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Commentary on Psalms 112 verses 1–5
The psalmist begins with a call to us to praise God, but immediately applies himself to praise the people of God; for whatever glory is acknowledged to be on them it comes from God, and must return to him; as he is their praise, so they are his. We have reason to praise the Lord that there are a people in the world who fear him and serve him, and that they are a happy people, both which are owing entirely to the grace of God. Now here we have,
I. A description of those who are here pronounced blessed, and to whom these promises are made.
1.They are well-principled with pious and devout affections. Those have the privileges of God's subjects, not who cry, Lord, Lord, but who are indeed well affected to his government. (1.) They are such as stand in awe of God and have a constant reverence for his majesty and deference to his will. The happy man is he that fears the Lord, Psa 112:1. (2.) They are such as take a pleasure in their duty. He that fears the Lord, as a Father, with the disposition of a child, not of a slave, delights greatly in his commandments, is well pleased with them and with the equity and goodness of them; they are written in his heart; it is his choice to be under them, and he calls them an easy, a pleasant, yoke; it is his delight to be searching into and conversing with God's commandments, by reading, hearing, and meditation, Psa 1:2. He delights not only in God's promises, but in his precepts, and thinks himself happy under God's government as well as in his favour. It is a pleasure to him to be found in the way of his duty, and he is in his element when he is in the service of God. Herein he delights greatly, more than in any of the employments and enjoyments of this world. And what he does in religion is done from principle, because he sees amiableness in religion and advantage by it.
2.They are honest and sincere in their professions and intentions. They are called the upright (Psa 112:2, Psa 112:4), who are really as good as they seem to be, and deal faithfully both with God and man. There is no true religion without sincerity; that is gospel-perfection.
3.They are both just and kind in all their dealings: He is gracious, full of compassion, and righteous (Psa 112:4), dares not do any wrong to any man, but does to every man all the good he can, and that from a principle of compassion and kindness. It was said of God, in the foregoing psalm (Psa 112:4), He is gracious, and full of compassion; and here it is said of the good man that he is so; for herein we must be followers of God as dear children; be merciful as he is. He is full of compassion, and yet righteous; what he does good with is what he came honestly by. God hates robbery for burnt-offerings, and so does he. One instance is given of his beneficence (Psa 112:5): He shows favour and lends. Sometimes there is as much charity in lending as in giving, as it obliges the borrower both to industry and honesty. He is gracious and lends (Psa 37:26); he does it from a right principle, not as the usurer lends for his own advantage, nor merely out of generosity, but out of pure charity; he does it in a right manner, not grudgingly, but pleasantly, and with a cheerful countenance.
II. The blessedness that is here entailed upon those that answer to these characters. Happiness, all happiness, to the man that feareth the Lord. Whatever men think or say of them, God says that they are blessed; and his saying so makes them so.
1.The posterity of good men shall fare the better for his goodness (Psa 112:2): His seed shall be mighty on earth. Perhaps he himself shall not be so great in the world, nor make such a figure, as his seed after him shall for his sake. Religion has been the raising of many a family, if not so as to advance it high, yet so as to fix it firmly. When good men themselves are happy in heaven their seed perhaps are considerable on earth, and will themselves own that it is by virtue of a blessing descending from them. The generation of the upright shall be blessed; if they tread in their steps, they shall be the more blessed for their relation to them, beloved for the Father's sake (Rom 11:28), for so runs the covenant - I will be a God to thee, and to thy seed; while the seed of evil-doers shall never be renowned. Let the children of godly parents value themselves upon it, and take heed of doing any thing to forfeit the blessing entailed upon the generation of the upright.
