Blessings For Those Who Fear Yahweh (Psalm 112)

Have you ever thought about the fact that those who follow Yahweh and fear him are rewarded by him? While it is true that we should not follow Yahweh for the sole purpose of getting whatever we can get out of "the deal," I think it is equally important that we understand that Yahweh loves us so much that he wants to bless us in return for our service to him.

In reading Psalm 112, I noticed a theme of blessing throughout the chapter. Specifically, the blessings for those who fear Yahweh are what got my attention. So I'd like to give a brief commentary on this chapter to expound upon that theme of blessing. Let's start with verse 1. (I am using the WEB version)

The Goal of Praise
¹ Praise Yah!
This phrase sets the tone for this whole psalm. The author's (and our) ultimate goal is to praise Yahweh and to bring honor to his name. Even the blessings we receive from Yahweh and the gratitude with which we receive them are intended to bring glory to Yahweh.

An Offer You Can't Refuse
Blessed is the man who fears Yahweh, who delights greatly in his commandments.
God is love. It's a phrase you've probably heard over and over again, and that's good because it's true. God loves when we fear (revere) him and serve him, so much so that he chooses to bless us in return, just because he loves us. Who could ever refuse an offer like that?

Your Descendents Will Be Mighty
² His offspring will be mighty in the land. The generation of the upright will be blessed.
Every good parent wants the best for their children. The parent who fears and follows Yahweh has two things going for them: 1) They set a positive example for their children to follow, and 2) They give Yahweh permission to bless and strengthen their children.

You Are Wealthy and Rich
³ Wealth and riches are in his house. His righteousness endures forever.
The old fashioned idea that servants of God should be poor is simply not true. Wealth - in the many ways it can take form: money, favor, peace, happiness, and more - is intended for the righteous. Yahweh gives us wealth for several reasons. He wants us to enjoy life and live well, and he also wants us to use wealth in a wise way that builds up his kingdom and blesses Yahweh.

Hope Through Challenges
⁴ Light dawns in the darkness for the upright, gracious, merciful, and righteous.
The path of the righteous is filled with light, and good things are in store for those who fear Yahweh. Therefore, if Yahweh ever takes a righteous person through a path that is dark, it is for the purpose of bringing light to that place. So if you know you are following the calling of Jesus and you feel like you are in a rough environment or are facing big challenges, then you have an opportunity to let Yahweh's light dawn and bring light to your world.

You Overflow With Grace
⁵ It is well with the man who deals graciously and lends. He will maintain his cause in judgment.
The life of a disciple of Christ is one of overflow. We are intentionally given more than we need so that we can give, share, and invest in other people. And I'm not just talking about money. You can "deal graciously and lend" your money, time, advice, love, forgiveness, and more.

You Have A Good Name
⁶ For he will never be shaken. The righteous will be remembered forever.
Think about this obvious fact: if an earthquake never shakes a building, that building cannot come down because of an earthquake. Likewise, those who trust in the Lord are not able to be shaken by evil. Our calling may take is into the midst of evil and evil may stare us in the face, but as long as we stay strong and continue following the path that Yahweh sets before us, no evil has the power to bring us down.

No Fear
⁷ He will not be afraid of evil news. His heart is steadfast, trusting in Yahweh.
I'm one of those people who loves to get the mail, and I love it when I get a package delivered to me. It's so exciting! When I order an item online, I trust in the seller and the delivery system, and I expect to receive what I ordered. Similarly, when we trust in Yahweh and in his righteous principles, we can expect to hear good news. In such a mindset, fear of evil simply does not exist.

You're The Boss
⁸ His heart is established. He will not be afraid in the end when he sees his adversaries.
If you are taking a walk and come across an ant on the ground, you obviously won't be afraid of it and run away, because you have so much more power than the ant does. In the same way, if you strengthen your heart and keep an attitude of bravery, you will be confident and bold (not afraid) if you come into contact with people or ideas who oppose you.

You Are Generous
⁹ He has dispersed, he has given to the poor. His righteousness endures forever. His horn will be exalted with honor.
Why is it so important that we be generous and share with those in need? Yahweh does the same for us - he shares his love, his wealth, his wisdom, his peace with us when we needed it. When we do the same to others, we model Yahweh's character. That brings him glory, and also gives us strength and honor.

You Have A Good Future
¹⁰ The wicked will see it, and be grieved. He shall gnash with his teeth, and melt away. The desire of the wicked will perish.
The plight of the wicked is not a pleasant one, but that's nothing you have to worry about for yourself. If you respect and fear Yahweh and serve him with your life, then his plan for your life (and afterlife) is something you can get excited about.

Isn't it exciting to consider all of these blessings for those who fear Yahweh and honor his name? For me, pondering these huge blessings humbles me to think that our God loves us so much to bless us so tremendously. What a mighty God we serve! comments powered by Disqus