Today’s reading is Psalm 112.
Alphabetical Parallels
Recall both Psalm 111 and Psalm 112 are acrostic psalms. Each line begins with the next letter of the Hebrew alphabet. While the succeeding letters in each poem are not always parallel, some of the lines do correspond.
For example, the vav lines both say, “and his righteousness endures forever” (111:3b; 112:3b). The gimel line of 111 says, “Great are the deeds of the LORD” (111:2a, Alter Translation). The gimel line of 112 says, “A great figure in the land his seed shall be” (112:2a, Alter Translation). The het lines say God’s work is full of splendor and majesty (111:3a) and the God-fearer’s house is full of wealth and riches (112:3a). The tet lines say God provides food for those who fear Him (111:5a) and the God-fearer provides generously and lends (112:5a).
The Trustworthy LORD
A fantastic parallel is set up not so much line by line, but by a set of four lines in each psalm. The mem, nun, samech, ayin lines found in vss. 7-8 in both psalms give a great picture.
In Psalm 111:7-8, we read:
The works of his hands are faithful and just;
all his precepts are trustworthy;
they are established forever and ever,
to be performed with faithfulness and uprightness (ESV).
The Lord is trustworthy. He works in faithfulness and truth. His rules can be trusted. They are stable and permanent. Because they are, they are to be performed with faithfulness and uprightness.
The key to notice in these verses for our purposes is “trustworthy” and “established.”
The God-Fearer Trusts the Lord
In Psalm 112:7-8, we read:
He is not afraid of bad news;
his heart is firm, trusting in the LORD.
His heart is steady; he will not be afraid,
until he looks in triumph on his adversaries (ESV).
It doesn’t stand out in the ESV. However, when Psalm 111 says God’s precepts are “established” and Psalm 112 says the God-fearer’s heart is “steady,” they use the same Hebrew word. Why is the God-fearer’s heart steady, unafraid of bad news or adversaries? Because God’s precepts are established forever and ever, the Lord’s work is faithful and just.
At the same time, the precepts of the Lord are trustworthy (Psalm 111:7b). What then does the psalmist do? He trusts the Lord (Psalm 112:7b).
Recognize in this an undercurrent of Psalm 112. Some would have us read Psalm 112 the way Satan accused Job. Sure, the psalmist trusts the Lord. The Lord is blessing the psalmist. Remove the hedge of protection and the psalmist will abandon the Lord. However, the psalm itself demonstrates the psalmist is faithful in the same way Job proves himself.
In Psalm 112:4, light dawns on the God-fearer. However, notice that counts as a blessing because the darkness came first. The righteous will never be moved according to vs. 6. However, that statement only means anything because the enemy, circumstance, life, temptation, or a mixture are trying to shake the psalmist. The psalmist is not afraid of bad news in vs. 7 not because he never receives bad news, but in spite of receiving bad news. Further, he will not be afraid until he looks in triumph on his enemies in vs. 8, but that means there is a time in which he is not triumphant over his enemies. The wicked will melt away, but first they gnash their teeth in anger at the God-fearer (Psalm 112:10a-b).
The blessed life is not so because God keeps the God-fearer from hardship, but because God walks the God-fearer through it. What keeps the psalmist’s heart firm and steadfast throughout the trials? The Lord’s precepts are established and trustworthy. What then does this God-fearing psalmist to? He trusts the Lord. As Kidner says, he doesn’t trust “in a hoped-for turn of events.” He doesn’t trust it will just all work out in the end. He trusts in the Lord.
We can too. Praise the Lord!
Tomorrow’s reading is Psalm 112.
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PATHS:
Discuss Today’s Meditation with Your Family
How does Psalm 112 prompt or improve your trust in God?
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