INTRODUCTION - Read Psalm 112
Psalm 112 is a COMPANION to Psalm 111. It is not only an ACROSTIC PSALM of the "same length", with "identical stanzas" and "similar phrases"; but as Psalm 111 talks about the GREATNESS OF GOD's WORKS and HIS WORDS, Psalm 112, goes on to share with us about JESUS CHRIST - HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS AND JUSTICE - and how WE TOO CAN LIVE LIKE HIM.
"Before these prayers are given to us to pray, they are about Jesus Christ. This is the voice we hear when we read these Psalms. JESUS IS THE MAIN CHARACTER WE ENCOUNTER when we read them and David makes them His own and encourages us to the same." Dietrech Boenhoeffer
When we pray these Psalms after David we pray them with and through Jesus. According to Wesley Hill, an Anglican Priest and Professor, Psalm 112 is "also a prayer of innocence" which is hard to pray when we feel we don't "measure up to righteousness" and deserve God's blessing. But Jesus is the ultimate "BLESSED MAN" - GRACIOUS, FULL OF COMPASSION, JUST AND FAIR; with NEVER ENDING RIGHTEOUSNESS. Because He has made us "ONE WITH HIMSELF", we are not only "permitted to pray this Psalm, but we are commanded to".
Jesus became our SANCTIFICATION, as in Psalm 111, we discovered, that like His Father, He is our REDEEMER and SAVIOUR. These Psalms of Innocence give us the JOY AND FREEDOM to hold our heads high, "to not give in to the enemy" but to proclaim to others that we can LIVE OUR LIVES WITH AND LIKE JESUS.
"Therefore, there is NO CONDEMNATION for those who are IN CHRIST JESUS, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has SET YOU FREE from the law of sin and death." Romans 8:1
LIKE JESUS WE ARE RIGHTEOUS IN PRAISE - Read Psalm 112:1; 111:10
Psalm 111 tells us WHO GOD IS:
* GLORIOUS AND MAJESTIC.
* RIGHTEOUS AND JUST.
* GRACIOUS AND MERCIFUL.
* FAITHFUL AND GOOD.
And WHAT HE HAS DONE FOR US:
* HE IS OUR CREATOR.
* HE IS OUR PROVIDOR.
* HE IS OUR SAVIOUR and REDEEMER.
Without the God of Psalm 111, we cannot have the the Jesus, unified in us as His reflection.
Psalm 111 also ends with a reminder thay our WISDOM AND UNDERSTANDING begins with a "FEAR OF THE LORD" and an "OBEDIENCE TO HIS WORD", and to "Him belong ETERNAL PRAISE."
"The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; all who follow His precepts have good understanding. And to Him belong eternal praise." Psalm 111:10
Psalm 12 begins with PRAISE, REVERENCE AND OBEDIENCE. If we want to put GOD FIRST IN OUR LIVES and receive His blessing, we need to "fear the Lord" and draw near to Him in awe and reverence. By putting our faith in God and alligning ourselves with His will, we need to truly live as Jesus lived.
Jesus was truly a man who "feared the Lord" and took pleasure in His Father's Words - not just a delight in His commandments, but a joyful obedience and love for God's Word. We too need to have a true desire to put God's Word into practice, as Jesus did.
"Praise the Lord. Blessed are those who fear the Lord, who find great delight in His commands."
Psalm 112:1 (NIV)
"So get rid of all the filth and evil in your lives, and humbly accepot the Word God has planted in your hearts, for it has the power to save souls. But don't just LISTEN TO GOD'S WORD, YOU MUST DO WHAT IT SAYS. Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves." James 1:21-22 (NLT)
JESUS' HOUSE OF THE RIGHTEOUS WILL BE BLESSED - Read Psalm 112:2&3; 1 Timothy 6:6-10; Ephesians 1:3-11
"It is a characteristic of the FAITH OF A CHRISTIAN, that through GOD'S GRACE, he/she has been entirely justified." Dietrech Boenhoeffer
Jesus said the CHILDREN OF GOD will be mighty and upright, blessed by His Father; if they continue to follow His ways. Because we are UNITED IN CHRIST and endeavour to LIVE RIGHTEOUS LIVES, we can pass this blessing on the members of our family. This is a PRECIOUS GIFT and something we hope we can delight in.
