Psalms 111 & 112

I love bumper stickers.  I don't have any but I love seeing how others advertise themselves on their vehicles.  Even though the November elections have passed there are still plenty of political bumper stickers.  It is college football season so I see a lot of fans sporting celebrations their favorite teams.  Religious bumper stickers abound where I live and while some of them are amusing ("Wear your Bible belt") some are thought-provoking.  "FROG - Fully Rely On God."  "WWJD - What Would Jesus Do?"  "No Jesus, No Peace. Know Jesus, Know Peace."  I found this one particularly interesting, "Think Spiritually. Act Righteously."


Righteous is defined as "characterized by uprightness or morality; morally right or justifiable; virtuous."  We so often hear this word with "self" slapped on the front of it, which totally changes the definition.  Self-righteous is a smug satisfaction and confidence in one's OWN beliefs & behavior while being critical and judgmental of the beliefs & behaviors of OTHERS.  God's Word has a lot to say about righteousness, both His and ours, and the psalms are a great place to learn about the two.


This week we look at Psalms 111 and 112.  They complement each other in that the first is a description of what God is like and what He does, and the second is focuses on how we are to behave in light of His character and works.


As you read through Psalm 111 we see the words righteous, glorious, majestic, gracious, compassionate, faithful, trustworthy, steadfast, upright, holy and awesome.  We know that He is also eternal, infinite, incomprehensible, loving, just, merciful, gracious, wise, generous and victorious.  And this is just a PARTIAL list! By studying His works in this psalm we see they are great, pondered by all, wondrous, powerful and redeeming.  But again, these few descriptions are just the tip of the iceberg and the author of this psalm is laying the groundwork for us:  Psalm 111 is WHY we are to live out Psalm 112.


Psalm 112 begins with praise and a blessing:  "Blessed is the man who fears (reveres, respects, values) God, who finds great delight in His commands." (emphasis mine)  This person will be provided for, leave a godly legacy, be firm in his faith, never fear bad news, have a secure and steadfast heart, be generous & trustworthy, be honest & fair, be honored & remembered, be victorious, and will have the attitude of an overcomer.


Verse four is one of my favorites because it hearkens back to Exodus.  "Even in darkness light dawns for the upright, for the gracious and compassionate and righteous man."  As Moses confronted Pharaoh to get him to release the children of Israel, the Lord hardened Pharaoh's heart as He plagued the Egyptians.  In Exodus 10:21-23 we read, "Then the Lord said to Moses, 'Stretch out your hand toward the sky so that darkness will spread over Egypt - darkness that can be felt.'  So Moses stretched out his hand toward the sky, and total darkness covered all Egypt for three days. No one could see anyone else or leave his place for three days.  Yet ALL the Israelites had light in the places where they lived." (emphasis mine)


Imagine an entire country being dark except for one area!  And it wasn't just the darkness that the Lord spared His people from -- they were spared from EVERY plague.  Boils, frogs, bloody water, disease, hail, DEATH...  While the nation in which they lived was experiencing His punishment, God's people were experiencing His provision.  His mighty hand NEVER left them because they were HIS chosen ones and He delighted in them.  And even in the midst of fearsome and trying times, He revealed Himself and provided for them in amazing ways.


How encouraging are these words to believers today!!  Even though we aren't exempt from bad news and bad times, we know that He is providing for us and that His mighty hand will NEVER leave us!  Ps 112:7a says "He will have no fear of bad news."  Notice the psalmist doesn't say he won't HAVE bad news.  We WILL have bad news because Christians don't live in a protective bubble, but we won't FEAR bad news because the verse continues: "his heart is steadfast, trusting in the Lord."


Proverbs 3:5-6 and Romans 8:28 are familiar reminders that God is working in the lives of His children and we are to trust Him no matter what our circumstances may be because His hand is on us and we are moving along a path that will grow us and glorify Himself.  As we navigate the storms of life it's important that we remember WHO GOD IS and that He has a plan and a time table and everything is RIGHT ON SCHEDULE!  He is in control and is faithful and loving and kind and gracious and watching over His children.  


John 16:33 sums it up beautifully, "I have told you these things, so that IN ME you may have peace.  In this WORLD you will have trouble.  But take heart!  I have OVERCOME the world."   


So... "No Jesus, No Peace. Know Jesus, Know Peace."