Context No. 3586 of 4322 · Psalms

Psalms 112:1-10: in context

1Praise the LORD! Blessed is the man who fears the LORD, who delights greatly in his commandments. 2His offspring will be mighty in the land. The generation of the upright will be blessed. 3Wealth and riches are in his house. His righteousness endures forever. 4Light dawns in the darkness for the upright, gracious, merciful, and righteous. 5It is well with the man who deals graciously and lends. He will maintain his cause in judgment. 6For he will never be shaken. The righteous will be remembered forever. 7He will not be afraid of evil news. His heart is steadfast, trusting in the LORD. 8His heart is established. He will not be afraid in the end when he sees his adversaries. 9He has dispersed, he has given to the poor. His righteousness endures forever. His horn will be exalted with honor. 10The wicked will see it, and be grieved. He shall gnash with his teeth, and melt away. The desire of the wicked will perish.

This psalm paints a portrait of the person who fears the LORD and delights greatly in his commandments, and it is a beautiful picture. Such a person is gracious, merciful, and righteous; he deals generously and lends; he distributes freely and gives to the poor. His life overflows toward others because it is anchored in God.

And notice the inner stability the psalm describes: he is not afraid of bad news; his heart is firm, trusting in the LORD; his heart is steady, and he will not be afraid. Here is a freedom from fear that comes from trusting God. The one whose heart is fixed on the LORD does not have to dread every bad report, because his security does not rest on his circumstances but on God himself. Two things go together in this blessed life: open-handed generosity toward the poor, and an unshakable, unafraid heart. Both flow from the very same root, a heart that fears God and trusts him wholly.

Is my heart steady and unafraid because it trusts in the LORD, and does that security overflow into open-handed generosity toward those in need?

Sources

Psalm 112:1: "Blessed is the man who fears the LORD, who delights greatly in his commandments."
Psalm 112:7: "He will not be afraid of evil news. His heart is steadfast, trusting in the LORD."
Psalm 112:9: "He has dispersed, he has given to the poor. His righteousness endures forever."