"Their children will be mighty in th land; the generation of the upright will be blessed. Wealth and riches are ub their houses and their RIGHTEOUSNESS ENDURES FOREVER." Psalm 112:2&3
"Happy are those who OBEY GOD and CARE FOR OTHERS. Their reward is sure."
Pat & David Alexander
Verse 3 talks about WEALTH AND RICHES - but are these MATERIAL OR SPIRITUAL? Most commentaries talk about both:
MATERIALISM
Godliness doesn't necessarily lead to financial gain, as Paul reminds his friend Timothy; but if we use our monetary blessings wisely, rather on selfish or worthless pursuits, we will find our "generations will be blessed."
"For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil. And some people, craving money, have wandered from the true faith and pierced themselves with many sorrows." 1 Timothy 6:10 (NLT)
"GIVE FREELY AND BECOME MORE WEALTHY; be stingy and lose everything."
Probverbs 11:24(NLT)
"Prosperity does not destroy holiness or humility of the heart. His character stands the test of examination, overcomes the temptations of wealth, outlives the afflictions of time and endures the trials of the last day." Charles Spurgeon
SPIRITUAL RICHES
"If we understand this passage spiritually - what wealth can equal the LOVE OF GOD? What riches can rival a CONTENTED HEART? The heart whiuch is cheered with the favour of Heaven are rich to all the intents of bliss." Charles Spurgeon
"But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world and we can take nothing out of it." 1 Timothy 6:6&7
The RICHES OF GOD'S KINGDOM:
* don't coprrupt or fade.
* can't be stolen or squandered.
* can't be seen but "shine brightly"
* don't get measured, but "weigh more than an anchor."
* give us strength to hold fast.
* cast us into the life of Jesus Christ Himself.
"In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the RICHES OF GOD'S GRACE........In Him, we are also chosen, haviug been predestined according to the plan of Hinm who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of His will." Ephesians 1:7&11 (NIV)
THE RIGHTEOUS' SIGHT IS CLEAR TO JESUS CHRIST - Read Psalm 112:4
"Even in the darkness, LIGHT SHINES for THOSE WHONARE UPRIGHT, for THOSE WHO ARE GRACIOUS, COMPASSIONATE AND RIGHTEOUS." Psalm 112:4 (NIV)
Darkness is all around us - CONFUSION, SORROW, GRIEF and SIN - in the world, from others who are against us, or simply our own. But God said, "Let there be light". Sometimes, all we see is a difficult situation, but God promised that LIGHT WOULD DAWN! God's word is our LAMP and along with the Holy Spirit and Jesus, His Son, who we know as the "LIGHT OF THE WORLD".
"Your WORD IS A LAMP to my feet and A LIGHT to my path."Psalm 111:105 (NIV)
"The TRUE LIGHT that gives LIGHT to everyone was coming into the world." John 1:9 (NIV)
"When Jesus spoke again to the people, He said, "I AM THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the LIGHT OF LIFE." John 8:12 (NIV)
Daily prayer to God and asking for His light. Jesus light shines in HIS GRACE, HIS COMPASSION and HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS. We too can have this light in us, so we can be a light in our dark world.
"YOU ARE THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead, they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, LET YOUR LIGHT SHINE BEFORE OTHERS, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in Heaven." Matthew 5:14-16 (NIV)
LIKE JESUS' HANDS WE RIGHTEOUS ARE GENEROUS - Read Psalm 112:5&9; 2 Corinthians 9:6-9; Matthew 25:35-40
"Good will come to those who are generous and lend freely, who conduct their affairs with justice.....THey have freely scattered their gifts to the poor, their righteousness endures forever; their horn will be lifted in honour." Psalm 112:5&9 (NIV)
"These same words are used of His servant: thus we are taught that when the Lord makes a man upright, He makes him like Himself. We are created anew in Christ Jesus - GRACIOUS, COURTEOUS , FORGIVING, having KIND AND COMPASSION for the needy."
