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
“In this Psalm is described the blessedness of the man who feareth the Lord. This blessedness consists in a delight in God’s commandments, in the prosperity of his seed, in the abundance of his house, in comfort in trouble, in his good deeds, honorable memory, and his fearlessness of any evil report. The last verse announces in forcible language the envy of the wicked on witnessing this eminently happy condition of the righteous.”
George Phillips in A Commentary on the Psalms (London: Williams and Norgate, 1872) 331.
In meditating on various Psalms this morning I came across Psalm 112. It seems like the picture of the righteous and generous household. What struck you in reading it? Sit with that idea.
For my part, I notice God supplies abundance and we don’t witness self indulgence in response, but rather service and the scattering of gifts generously. May this be a picture of your home and mine!
As another week begins may God make us into gracious and compassionate and righteous people who remember what to do with the good things God showers on us.