2.They shall prosper in the world, and especially their souls shall prosper, Psa 112:3. (1.) They shall be blessed with outward prosperity as far as is good for them: Wealth and riches shall be in the upright man's house, not in his heart (for he is none of those in whom the love of money reigns), perhaps not so much in his hand (for he only begins to raise the estate), but in his house; his family shall grow rich when he is gone. But, (2.) That which is much better is that they shall be blessed with spiritual blessings, which are the true riches. His wealth shall be in his house, for he must leave that to others; but his righteousness he himself shall have the comfort of to himself, it endures for ever. Grace is better than gold, for it will outlast it. He shall have wealth and riches, and yet shall keep up his religion, and in a prosperous condition shall still hold fast his integrity, which many, who kept it in the storm, throw off and let go in the sunshine. Then worldly prosperity is a blessing when it does not make men cool in their piety, but they still persevere in that; and when this endures in the family, and goes along with the wealth and riches, and the heirs of the father's estate inherit his virtues too, that is a happy family indeed. However, the good man's righteousness endures for ever in the crown of righteousness which fades not away.
3.They shall have comfort in affliction (Psa 112:4): Unto the upright there arises light in the darkness. It is here implied that good men may be in affliction; the promise does not exempt them from that. They shall have their share in the common calamities of human life; but, when they sit in darkness, the Lord shall be a light to them, Mic 7:8. They shall be supported and comforted under their troubles; their spirits shall be lightsome when their outward condition is clouded. Sat lucis intus - There is light enough within. During the Egyptian darkness the Israelites had light in their dwellings. They shall be in due time, and perhaps when they least expect it, delivered out of their troubles; when the night is darkest the day dawns; nay, at evening-time, when night was looked for, it shall be light.
4.They shall have wisdom for the management of all their concerns, Psa 112:5. He that does good with his estate shall, through the providence of God, increase it, not by miracle, but by his prudence: He shall guide his affairs with discretion, and his God instructs him to discretion and teaches him, Isa 28:26. It is part of the character of a good man that he will use his discretion in managing his affairs, in getting and saving, that he may have to give. It may be understood of the affairs of his charity: He shows favour and lends; but then it is with discretion, that his charity may not be misplaced, that he may give to proper objects what is proper to be given and in due time and proportion. And it is part of the promise to him who thus uses discretion that God will give him more. Those who most use their wisdom see most of their need of it, and ask it of God, who has promised to give it liberally, Jam 1:5. He will guide his words with judgment (so it is in the original); and there is nothing in which we have more occasion for wisdom than in the government of the tongue; blessed is he to whom God gives that wisdom.
I have heard about the death of the blessed Theodorus, and the news caused me great anxiety, knowing as I did his value to you. Now if it had not been Theodorus, I would have spoken to you at greater length, with tears, considering what follows after death. But since it is Theodorus whom you and I have known, what need I say in my letter except “Blessed is” Theodorus, “who has not walked in the counsel of the ungodly”? But if “he is blessed who fears the Lord,” we may now confidently call Theodorus blessed, having the firm assurance that he has reached as it were a haven and has a life without care. Would that the same had also befallen each one of us; would that each of us in his running might thus arrive; would that each of us, on his voyage, might anchor his own ship there in the stormless haven, so that, at rest with the fathers, he might say, “here will I dwell, for I have a delight therein.” Wherefore, brother beloved and most longed for, weep not for Theodorus, for he “is not dead but is sleeping.”
Let no one think that this was said only recently and that it was spoken of by the philosophers before it was mentioned in the gospel. For the philosophers, that is to say, Aristotle and Theophrastus, as also Zeno and Hieronymus, certainly lived before the time of the gospel, but they came after the prophets. Let them rather think how long before even the names of the philosophers were heard of, both of these [Aristotle and Theophrastus] seem to have found open expression through the mouth of the holy David; for it is written, “Blessed is the man whom you instruct, O Lord, and teach him out of your law.” We find elsewhere also, “Blessed is the man who fears the Lord, he will rejoice greatly in his commandments.” We have proved our point as regards knowledge, the reward for which the prophet states to be the fruit of eternity, adding that in the house of the one who fears the Lord or is instructed in his law and rejoices greatly in the divine commandments “is glory and riches; and his justice abides for ever and ever.” He has further also in the same psalm made statements about good works, that they gain for an upright man the gift of eternal life. He speaks thus: “Blessed is the man who shows pity and lends; he will guide his affairs with discretion, surely he shall not be moved for ever, the righteous shall be in everlasting remembrance.” And further, “He has dispersed, he has given to the poor, his justice endures forever.”
