“Positive Fear”

Psalm 112

Psalm 112 is a companion passage to Psalm 111. In Psalm 112, we discover the importance of positive fear. In Psalm 111, the foundations for Christian living are enumerated.

Qualities of the Righteous Man: vv. 1-3

“Praise the Lord. Blessed is the man who fears the Lord, who finds great delight in his commands. ²His children will be mighty in the land; the generation of the upright will be blessed. ³Wealth and riches are in his house, and his righteousness endures forever.”

1. He fears the Lord . Psalm 111:10

“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; all who follow his precepts have good understanding. To him belongs eternal praise.”

2. He loves the Word . Psalm 91:11

“For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways;”

3. He loves the home . v. 3

4. He loves others . v. 9

“Blessed are all who fear the Lord, who walk in his ways” (Psalm 128:1).

Blessings of the Righteous Man: vv. 4-8

“Even in darkness light dawns for the upright, for the gracious and compassionate and righteous man. ⁵Good will come to him who is generous and lends freely, who conducts his affairs with justice.⁶Surely he will never be shaken; a righteous man will be remembered forever. ⁷He will have no fear of bad news; his heart is steadfast, trusting in the Lord. ⁸His heart is secure, he will have no fear; in the end he will look in triumph on his foes.

1. Light in the darkness. Psalm 119:105

“Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path.”

2. Security in the midst of danger. Psalm 109:31

“For he stands at the right hand of the needy one, to save his life from those who condemn him.”

3. Honor and confidence . Proverbs 10:9

“The man of integrity walks securely, but he who takes crooked paths will be found out.”

4. Lasting success . Matthew 6:33

“But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.”

“He who pursues righteousness and love finds life, prosperity and honor” (Proverbs 21:21).

Reactions from the Unrighteous: vv. 9-10

“He has scattered abroad his gifts to the poor, his righteousness endures forever; his horn will be lifted high in honor. ¹⁰The wicked man will see and be vexed, he will gnash his teeth and waste away; the longings of the wicked will come to nothing.”

1. Frustration . Psalm 2:1

“Why do the nations conspire and the peoples plot in vain?”

2. Suffering . Psalm 9:12

“For he who avenges blood remembers; he does not ignore the cry of the afflicted.”

3. Despair . Psalm 1:4-6

“Not so the wicked! They are like chaff that the wind blows away. ⁵Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous. ⁶For the Lord watches over the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish.”

“And the words of the Lord are flawless, like silver refined in a furnace of clay, purified seven times. ⁷O Lord, you will keep us safe and protect us from such people forever” (Psalm 12:6-7).