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545_The blessedness of fearing God

Psalm 112 Praise the Lord!
Blessed is the man who fears the Lord,
who greatly delights in his commandments!
2 His offspring will be mighty in the land;
the generation of the upright will be blessed.
3 Wealth and riches are in his house,
and his righteousness endures forever.
4 Light dawns in the darkness for the upright;
he is gracious, merciful, and righteous.
5 It is well with the man who deals generously and lends;
who conducts his affairs with justice.
6 For the righteous will never be moved;
he will be remembered forever.
7 He is not afraid of bad news;
his heart is firm, trusting in the Lord.
8 His heart is steady; he will not be afraid,
until he looks in triumph on his adversaries.
9 He has distributed freely; he has given to the poor;
his righteousness endures forever;
his horn is exalted in honor.
10 The wicked man sees it and is angry;
he gnashes his teeth and melts away;
the desire of the wicked will perish!

Years ago, a well-known orchestra conductor was being interviewed after a breathtaking performance. The reporter asked him, “What’s the most difficult instrument to play?” Without a moment’s hesitation, he replied, “Second violin. I can find plenty of people who want to play first violin, but to find someone who plays second violin with as much passion and joy—that’s rare. And if no one plays second violin, there’s no harmony.”

That statement says something profound about life and faith. The beauty of harmony—whether in music, relationships, or faith—comes from humility. From a heart that chooses reverence over recognition. In a world that rewards the loudest and most self-promoting voices, God calls us to a different path: to fear Him, to delight in His ways, and to live in quiet strength and joy.

Psalm 112 is a beautiful portrait of such a person. It begins with the word Hallelujah!—a shout of praise bursting from the psalmist’s heart. This isn’t just personal worship; it’s an invitation to everyone listening: Praise the Lord! The psalm flows naturally from Psalm 111, where the focus is on the wonderful works of God. Here, the attention turns to how a person responds to those works—with reverence, obedience, and joy.

“Blessed is the man who fears the Lord, who greatly delights in his commandments.”

This opening verse sets the tone for the entire psalm. The word “blessed” here doesn’t just mean “happy” in the shallow sense. It describes a deep, abiding joy—a sense of well-being that comes from being rightly related to God. The one who fears the Lord lives with a heart aligned to His will. He doesn’t obey God out of dread, but out of delight. The commandments of God aren’t burdens to him; they are treasures.

In Psalm 111, we read that “the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.” Psalm 112 shows us what that wisdom looks like in everyday life. To fear the Lord is to stand in awe of His majesty, to take Him seriously, and to shape our lives in light of who He is. Such a person is blessed—not necessarily because life is easy, but because his roots are deep in God.

The psalmist tells us that the blessing of a God-fearing man extends beyond himself. His children are blessed after him. His family inherits not just material wealth, but a legacy of faith. His integrity becomes their foundation. In a world where many pursue riches without righteousness, the psalmist makes it clear that true wealth flows from a right heart. “Wealth and riches are in his house, and his righteousness endures forever.” His prosperity is not tainted by deceit or greed; it is the fruit of honest labor, guided by the fear of the Lord.

Then comes a striking image: “Light dawns in the darkness for the upright.” What a comforting truth! The psalmist doesn’t deny that darkness exists. There are nights of sorrow, uncertainty, and trial. Yet, for the one who fears God, there is always light at the end of the tunnel. Even in confusion, there’s an inner illumination—a quiet assurance that God is faithful. That light isn’t only for himself; it shines outward. His life becomes a reflection of God’s grace, compassion, and righteousness to others.

The psalm continues to describe how this man lives out his faith in practical ways. He deals generously with others. He lends freely to the poor. His sense of justice and fairness shapes every transaction. The fear of the Lord doesn’t make him withdraw from the world—it makes him a light within it. His reverence for God touches how he speaks, how he gives, how he works, and how he treats people.

