Today’s reading is Psalm 112.
God-Fearers are Generous
Lots of readers get snagged by Psalm 112:3:
Wealth and riches are in his house (ESV).
Sign me up to be a God-fearer. If fearing God will make me rich, I’m all about it. However, like so many portraits in Scripture, we can’t take one line to the exclusion of the others. God does not give this God-fearer wealth and riches to just so he can have wealth and riches. He doesn’t even give this one wealth and riches today to take care of him tomorrow. He gives this man wealth and riches in order to deal generously with those in need today. He gives riches to this man to distribute freely and give to the poor.
Keep this psalm in the context of Israel’s covenant with the Lord. In Deuteronomy 15, the Lord promised to bless Israel. The blessing was not meted out by making every individual Israelite wealthy. Rather, God meted out this blessing by making enough Israelites wealthy to give and lend sufficient for the needs of others who did not have enough. Psalm 112 describes the man who lives Deuteronomy 15. Because he is in awe of God, remembering the Lord is the one who provides him all the food he has, he generously shares with others.
Deuteronomy 15 says he needs to be careful to do these commands. Psalm 112 says he delights in them. Proverbs 11:23-28 has multiple parallels with our psalm. Note especially, “One gives freely, yet grows all the richer; another withholds what he should give, and only suffers want. Whoever brings blessing will be enriched, and one who waters will himself be watered” (ESV).
God-fearers are generous.
God Loves a Cheerful Giver
Paul believed this psalm is for Christians not just ancient Hebrews. Certainly, the Deuteronomy blessings and promises do not transfer directly into our Christian covenant. Yet, Paul believed the lessons of Psalm 111-112 guide us.
When encouraging the Corinthians to collect and give for their brothers and sisters’ needs in Jerusalem and Judea, he explains “whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully” (2 Corinthians 9:6, ESV). He goes on to say, “God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work” (2 Corinthians 9:8, ESV).
Then Paul calls on the psalms to make his point: “He has distributed freely, he has given to the poor; his righteousness endures forever.” If we only read in 2 Corinthians, we might well think Paul is quoting a psalm that says God has distributed freely, God has given to the poor, and the righteousness of God endures forever. But that is not the case. Paul quotes Psalm 112:9. That verse is about the God-fearer, not about God. The God-fearer distributed freely; the God-fearer has given to the poor; the righteousness of the God-fearer endures forever.
Wait! What?
What is Paul doing here?
He’s tying together a theme. In Deuteronomy 15, when God talked about the generosity with which Israelites should treat each other, He anchored part of His instruction in redemption: “You shall remember that you were a slave in the land of Egypt, and the LORD your God redeemed you; therefore I command you this today” (Deuteronomy 15:15, ESV). In Psalm 111:9, the pe and tsade lines, the psalmist said of God, “He sent redemption to his people; he has commanded his covenant forever” (ESV). In the parallel lines of Psalm 112, the psalmist said of the God-fearer who is becoming like God, “He has distributed freely; he has given to the poor; his righteousness endures forever” (ESV). Why does the God-fearer distribute freely? Because the God-fearer has been transformed by God’s free distribution of redemption. And all of this is motivated by delight in the Lord’s commands (Psalm 112:1).
If we sow bountifully, that is distribute freely; if we give cheerfully, that is with delight; if we offer willingly, that is generously, then we show ourselves to be the kinds of God-fearers to whom the Lord provides. If, however, our heart begrudges the gift (see Deuteronomy 15:9-10), the Lord will not bless us in our work. If we give cheerfully and willingly, with delight, He will bless us for every good work.
If we are generous in every way, the Lord will enrich us in every way (2 Corinthians 9:11). 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 hope in God?
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