Psalms 112 - Printer Friendly

This song echoes a major theme of the book of Proverbs: that those who follow God's will set themselves up for success (Proverbs 1:7; 3:1–2; 15:33). This does not guarantee material wealth, or health, or happiness. An ungodly world will often persecute a faithful Christian (John 16:33). But obeying the Lord keeps the believer away from many dangers and promotes valuable, helpful attitudes (Proverbs 1:7; 3:33–34; 8:32–36). Similar ideas are seen in other psalms (Psalm 111:10; 119:4).

Where the prior psalm emphasized God's great deeds, this one looks at the personal benefits which come from faith. Cooperating with the One who created us, as common sense would indicate, leads away from dangers and towards a better likelihood of success. The godly person has good reason to anticipate a positive reputation, a successful family life, positive business relationships, and mutual help from others (Psalm 112:1–6).

For the same reasons, the godly person has great peace of mind (Psalm 23:4). Even when news is bad, the believer has an anchor of hope (Psalm 46:1–2). Those who place their trust in God anticipate eternal victory. No matter what happens in this life, those redeemed by the Lord know their future is secure. In contrast, 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 (Psalm 112:7–10).

Psalm 112:1–6 summarizes the blessings of a proper "fear" of God. This is not panic or terror. Instead, this means a humble, submissive, respectful admission of God as Lord. This is the starting point for all truth, and those who follow it save themselves from many problems. Generally, following the Lord's will, here on earth, leads to better outcomes than ignoring His wisdom. A life of godliness and justice is more likely to leave a legacy of success (Psalm 25:13; Proverbs 3:33–34; 8:32–36) than one of evil and perversion.

Psalm 112:7–10 shares the internal blessings that come to those who properly honor God as Lord. Those who participate in evil have constant reasons to fear (Proverbs 3:35; 29:1), but those who follow God can be at ease (Proverbs 19:21). Even when hard times happen, those with faith in God have a solid anchor for their trust (Psalm 46:1–2). Because the godly man acts according to God's will, he does well for others. In contrast, those who reject God are jealous (Psalm 112:7–10).

This psalm begins on a high note as the psalmist praises the Lord. He asserts that the man who fears the Lord is blessed; this is the overall theme of the psalm. This form of "fear" is a deep, submissive, reverent respect (Proverbs 1:7). The book of Proverbs frequently points out that following the Lord's will generally leads to better outcomes in this life (Proverbs 3:33). The person who learns from God can anticipate wisdom, assurance, and the blessings of a life lived in harmony with the Creator. In contrast, the wicked ones who reject God's leading are jealous and eventually find themselves lost.

Both this and the preceding psalm (Psalm 111) are written in an acrostic form. As written in the original, each line begins with a successive letter of the Hebrew alphabet. These lines are often three Hebrew words long, but this pattern doesn't correspond to translated versions. Both Psalm 111 and 112 repeat statements seen in other psalms and the book of Proverbs (Proverbs 1:7; 20:7). Where Psalm 111 focuses on God's great deeds, Psalm 112 emphasizes the blessings of faithfully honoring the Lord.

The book of Psalms is composed of individual songs, hymns, or poems, each of which is a ''Psalm'' in and of itself. These works contain a wide variety of themes. Some Psalms focus on praising and worshipping God. Others cry out in anguish over the pain of life. Still other Psalms look forward to the coming of the Messiah. While some Psalms are related, each has its own historical and biblical context.