Psalms 112King James Version
A companion to 111, also an acrostic. Blessed is the man that feareth the Lord. He shall not be afraid of evil tidings: his heart is fixed, trusting in the Lord.
The companion acrostic to Psalm 111, now describing the life of the one who fears God. Blessed is the man who fears the LORD and delights in his commandments. His seed shall be mighty; wealth in his house; righteousness endures forever. He rises as light in darkness, gracious and compassionate. He is not afraid of evil tidings; his heart is established, trusting in the LORD. He gives to the poor; his righteousness endures. The wicked see it and grieve; they shall melt away.
The person whose heart is fixed in trust lives at a different pace than the world around them: not hurrying in fear, not melting in crisis, not hoarding against the poor, because the foundation does not shake.
verse: "He shall not be afraid of evil tidings: his heart is fixed, trusting in the LORD." Fixed heart equals freedom from the paralysis of bad news.
No superscription. Paired acrostic with Psalm 111. Both begin with Hallelujah and use the same 22-line structure. The symmetry is intentional: one psalm about the LORD, one about the person who fears him. Book 5.
The God-fearing man as the psalm's subject and portrait; his children as the blessed generation; the poor who receive his gifts; the wicked who observe and grieve; no named individuals.
Psalm 112 is the practical companion to Psalm 111's theology. Where Psalm 111 describes what God does, Psalm 112 describes what the person who trusts him looks like. The portrait is economic (giving to the poor), relational (gracious and compassionate), and psychological (not afraid of evil tidings). Paul quotes v9 in 2 Corinthians 9:9 about generous giving.
For when you want to see what a stable life actually looks like from the inside. The psalm is a portrait, not a prescription: it describes rather than commands.
1Praise ye the LORD. Blessed is the man that feareth the LORD, that delighteth greatly in his commandments.
2His seed shall be mighty upon earth: the generation of the upright shall be blessed.
3Wealth and riches shall be in his house: and his righteousness endureth for ever.
4Unto the upright there ariseth light in the darkness: he is gracious, and full of compassion, and righteous.
5A good man sheweth favour, and lendeth: he will guide his affairs with discretion.
6Surely he shall not be moved for ever: the righteous shall be in everlasting remembrance.
7He shall not be afraid of evil tidings: his heart is fixed, trusting in the LORD.
8His heart is established, he shall not be afraid, until he see his desire upon his enemies.
9He hath dispersed, he hath given to the poor; his righteousness endureth for ever; his horn shall be exalted with honour.
10The wicked shall see it, and be grieved; he shall gnash with his teeth, and melt away: the desire of the wicked shall perish.