Charles Spurgeon.
Jesus is a good man - decent and generous, just and fair. He teaches us to give to those who are need. His head will be lifted high in honour when He sits at His Father's right hand in Heaven. He encourages us to be generous, just and fair in our dealings with people. There is a temptation to abuse our power and refuse to lend to the poor - and simply be selfish. But we want to remember, that we want to LIVE LIKE JESUS, who distributed freely to the needs of others, and we will be wise in our generosity. Jesus and Paul both remind us:
"For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to look after me." Then the righteous will answer Him: "When did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?" The King will reply: "Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me." Matthew 25:35-40 (NIV)
"Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for GOD LOVES A CHEERFUL GIVER. And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all thing, at all times, having all that you need, YOU WILL ABOUND IN EVERY GOOD WORK. As it is written: "The have freely scattered their gifts to the poor; their righteousness endures forever." 2 Corinthians 9:7-9 (NIV)
"Kindness, benevolence and generosity are essential to the perfect character; to be strictly JUST is not enough, for GOD IS LOVE and we must LOVE OUR NEIGHBOURS AS OURSELVES. We must act on the same PRINCIPLES OF GRACE which reign in the heart of God."
Charles Spurgeon
You too will be filled with honour, as Jesus was by His Father, with personal strength and righteousness, if you have a joyous endeavour to give yourself TO HIM and to LIVE LIKE HIM.
JESUS GIVES THE RIGHTEOUS A BOLD HEART LIKE HIS - Read 112:6-8; Romans 8:18-39
"God's people have their full share of trouble, but they are given the resources to meet their needs. They can withstand 'life's hard knocks' - they are SECURE AND COURAGEOUS."
Pat & David Alexander
WHY IS THIS SO?
1) BECAUSE THEY TRUST IN GOD
"They have no fear in bad news; their hearts are steadfast, TRUSTING IN THE LORD."
Psalm 112:7 (NIV)
"Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him and He will direct your paths." Proverbs 3:5&6 (NKJV)
Recently I posted this verse on my FACEBOOK page, to remind myself and others, that GOD WAS IN CONTROL of my life. MANY PEOPLE AGREED WITH ME!
Life is full of bad news, bud we need to remind ourselves of these verses, and others like them, so that we can always remember that we are in God's thoughts and that He is in ours. He has a plan for our future and we don't need to fear it.
"For I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a FUTURE AND A HOPE." Jeremiah 29:15 (NIV)
"The righteous will NOT BE MOVED. Stable people are going to END THE RACE. If we have hope, as believers, we will ENJOY HIS PRESENCE." Paul Le Boutillier
"We are neither fickle or cowardly. When we are undecided as to our course, we are still fixed in oiur hearts. We pay change our plans, but never the purposes of our souls." Charles Spurgeon.
This Psalm is describing something we can be if we TRUST IN THE LORD - we can have STRENGTH AND COURAGE in the Lord, and remember that God works through all things.
2. WE WILL BE LIKE JESUS
Jesus is strong and will never shift His heart. He is fixed on His Father and He does not fear the wicked. He triumphed over His persecutors and over death, when HE ROSE FROM THE GRAVE.
We are a reflection of Jesus' character and we will NEVER BE SHAKEN - our hearts, if kept like the Son of God's; will want TRIUMPH over our enemies.
