The One Who Fears the Lord

Introduction:

Is it really worth it to fear the Lord and serve Him all the days of your life?  Will God truly bless the one who loves and obeys Him?  The psalmist answers, “Yes” in Psalm 112.  Investing in the Lord is the best investment of all.

Text:  Psalm 112

Body:

I.             His Righteousness Endures Forever  (Psalm 112:1-3)

·         “Fears”   He reveres Jehovah as the true God.  He holds Him in the highest esteem.  (Isaiah 8:13)  He humbly submits to God’s commands.  (Psalm 128:1)

·         “Delights”   He doesn’t consider God’s commands a burden.   (Psalm 119:35, I John 5:3)

·         God-fearing parents teach their children to fear the Lord.  Following the ways of the Lord produces the best life: one of contentment, satisfaction, and peace.  (Psalm 25:12-14)  Fearing the Lord produces an honest, hard-working follower of God.  The Lord blesses these godly men.  (Psalm 37:25-26, Psalm 111:5)

·         A land is better off when those living in it are God-fearing people.  “Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord. . .”  (Psalm 33:12)

·         “Righteousness endures forever.”  The fruit of one who fears the Lord does not go away but continues to bless. 

II.           He Will Be Remembered Forever  (Psalm 112:4-6)

·         “Graceful, merciful, and righteous”   These qualities are used in Psalm 111 to describe God.  The one who fears the Lord becomes more and more like the object of his worship.  He becomes generous, compassionate, and fair.

·         “Light dawns”   The one who walks in darkness can’t see where he is going; so he trips and falls.  (Psalm 97:11)  The righteous have the promise of God’s guidance at all times: difficult times, adverse times, complicated times.  (Psalm 119:105)

·         The one who fears the Lord will be remembered for his generosity.  (Psalm 37:26)  Also see Proverbs 14:21,31.  The one who is generous will not end up destitute.  We cannot out give God!  (Proverbs 11:24)

·         “Never be moved”   We can be stable in the face of adversity, confident in God’s providential power.  (Proverbs 10:30)

·         “Righteousness remembered”   This is by both God and others.  (Proverbs 10:7, Mark 9:41) 

III.         His Horn Is Exalted in Honor  (Psalm 112:7-10)

·         The one who fears the Lord will not be afraid when he hears bad news because he trusts in the Lord.  (Psalm 112:7-8)                       (Proverbs 1:29-33)   He believes in God’s promises.  (Romans 8:28)

·         Wise living is characterized by generosity, especially to the poor and needy.  The apostle Paul quotes this verse in II Corinthians 9:8-11.  The generous, God-fearing man will be remembered.  His good deeds will never lose their value.

·         “Horn is exalted”   This denotes strength and dignity.  The Lord will exalt the faithful in due time.  The wicked will melt away and eventually perish.  (Proverbs 11:23)

Conclusion:

Honesty and generosity are linked with fearing the Lord and ultimately being blessed by Him.  How can you fear God more?  How can you delight in His commandments more?  How can you be more generous, compassionate, and fair? 

Bobby Stafford                                                                                                  

January 12, 2014