour, and lendeth: he will guide his affairs with discretion.
Surely he shall not be moved for ever: the righteous shall be in everlasting remembrance.
He shall not be afraid of evil tidings: his heart is fixed, trusting in the Lord.
His heart is established, he shall not be afraid, until he see his desire upon his enemies.
He hath dispersed, he hath given to the poor; his righteousness endureth for ever; his horn shall be exalted with honour.
The wicked shall see it, and be grieved; he shall gnash with his teeth, and melt away: the desire of the wicked shall perish.
Psalms 112, like Psalms 111, is crafted as an acrostic poem in its original Hebrew form, where each line begins with a successive letter of the Hebrew alphabet. While this structure isn't obvious in translation, it highlights the psalm's intentional and artful design. Both Psalms 111 and 112 echo sentiments found in other psalms and the book of Proverbs, particularly emphasizing the importance of fearing the Lord (Proverbs 1:7; 20:7). Where Psalms 111 focuses on God's mighty acts, Psalms 112 shifts our attention to the blessings that come from faithfully honoring Him. This psalm sings of the rewards, both tangible and intangible, bestowed upon those who revere God and align their lives with His will.
The Blessings of Fearing the Lord (Psalms 112:1-6)
The psalm begins by extolling the blessedness of the person who fears the LORD and delights greatly in His commandments (Psalms 112:1). This isn't just about lip service; it's about a life lived in obedience and joyful submission to God's will. The psalmist describes the person who fears the LORD. Such a person is not all talk; rather, he takes delight in [God’s] commands (Psalms 112:1). He knows that fearing God is about how you live and not merely what you say. This echoes a major theme of Proverbs: following God's wisdom leads to success (Proverbs 1:7; 3:1–2; 15:33).
The blessings that follow are multifaceted. Their children will be mighty in the land (Psalms 112:2), indicating a legacy of righteousness and influence. Wealth and riches will be in their houses (Psalms 112:3), not necessarily guaranteeing material abundance, but suggesting a provision that meets their needs. Their righteousness endures forever (Psalms 112:3), a testament to the lasting impact of a life lived for God.
The psalmist also recounts the blessings available to those who fear the Lord and describes their godly character (Psalms 112:2-4). As a result, they will experience goodness and be unshakeable (Psalms 112:5-6). Light dawns in the darkness for the upright (Psalms 112:4), highlighting God's guidance and provision even in challenging times. They are gracious, compassionate, and righteous (Psalms 112:4), embodying the character of God in their interactions with others. They are good to those who are generous and lend freely, who conduct their affairs with justice (Psalms 112:5). Surely they will never be shaken (Psalms 112:6), signifying a stability and security rooted in their faith. The righteous will be remembered forever (Psalms 112:6), emphasizing the enduring legacy of a life lived in devotion to God.
Confidence and Compassion (Psalms 112:7-9)
The psalm continues by emphasizing the peace and security that come from trusting in the Lord. They will have no fear of bad news (Psalms 112:7), because their hearts are steadfast, trusting in the LORD (Psalms 112:7). The one who fears God will not fear circumstances or people because his heart is confident, trusting in the LORD (Psalms 112:7-8). Their hearts are secure, they will have no fear (Psalms 112:8), even when facing adversity.
Furthermore, the righteous are characterized by their generosity and compassion. They have freely scattered their gifts to the poor (Psalms 112:9), demonstrating a heart that cares for the vulnerable and needy. He cares for the poor, and God cares for him (Psalms 112:9). Their righteousness endures forever (Psalms 112:9), and their horn will be lifted high in honor, signifying their vindication and exaltation.
The Fate of the Wicked (Psalms 112:10)
In stark contrast to the blessedness of the righteous, the psalm concludes with a glimpse into the fate of the wicked. The wicked person will see all this and be vexed (Psalms 112:10), driven to rage by the prosperity and righteousness of the godly. Nevertheless, such rage is impotent; his desire . . . leads to ruin (Psalms 112:10). They will gnash their teeth and waste away (Psalms 112:10), consumed by envy and ultimately destroyed by their own wickedness. The desire of the wicked will be thwarted (Psalms 112:10), highlighting the futility of their pursuits and the ultimate triumph of righteousness. Thus, we are reminded that, ultimately, the righteous will prosper and the wicked will perish (see Psalms 1). Those who reject God have no such hope. They can only expect to live in jealousy and angst, until their life ends (Revelation 20:11–15) and everything they have gained is lost.
Psalms 112 reminds us that fearing the Lord is not a burden, but a pathway to blessing, security, and lasting joy. It encourages us to live lives of righteousness, compassion, and unwavering trust in God, knowing that He will ultimately vindicate the righteous and bring justice to the wicked. This psalm invites us to cultivate a heart that delights in God's commands and to experience the abundant life He promises to those who honor Him.
Praise ye the Lord. Blessed is the man that feareth the Lord, that delighteth greatly in his commandments.
His seed shall be mighty upon earth: the generation of the upright shall be blessed.
