Sunday, October 09, 2011

Psalm 112

New International Version (NIV)

1 Praise the LORD.
Blessed are those who fear the LORD,
who find great delight in his commands.
2 Their children will be mighty in the land;
the generation of the upright will be blessed.
3 Wealth and riches are in their houses,
and their righteousness endures forever.
4 Even in darkness light dawns for the upright,
for those who are gracious and compassionate and righteous.
5 Good will come to those who are generous and lend freely,
who conduct their affairs with justice.
6 Surely the righteous will never be shaken;
they will be remembered forever.
7 They will have no fear of bad news;
their hearts are steadfast, trusting in the LORD.
8 Their hearts are secure, they will have no fear;
in the end they will look in triumph on their foes.
9 They have freely scattered their gifts to the poor,
their righteousness endures forever;
their horn will be lifted high in honor.
10 The wicked will see and be vexed,
they will gnash their teeth and waste away;
the longings of the wicked will come to nothing.

Key Verse:
6 Surely the righteous will never be shaken;
they will be remembered forever.

Key Observation:
The second hallelujah psalm. The second acrostic psalm.

Memory Verse:
1 Praise the LORD.
Blessed are those who fear the LORD,
who find great delight in his commands.

Devotion:

This psalm gives praise to God’s preservation of the righteous; of their inheritance and security before the Lord. Notice their blessings:
1) they are blessed, v.1.
2) children will be mighty in the land, v. 2
3) they will enjoy wealth and richness, v. 3
4) their righteousness endures forever, v. 3
5) even in darkness, the righteous will see a dawn, v. 4
6) they will have good because they lend and are generous, v. 5
7) they conduct their affairs with justice, v. 5

Notice what does not happen to them:
1) they will never be shaken, v. 7
2) they have no fear of bad news, v. 8
3) they have no fear because their hearts are secure, v. 8

These things happen because they have scattered their gifts to the poor and their righteousness endures forever. In the end the “wicked will be vexed and will waste away”. What a beautiful psalm! May I first point out that it seems to revolve around much behavior that might occur during the millennium. Secondly, I cannot help but wonder about verse 4: “Even in darkness light dawns for the upright,for those who are gracious and compassionate and righteous.” Does not this verse shout out about the coming of the Lord? When else will we see the darkest of darkness dawning with the “Blessed Hope”?

What a Friend We Have in Jesus

1. What a friend we have in Jesus,
All our sins and griefs to bear!
What a privilege to carry
Ev'rything to God in prayer!
Oh, what peace we often forfeit,
Oh, what needless pain we bear,
All because we do not carry
Ev'rything to God in prayer!

2. Have we trials and temptations?
Is there trouble anywhere?
We should never be discouraged,
Take it to the Lord in prayer:
Can we find a friend so faithful
Who will all our sorrows share?
Jesus knows our ev'ry weakness,
Take it to the Lord in prayer.

3. Are we weak and heavy laden,
Cumbered with a load of care?
Precious Savior, still our refuge;
Take it to the Lord in prayer:
Do thy friends despise, forsake thee?
Take it to the Lord in prayer;
In His arms He'll take and shield thee;
Thou wilt find a solace there.

Lyrics: Joseph Medlicott Scriven

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