Psalms 112:1 - Meaning and Application

The psalmist begins by calling us to praise God, but he quickly turns to praising God’s people. Any honor given to them comes from God, and it must return to him. As God is their praise, so they are his. We have good reason to thank the Lord that there are people in the world who fear him and serve him, and that such people are blessed. Both are due entirely to God’s grace.

Here, then, is a description of those who are called blessed and to whom these promises belong. First, they are shaped by holy and devout affections. The people who enjoy the privileges of God’s kingdom are not those who only say, “Lord, Lord,” but those who truly welcome his rule. They stand in awe of God and keep a steady reverence for his greatness and a humble respect for his will. The happy person is the one who fears the Lord (Psalms 112:1).

They also take delight in their duty. The one who fears the Lord, as a child fears and loves a father, delights greatly in his commandments. He is pleased with them and with how fair and good they are. God’s commands are written on his heart. He freely chooses to live under them, and he treats them as an easy and pleasant yoke. He enjoys reading, hearing, and thinking about God’s commands, as in (Psalms 1:2). He delights not only in God’s promises, but also in his precepts. He counts himself happy under God’s rule, as well as in God’s favor. It is a joy to him to walk in the way of duty, and he is most at home in God’s service. He delights in this more than in any worldly work or pleasure. He acts in religion from conviction, because he sees its beauty and its benefit.

Second, they are honest and sincere in what they say and mean. They are called the upright (Psalms 112:2, Psalms 112:4), people who really are as good as they appear and who deal faithfully with both God and people. There is no true religion without sincerity. That is part of gospel perfection, meaning a sincere, whole-hearted faith that is not divided.

Third, they are both just and kind in all their dealings. It says of such a person, “He is gracious, full of compassion, and righteous” (Psalms 112:4). He dares not do wrong to anyone, and he tries to do as much good as he can to everyone, from a heart of compassion and kindness. This matches what was said of God in the previous psalm (Psalms 112:4), that he is gracious and full of compassion. In this way, God’s people are to imitate him as dear children. They should be merciful as he is merciful. He is full of compassion, and yet righteous. What he uses for good is honestly gained. God hates robbery used for sacrifices, and so does he.

One example of his kindness is given: “He shows favor and lends” (Psalms 112:5). Sometimes lending is as much an act of charity as giving, because it encourages the borrower to work and to be honest. He is gracious and lends (Psalms 37:26). He does this from the right motive, not like a moneylender who seeks gain, and not merely from outward generosity, but from pure love. He also does it in the right way, not with resentment, but gladly and cheerfully.

Now consider the blessedness promised to those who fit these descriptions. Happiness, all true happiness, belongs to the man who fears the Lord. Whatever people may think or say about him, God says he is blessed, and that word makes him blessed indeed.

The children of a good man will fare better because of his goodness (Psalms 112:2). “His seed shall be mighty on earth.” He himself may not become great in the world or make a large public showing, but his children may do so after him because of his faith. Religion has lifted up many a family. It may not always make a family famous, but it often makes it secure and firmly established. When godly people are happy in heaven, their children may still be honored on earth, and they may rightly know that this comes as a blessing handed down to them. “The generation of the upright shall be blessed.” If they follow their parents’ example, they will be blessed all the more because of their family connection, loved for the father’s sake (Romans 11:28). This fits the covenant promise: “I will be a God to you, and to your seed.” But the children of evil people will never be truly honored. Let the children of godly parents value that privilege, and let them be careful not to lose the blessing that comes with it.

They will also prosper in the world, and especially in their souls (Psalms 112:3). They will receive outward prosperity as far as it is good for them. “Wealth and riches shall be in the upright man’s house.” Perhaps not in his heart, because he is not ruled by love of money. Perhaps not even so much in his own hand, because he may only be beginning to build a household. But they will be in his house, and his family may grow rich after he is gone. Yet something far better is promised too, spiritual blessing, which is the true riches. His wealth will stay in his house, because he must leave it behind. But his righteousness he himself will enjoy, and it lasts forever. Grace is better than gold, because gold passes away and grace does not. He may have wealth and riches, and still keep his religion. Even in prosperity, he will hold fast to his integrity, which many people keep in hardship but drop in comfort. Worldly success is truly a blessing when it does not make people cold in their devotion, but they keep going in faith. And when this continues in a family, and the heirs also inherit the father’s virtues, that is a truly happy household. Even so, the good man’s righteousness lasts forever in the crown of righteousness that never fades away.

They will also find comfort in trouble (Psalms 112:4). “Unto the upright there arises light in the darkness.” This means that good people may still suffer affliction. The promise does not remove that from them. They will share in the common troubles of human life. But when they sit in darkness, the Lord will be a light to them (Micah 7:8). They will be held up and comforted in their troubles. Their spirits will be bright even when their outward life is dark. There is enough light within. In the darkness that came upon Egypt, the Israelites still had light in their homes. And in due time, perhaps when they least expect it, they will be brought out of trouble. When the night is darkest, the day begins to break. Even at evening, when night seemed sure, it will be light.

They will also have wisdom to manage their affairs well (Psalms 112:5). The person who uses his resources to do good will, by God’s providence, increase them, not by a miracle, but through wise judgment. “He shall guide his affairs with discretion.” God teaches him wise conduct and gives him understanding (Isaiah 28:26). Part of a good man’s character is that he uses good judgment in handling his affairs, in earning and saving, so that he may have something to give.

This may be understood as speaking about his acts of charity. He shows kindness and lends, but he does so with good judgment. He is careful that his giving is not wasted, and that he gives the right help to the right people, at the right time, and in the right amount.

Part of the promise to one who uses such wisdom is that God will give him more. Those who make the best use of their wisdom also see most clearly how much they still need it, and so they ask God for it. He has promised to give wisdom freely to those who ask (Jam 1:5). God will guide his words with judgment, or with good sense, as the original wording says. There is nothing in life where we need wisdom more than in controlling our speech, and blessed is the person to whom God gives that wisdom.