"Blessed is the man that fears the Lord: he will have great delight in His commandments" [Psalm 112:1]. God, who alone judges both truthfully and mercifully, will see how far he obeys His commandments: since "the life of man on earth is a temptation," [Job 7:1] as holy Job says. But "He who judges us is the Lord." [1 Corinthians 4:4] ...He therefore will see how far each man profits in His commandments; yet he who loves the peace of this building together, shall have great delight in them; nor ought he to despair, since there is "peace on earth for men of good will." [Luke 2:14]
Your fourth question is, "Why David said, 'His seed shall be mighty on the earth, the generation of the righteous shall be blessed,' when we know that the children of the just were and are cursed and those of the unjust were and are blessed." I answer this question from an exposition of the same psalm that I gave to the people. For, "Blessed is the one who fears the Lord; he shall delight exceedingly in his commandments." God, who alone judges rightly and mercifully, shall see how much he excels in his commandments, since, as holy Job says, "The life of [a person] on earth is a warfare." And again it is written, "For the corruptible body is a load on the soul, and the earthly habitation presses down the mind that muses on many things." But he who judges us is the Lord, and we should not judge before the time until the Lord shall come and bring to light the hidden things of darkness and make manifest the counsels of the heart. Then shall each person have praise from God. Therefore, [God] shall see how much each person excels in his commandments, yet each person shall delight exceedingly who truly loves the peace of the cobuilding, nor should each person despair now, since "in his commandments he shall delight exceedingly," and there will be "peace in the land to men of good will."
But even if this should be referred to the form in which each one shall rise, what should hinder us from applying to the woman what is expressly said of the man, understanding both sexes to be included under the general term "man?" For certainly in the saying, "Blessed is he who feareth the Lord," women also who fear the Lord are included.
“Behold, an angel of the Lord stood by them, and the brightness of God shone around them.” What does it mean that, as the angel was appearing to the shepherds, the splendor of divine brightness also enclosed them, something that we have never discovered in the whole course of the Old Testament? Though in countless cases angels appeared to prophets and just people, nowhere do we read of angels enclosing the human beings with the brightness of divine light. [Why is this], unless it is because the privilege was properly kept for the dignity of this time? For when the true Light of the world was born in the world, it was unquestionably fitting that the herald of his nativity should also bathe the bodily sight of human beings with the freshness of heavenly light. Now the prophet says concerning his nativity, “A light has arisen in the darkness for those who are righteous in heart.” And as though we were asking what the light was to which he refers, he immediately goes on, “He is a merciful and compassionate and just Lord.” Therefore, when the merciful and just Maker and Redeemer of the human race deigned to illuminate the world by the glory of a wondrous nativity, it was entirely proper that the brightness of a wondrous light should fill that very region in which he was born.
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SUMMARY
Psalms 112:1 serves as a foundational declaration, opening with a universal call to worship and immediately connecting true blessedness with a specific posture of the heart towards the Creator. It introduces the righteous individual whose life is characterized by profound reverence for the Lord and an enthusiastic joy in His divine instructions, setting the stage for the subsequent description of the flourishing life that results from such devotion and establishing the core principles for a life of spiritual prosperity.
CONTEXT
EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
Key Word Analysis
Verse Breakdown
Literary Devices
The verse opens with an Imperative ("Praise ye the LORD"), immediately engaging the audience and setting a tone of worship and exhortation. The subsequent description of the "blessed man" employs Parallelism, specifically a form of synonymous or complementary parallelism, where "feareth the LORD" and "delighteth greatly in his commandments" express two distinct yet deeply interconnected facets of the same core spiritual disposition. True reverence for God naturally leads to a joyful embrace of His will, and vice versa. This structure is characteristic of Wisdom Literature, which often uses concise, memorable statements to convey profound truths about righteous living and its consequences. The verse functions as a Proverbial Statement, offering a universal truth about the nature of blessedness and the qualities required to attain it, serving as a thematic introduction to the entire psalm.
THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Psalm 112:1 encapsulates a profound theological truth: true human flourishing, or "blessedness," is inextricably linked to a right relationship with God, characterized by reverential awe and joyful obedience. This blessedness is not a reward for merit but a natural outflow of a heart aligned with the Creator's will. It speaks to the covenantal relationship between God and His people, where obedience to His commands is not burdensome but a pathway to life and peace. This verse serves as a foundational statement for the entire wisdom tradition, emphasizing that the beginning of wisdom and the path to genuine happiness lies in acknowledging God's sovereignty and embracing His divine instruction, thereby experiencing the fullness of life God intends.
REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Psalm 112:1 offers a timeless blueprint for a life of true blessedness. It challenges us to examine the foundation of our own happiness: is it rooted in fleeting worldly pursuits, or in a deep, reverential relationship with God? Cultivating the "fear of the LORD" means approaching God with profound respect, acknowledging His supreme authority in every area of our lives, and seeking to honor Him in our daily choices. This reverence is not a cowering dread but a liberating awe that frees us from the fear of anything else, allowing us to live boldly for Him. Furthermore, finding genuine "delight" in His commandments transforms obedience from a burdensome duty into an expression of love and gratitude. This delight is fostered by understanding God's character and recognizing that His laws are for our ultimate good, leading to a life of purpose, peace, and flourishing. It calls us to actively seek out and internalize God's Word, allowing it to shape our desires and actions, thereby experiencing the profound joy that comes from walking in His ways and reflecting His character to the world.
Questions for Reflection
FAQ
What does "fear the LORD" mean, and is it still relevant for Christians today?
Answer: The "fear of the LORD" (Hebrew: yârêʼ) in biblical terms does not mean to be terrified of God in a cowering sense, but rather to hold Him in profound reverence, awe, and respect. It is a recognition of His absolute holiness, power, and sovereignty, which naturally leads to humility, worship, and obedience. For Christians today, this concept is incredibly relevant. It means acknowledging God's rightful place as Creator and Redeemer, submitting to His authority, and living in a way that honors Him. It's the foundation of wisdom and true knowledge, as Proverbs 9:10 states, "The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding." This reverential fear motivates us to turn from evil and pursue righteousness, knowing that God is both loving and just, and it deepens our worship and trust in Him.
Is the "blessedness" promised in this verse primarily about material prosperity?
Answer: While the Old Testament often connects obedience with material blessings (e.g., Deuteronomy 28:1-14), the "blessedness" (Hebrew: ʼesher) in Psalm 112:1 is primarily a holistic and spiritual flourishing. It encompasses profound inner happiness, well-being, divine favor, and a sense of purpose that transcends mere material wealth. The subsequent verses of Psalm 112 describe the righteous man's character—generosity, compassion, integrity—and his enduring legacy, which are far more significant than fleeting riches. While God may bless materially, the core promise is one of spiritual prosperity, peace of mind, and an enduring legacy that comes from a right relationship with Him, which is ultimately more valuable than any earthly possession. This is echoed in the New Testament, where true riches are often spiritual (Matthew 6:19-21).
CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Psalm 112:1 finds its ultimate fulfillment and deepest meaning in the person of Jesus Christ. He is the perfectly "blessed" man, not merely in receiving divine favor, but in His intrinsic union with the Father. Jesus perfectly embodied the "fear of the LORD," demonstrating absolute reverence and submission to God's will in every aspect of His life, even to the point of death on the cross (Philippians 2:8). Furthermore, Jesus perfectly "delighted greatly in His commandments," declaring, "My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work" (John 4:34). He lived a life of flawless obedience, not as a burden, but as the very essence of His being and mission, perfectly fulfilling the Law (Matthew 5:17). Through His perfect life, atoning death, and resurrection, Jesus makes it possible for us, who are inherently unable to perfectly fear and delight in God's commandments, to be counted righteous. He imputes His perfect obedience to us (Romans 5:19), and through the indwelling Holy Spirit, enables us to genuinely grow in our own reverence for God and our delight in His Word (Ezekiel 36:27). Thus, the blessedness described in Psalm 112:1 is not merely an aspiration for believers, but a reality made possible and sustained by our union with Christ, who is the source of all true life and flourishing (John 10:10).