Psalm 112

“Praise the Lord! Blessed is the man who fears the Lord, who delights greatly in His commandments. His descendants will be mighty on earth; the generation of the upright will be blessed.” Psalm 112:1-2 (NKJV)

Today’s psalm, the “Blessed State of the Righteous,” takes no time pointing out the relationship between blessedness and delighting in God’s Word.  We are immediately reminded of the message that began the Book of Psalms.

“Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stands in the path of sinners, nor sits in the seat of the scornful; but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and in His law he meditates day and night.” Psalm 1:1-2 (NKJV)

If we delight in God’s Word, we will seek its counsel every day and allow its instruction to preside over our thoughts and actions throughout the day.  In fact, that was God’s direction when He gave the Commandments to Israel.

“And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up.” Deuteronomy 6:6-7 (NKJV)

If we have a culture that stresses we know the Bible and teaches it “diligently to our children,” then we better understand Commandment #5.  Commandment #5 presumes that the Israelite parents would live in obedience to God’s Word.

“Honor your father and your mother, as the Lord your God has commanded you, that your days may be long, and that it may be well with you in the land which the Lord your God is giving you.” Deuteronomy 5:16 (NKJV)

We honor our “father and mother” (those who taught us God’s Word) when we demonstrate that we have received their values by delighting in the Bible, as well.  Our culture of faith is to be passed down to our children throughout the generations, in addition to affecting our present generation of unbelievers for the gospel.

“But the path of the just is like the shining sun, that shines ever brighter unto the perfect day. The way of the wicked is like darkness; they do not know what makes them stumble. My son, give attention to my words; incline your ear to my sayings. Do not let them depart from your eyes; keep them in the midst of your heart; for they are life to those who find them, and health to all their flesh. Keep your heart with all diligence, for out of it spring the issues of life. Put away from you a deceitful mouth, and put perverse lips far from you. Let your eyes look straight ahead, and your eyelids look right before you. Ponder the path of your feet, and let all your ways be established. Do not turn to the right or the left; remove your foot from evil.” Proverbs 4:18-27 (NKJV)