Praise the Lord. 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
“General conformity to the standards of the covenant and in particular generosity as the corollary of God’s gift of wealth. The God who gives expects the recipient to be godlike in his [or her] giving. As a consequence, he [or she] will know success in his [or her] life and command the respect of others. The picture of prosperity as the reward of virtue is enhanced by the final reference to the frustrated chagrin of the “wicked” who see none of their ambitions come true.”
Leslie C. Allen in Psalms 101-150 (WBC; Waco; Word, 1983) 97.
Would people say you are “godlike” in your giving following the pattern of God in this psalm?
The psalmist depicts those who use God’s material gifts rightly as gracious and compassionate. They are generous and lend freely and conduct their affairs with justice. The world has a different definition of justice and fairness than God does.
When it reads that “He scatters his gifts to the poor” (cf. 2 Corinthians 9:9), that term for poor used here does not mean “destitute” but the “working class.” This implies that those who work hard daily and make an income are part of the cycle of generosity.
They are blessed to be a blessing. For too many, the blessing stops with them.
What is God’s desire and design for ordinary people like you and me? Be gracious, generous, and compassionate. Make us into such people, Father, by your Holy Spirit, for your glory, so that we show your love and justice and kindness in a broken world. Amen.