Psalm 112 Devotions❏ Monday - The Fear of the Lord. Psalm 112:1 Psalm 112 begins, “How blessed is the man who fears the Lord” (Psa. 112:1, cf. Psa. 128:1). The only proper object of fear is God. All other fears only stir up anxiety, but the fear of the Lord brings blessing. For the Christian, the fear of the Lord is not a fear of God’s wrath (Rom. 5:9), which was propitiated by Christ on Calvary (1 John 4:10), because perfect love casts out any fear of eternal punishment (1 John 4:17‑18). Rather, the Christian’s fear of the Lord is: [1] a filial desire to please our Heavenly Father (Mal. 1:6; 1 Pet. 1:17); [2] an eclipsing fear of anything or anyone else (Isa. 8:12‑13); [3] a solemn awareness of our accountability to God (2 Cor. 5:10‑11) and God’s discipline when we sin (Heb. 12:5‑11); and [4] a humble reverence and awe for Him who is the “only Sovereign, the King of kings and Lord of lords, who alone possesses immortality anddwells in unapproachable light (1 Tim. 6:15‑16; Heb. 12:28‑29, Isa. 66:2). Yes, blessed are those who fear the Lord. Just as it is written, “I know that it will be well for those who fear God, who fear Him openly” (Eccl. 8:12). Read Psalm 34:9, 103:11, 17; Eccl. 8:12; 2 Cor. 7:1; Phil. 2:12❏ Tuesday - A Delight in the Law of the Lord. Psalm 112:1 We started our journey through the Book of Psalms with this: “How blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked, nor stand in the path of sinners, nor sit in the seat of scoffers! But his delight is in the law of the Lord” (Psa. 1:1‑2). And here, in Psalm 112, we are reminded: “How blessed is the man ... Who greatly delights in His commandments” (Psa 112:1). But the righteous and the wicked view the Law of God entirely different. For the Christian, God’s Law is like the lock on his front door, or a home security system, which he sees as a way to keep evil out, so that he might rest peacefully inside. But from the thief’s point of view, that lock is an obstacle to his evil desires. So it is, the Law of God is either a help or a hindrance, a delight or a dread, depending on one’s moral perspective. Read John 14:15; 1 John 5:3❏ Wednesday - Godly Heritage of Those Who Fear God. Psalm 112:1‑2 Jonathan Edwards (1705‑1768), lived in the British colonies in America prior to their independence. He was called “one of the most holy, humble and heavenly minded men, that the world has seen, since the apostolic age.” Pastor of Northampton, missionary to the Indians in Stockbridge, Massachusetts and President of the New Jersey College (later Princeton), Edwards has been widely recognized as the greatest intellectual figure of 18th century America. He was a great theologian, a powerful evangelist, and a loving father who taught his children to love God. Edwards married Sarah Pierrepont and had eleven children. As of 1990, among Jonathan and Sarah Edwards descendents include 14 college presidents, 100 college professors, 66 physicians, 30 judges, 80 public office holders, 3 senators, 3 mayors, 3 governors, 1 U.S. treasurer, 1 U.S. vice president, and 100 pastors, missionaries and theological teachers. “How blessed is the man who fears the Lord ... His descendants will be mighty on earth” (Psa. 112:1‑2). Read Psalm 103:17❏ Thursday - He Will Never Forget the Righteous. Psalm 112:6 This present age will soon be past, and God will create a new heaven and earth in which righteousness dwells (2 Pet. 3:13). The wicked will be remembered no more, but “The righteous will be remembered forever” (Psa. 112:6, cf. Prov. 10:7). Read Ephesians 2:4‑7❏ Friday - I Will Not Fear. Psalm 112:7‑8 “He will not fear evil tidings; his heart is steadfast, trusting in the Lord. His heart is upheld, he will not fear” (Psa. 112:7‑8). Lesser fears are usually overshadowed in the face of greater fears. And so, for the child of God a wholesome fear of the Lord will eclipse every other fear. Christian, fear God and you will have no fear of man. Read Psalm 3:6, 27:1‑3, 56:11; Isaiah 8:12‑13