And then the psalm reaches one of its most beautiful truths: “He is not afraid of bad news; his heart is firm, trusting in the Lord.” What a remarkable statement for our times. We live in an age of constant breaking news—wars, disasters, instability, personal losses. Fear and anxiety have become the background noise of modern life. But the one who fears God lives with a different soundtrack. His heart is steady, anchored in the faithfulness of the Lord.

He doesn’t deny that bad news exists—but it doesn’t control him. His confidence isn’t in changing circumstances but in an unchanging God. Verse 8 says, “His heart is steady; he will not be afraid, until he looks in triumph on his adversaries.” In other words, his faith gives him endurance. He can wait, trust, and remain calm until God vindicates him.

The psalmist also highlights the generosity of the one who fears the Lord. Since God has blessed him materially, he becomes a channel of blessing to others. He gives freely and without regret. His righteousness endures forever because it is not rooted in temporary possessions but in eternal character. The apostle Paul quotes this very verse—Psalm 112:9—in 2 Corinthians 9:9 to encourage believers to give generously. The God-fearing man reflects the heart of God Himself—compassionate, open-handed, and gracious.

In the closing verses, we see the contrast between the righteous and the wicked. The righteous man stands firm, honored, and remembered. The wicked, on the other hand, gnash their teeth in envy and anger. Their desires fade away, while the influence of the righteous endures. It’s a sobering reminder that in the end, what matters is not worldly power or wealth, but a life rooted in the fear of God.

Psalm 112 gives us a vivid portrait of what that looks like. Here is a man who fears God and not man. He delights in the Word of God. He prospers through honest means. His family is blessed because his life sets a godly example. He is compassionate and generous. His heart is steady even in turmoil. He conducts his affairs with wisdom. He may be opposed or misunderstood, but his integrity speaks louder than his critics.

Such a person is like a mirror reflecting the sunlight. He doesn’t produce his own light—he reflects the radiance of God. His secret lies in where he looks and what he delights in. As he meditates on God’s Word day and night, he begins to resemble the One he worships. The fear of the Lord doesn’t drive him away from God; it draws him nearer. It gives him a reverent awe that transforms his conduct, his priorities, and his outlook on life.

Psalm 34 captures this connection beautifully:
“Come, O children, listen to me; I will teach you the fear of the Lord. What man is there who desires life and loves many days, that he may see good? Keep your tongue from evil and your lips from speaking deceit. Turn away from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it.”

To fear the Lord is to choose that path—to turn from evil, to speak truth, to do good, and to pursue peace. It’s to live in the awareness that every moment matters before the face of God.

But this psalm also points us toward something greater. When we fear God rightly, we become aware of how inadequate we are. We realize how easily our hearts wander, how imperfect our obedience is. Yet in that awareness, we see the Cross—where the Son of God bore our sins and offered us His righteousness. There, our fear of God finds its perfect expression: not in dread, but in worship. We stand in awe before a holy God who loved us enough to die for us.

When we receive His righteousness by faith, we are freed to live as Psalm 112 describes—not striving to earn God’s favor, but rejoicing in His grace. Clothed in Christ’s righteousness, we can live steady, generous, and joyful lives. We can face the uncertainties of tomorrow without fear, because our hearts are anchored in the One who reigns forever.

So, what does it mean for us today to fear the Lord? It means to live each day with deep reverence for who God is—to let His Word shape our choices, His presence steady our hearts, and His grace flow through our lives.

In a world that celebrates self-promotion, the fear of the Lord teaches us humility. In a culture driven by anxiety, it gives us peace. In times of darkness, it gives us light.

When we walk in that kind of fear—not a fear that shrinks back, but a fear that bows in love and awe—we discover what the psalmist means by blessedness. When we fear God, we don’t have to fear anyone else. It’s the deep contentment of knowing that our lives are in the hands of a faithful God.

And when that truth settles in our hearts, we can face any news, any trial, any darkness—and still say, with confidence and joy:
Hallelujah! Blessed is the one who fears the Lord.