"Their hearts are secure, they will have no fear, and in the end theu will triumph over their enemies." Psalm 112
"For I consider that the suffering of this present time are not worth to be compared with glory that should be revealed to us.....And we know that all things work together for good for those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose......Yet in all these things are more than conquerors, through Him who loved us." Romans 8:18, 28, 37 (NKJV)
In each of the comentators I read or preachers I watched online, I was touched by their stories of courage and strength - through illness, or struggles; but most of all I was touched by their FAITH IN CHRIST, their desire to TRIUMPH over "enemies" - their many temptations. They desired to become JUST LIKE JESUS in their daily lives and shine for Him, so others would want to come to know Jesus Christ and to LIVE LIKE HIM.
CONCLUSION - MAKE A CHOICE - Read Psalm 112:10; Isaiah 53:3-8; Luke 9:23-25; John 19
"The wicked will see and be infuriated. They will grind their teeth in anger; they will slink away, their hopes thwarted." Psalm 112:10
This doesn't sound like a wonderful way to end a Psalm - they are usually ended with PRAISE; especially when we think about the HOPE we have LIVING WITH and LIKE JESUS. But if we DON'T FOLLOW HIM , your life is filled with FEAR AND ANGER, because "all your hopes are dwindled." This was the case with the Children of Israel when they saw who they hoped to be their MESSIAH - their KING OF THE JEWS - crucified before their eyes.
"He is despised and rejected by men, a Man of Sorrows and acquianted with grief. And WE HID OUR FACES FROM HIM; He was despised, and we did not esteem Him. Surely He has borne our grief and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed Him stricken, smitten by God and afflicted. Burt He was wounded for our transgessions; He was bruised for our inuities; the chastisememt for our peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed." Isaiah 53:5 (NKJV)
"So then Pilate too Jesus and scourged Him. And the soldiers twisted a crown of thorns and put it on His head, and they put on Him a purple robe. Then they said: "HAIL, THE KING OF THE JEWS!"And they struck Him with their hands......Therefore, when the Chief Priest and Officers saw Him, they cried out saying, "CRUCIFY HIM! CRUCIFY HIM!".........And He bearing Hios Cross, went out to the place called the Place of the Skull, which is called in Hebrew, Golgotha, and they CRUCIFIED HIM......Now Pilate wrote a Title and put it on the cross, "JESUS OF NAZARETH, KING OF THE JEWS'" John 9:1-3, 6, 17, 19. (NKJV)
Later we see how Jesus ROSE FROM THE DEAD, and at his SECOND COMING, the wicked will "melt away" and "come to nothing". Why? Because they have not honoured the Lord and obeyed Him, LIVING A RIGHTEOUS LIFE. They have ONLY FOLLOWED THEIR OWN WAYS, and when this happens, it can only lead to DISASTER.
"The violence of the wicked will drag them away, for they refuse to do what is right."
Proverbs 21:7 (NIV)
"For what will profit a man, if he gains the whole world but loses his soul." Mark 8:36 (NKJV)
SO, WE HAVE A CHOICE!
We can live a life of PRAISE, HONOUR AND OBEDIENCE to the Lord. We can FOLLLOW JESUS AND LIVE LIKE HIM:
* AN HONOURED LIVE.
* A BEAUTIFUL LIFE.
* A BLESSED LIFE.
"Praise the Lord! Happy are those who respect the Lord, who want what He commands."
Psalm 112:1 (NCV)
Or we can live a life of FEAR, ANGER AND SELFISHNESS. We can RUN AWAY FROM GOD AND HIS SON JESUS and live:
* AN ANGRY LIFE.
* AN EMPTY LIFE.
* A DREAMLESS LIFE.
"The wicked will see this and become ANGRY; they will grind their teeth in ANGER and then DISAPPEAR. The WISHES OF THE WICKED WILL COME TO NOTHING."
Psalm 112:10 (NCV)
I thinkj I know which life I will chose. Do you?
"Then He said, "If any of you wants to become my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross daily and follow me. If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake, you will save it. I tell you the truth, some standing here will not die before they see the Kingdom of God." Luke 9:23&24 (NLT)
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