Psalm
112 reminds me of stubbing my toe in the middle of the night. After
accidentally kicking a table leg, I think, “Why didn’t I turn on
the light?” Oddly, next time we walk much slower and maybe wave
our arm in front of us, but too often we still don’t turn on the
light! This is the second of three psalms that begins, “Praise
the LORD“. This one
adds, “Blessed
is the man who fears the Lord,
who
finds great delight in His commands“.
The writer has clearly stubbed his toe enough times to learn that
ignoring God’s truth can be painful AND in contrast, God’s wisdom
brings unexpected joy. There is an old expression that I heard
growing up that really bothered me, “The apple doesn’t fall far
from the tree”. I took that to mean that children will grow up to
be like their dad. That is not always a good thing. I believe he is
writing from his own personal experience, “His
children will be mighty in the land“.
Don’t miss the reason. He has learned to follow God’s truth and
it has changed his family tree. Are you tired of stumbling in the
dark? Psalm 119 says, “Your
Word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path“.
God’s Word might just light the way for
you and your children.
He
continues with more of the side-effects of studying God’s Word.
“Wealth
and riches are in his house“.
As I read that I think there is a difference between accumulating
wealth and the riches of a wonderful home. The writer has BOTH. He
continues, “His
righteousness endures“.
Just as the sins of a father are evident in his children, so can the
righteousness of God shape their decisions. “Even
in darkness light dawns”
because God’s Word brings hope! Listen to all the changes,
“generous
and lends freely… conducts his affairs with justice… never be
shaken… no fear of bad news; his heart is steadfast, trusting in
the Lord“. Are you too
easily shaken? And I love his summary, “The
wicked man will see and be vexed“.
People get mad when you say no to the old garbage. God’s Word
will not make you perfect, but it will help you see life’s
obstacles more clearly.
Psalm
113 begins again, “Praise
the LORD“. This time
he adds, “O
servants of the Lord…
praise the
name of the Lord… be
praised, both now and forevermore“.
Even I can’t miss the idea that giving God praise is important.
Notice he is not talking about 9:00 and 11:00 on Sunday. He says,
“From the
rising of the sun
to
the place where it sets
the
name of the Lord is to be praised“.
Yes, even under stress and in grief and during trials. He reminds
us that, God is bigger than any problem we have. “The
Lord is
exalted
over all the nations,
His
glory above the heavens“.
And yet He cares about every detail of our life. We can’t climb
up to meet God; it is God that bends down to lift us up “stoops
down to look on the heavens
and
the earth… He raises the poor from the dust… He seats them with
princes“. The psalm
closes with a very vivid picture, “He
settles the barren woman in her home as a happy mother of children.
Praise the Lord“. The
barren woman is a symbol for anyone that feels rejected and forgotten
by God. He is saying to the person that feels irreparably broken
that God can bring new life and fully restore anyone that asks. The
first and last words are the same short Hebrew expression, “praise
Yah”, or as we say in English, “hallelujah”. Wherever you are
today, you can find new delights in the Word of God. Here is a great
first step, Praise the Lord!