Wealth and riches shall be in his house: and his righteousness endureth for ever.
Unto the upright there ariseth light in the darkness: he is gracious, and full of compassion, and righteous.
A good man sheweth favour, and lendeth: he will guide his affairs with discretion.
Surely he shall not be moved for ever: the righteous shall be in everlasting remembrance.
He shall not be afraid of evil tidings: his heart is fixed, trusting in the Lord.
His heart is established, he shall not be afraid, until he see his desire upon his enemies.
He hath dispersed, he hath given to the poor; his righteousness endureth for ever; his horn shall be exalted with honour.
The wicked shall see it, and be grieved; he shall gnash with his teeth, and melt away: the desire of the wicked shall perish.
Psalms 112, like Psalms 111, is crafted as an acrostic poem in its original Hebrew form, where each line begins with a successive letter of the Hebrew alphabet. While this structure isn't obvious in translation, it highlights the psalm's intentional and artful design. Both Psalms 111 and 112 echo sentiments found in other psalms and the book of Proverbs, particularly emphasizing the importance of fearing the Lord (Proverbs 1:7; 20:7). Where Psalms 111 focuses on God's mighty acts, Psalms 112 shifts our attention to the blessings that come from faithfully honoring Him. This psalm sings of the rewards, both tangible and intangible, bestowed upon those who revere God and align their lives with His will.
The Blessings of Fearing the Lord (Psalms 112:1-6)
The psalm begins by extolling the blessedness of the person who fears the LORD and delights greatly in His commandments (Psalms 112:1). This isn't just about lip service; it's about a life lived in obedience and joyful submission to God's will. The psalmist describes the person who fears the LORD. Such a person is not all talk; rather, he takes delight in [God’s] commands (Psalms 112:1). He knows that fearing God is about how you live and not merely what you say. This echoes a major theme of Proverbs: following God's wisdom leads to success (Proverbs 1:7; 3:1–2; 15:33).
The blessings that follow are multifaceted. Their children will be mighty in the land (Psalms 112:2), indicating a legacy of righteousness and influence. Wealth and riches will be in their houses (Psalms 112:3), not necessarily guaranteeing material abundance, but suggesting a provision that meets their needs. Their righteousness endures forever (Psalms 112:3), a testament to the lasting impact of a life lived for God.
The psalmist also recounts the blessings available to those who fear the Lord and describes their godly character (Psalms 112:2-4). As a result, they will experience goodness and be unshakeable (Psalms 112:5-6). Light dawns in the darkness for the upright (Psalms 112:4), highlighting God's guidance and provision even in challenging times. They are gracious, compassionate, and righteous (Psalms 112:4), embodying the character of God in their interactions with others. They are good to those who are generous and lend freely, who conduct their affairs with justice (Psalms 112:5). Surely they will never be shaken (Psalms 112:6), signifying a stability and security rooted in their faith. The righteous will be remembered forever (Psalms 112:6), emphasizing the enduring legacy of a life lived in devotion to God.
Confidence and Compassion (Psalms 112:7-9)
The psalm continues by emphasizing the peace and security that come from trusting in the Lord. They will have no fear of bad news (Psalms 112:7), because their hearts are steadfast, trusting in the LORD (Psalms 112:7). The one who fears God will not fear circumstances or people because his heart is confident, trusting in the LORD (Psalms 112:7-8). Their hearts are secure, they will have no fear (Psalms 112:8), even when facing adversity.
Furthermore, the righteous are characterized by their generosity and compassion. They have freely scattered their gifts to the poor (Psalms 112:9), demonstrating a heart that cares for the vulnerable and needy. He cares for the poor, and God cares for him (Psalms 112:9). Their righteousness endures forever (Psalms 112:9), and their horn will be lifted high in honor, signifying their vindication and exaltation.
The Fate of the Wicked (Psalms 112:10)
In stark contrast to the blessedness of the righteous, the psalm concludes with a glimpse into the fate of the wicked. The wicked person will see all this and be vexed (Psalms 112:10), driven to rage by the prosperity and righteousness of the godly. Nevertheless, such rage is impotent; his desire . . . leads to ruin (Psalms 112:10). They will gnash their teeth and waste away (Psalms 112:10), consumed by envy and ultimately destroyed by their own wickedness. The desire of the wicked will be thwarted (Psalms 112:10), highlighting the futility of their pursuits and the ultimate triumph of righteousness. Thus, we are reminded that, ultimately, the righteous will prosper and the wicked will perish (see Psalms 1). Those who reject God have no such hope. They can only expect to live in jealousy and angst, until their life ends (Revelation 20:11–15) and everything they have gained is lost.
Psalms 112 reminds us that fearing the Lord is not a burden, but a pathway to blessing, security, and lasting joy. It encourages us to live lives of righteousness, compassion, and unwavering trust in God, knowing that He will ultimately vindicate the righteous and bring justice to the wicked. This psalm invites us to cultivate a heart that delights in God's commands and to experience the abundant life He promises to those who honor Him.