Today’s passage: Psalm 112
Helpful thoughts:
- When a person lives righteously and sees the joy that results, it is right to begin that observation with the words, “Praise the Lord!”
- This Psalm follows the same acrostic pattern as the previous psalm, 111.
- When we think of “wealth and riches” we might think of billionaires who own professional sports teams. But the original readers and singers of this psalm would have been praising God for an ability and diligence to work in such a way to feed and clothe their family and have an inheritance to pass down. These were “wealth and riches.”
- The man who fears the Lord and delights is his commandments will have said of him similar things to what would be said of God. The man who fears the Lord and delights in his commandments will be a godly person.
Questions to consider:
- In what way is Psalm 112 such a great follow-up to Psalm 111? How does it remind us of the concepts of being made in the image of God and Christians being conformed to the image of Christ?
- Compare and contrast Psalm 111:10 and 112:10. What is the difference between the thinking, delighting, fearing of the righteous man and the wicked man? What has shaped the conscience of the wicked man that he would be so angry to see the righteous man do right and be rewarded for it? How can this encourage us to remain faithful in the midst of unbiblical opposition?
- Why are Christians able to not be afraid of bad news and have steady hearts (Minds, the inner man)? What promises do we have from the Lord and what scriptures come to mind that encourage us to trust in him, not be anxious, and live for God with eternity in view?