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God Blesses His Worshipers
1Shout praises to the Lord!
The Lord blesses everyone
who worships him and gladly
obeys his teachings.
2Their descendants will have
great power in the land,
because the Lord blesses
all who do right.
3They will get rich and prosper
and will always be remembered
for their fairness.
4They will be so kind
and merciful and good,
that they will be a light
in the dark for others
who do the right thing.
5Life will go well for those
who freely lend
and are honest in business.
6They won't ever be troubled,
and the kind things they do
will never be forgotten.
7Bad news won't bother them;
they have decided
to trust the Lord.
8They are dependable
and not afraid,
and they will live to see
their enemies defeated.
9 They will always be remembered
and greatly praised,
because they were kind
and freely gave to the poor.
10When evil people see this,
they angrily bite their tongues
and disappear.
They will never get
what they really want.
Reflect
“But you promised!” My daughter wailed those accusing words and stomped from the room. My heart sank. She was right. I had promised, and to her it looked like the fulfillment of that promise would never happen. It wasn’t until she had grown and matured that she realized I had kept my promise to her that day. It just took a while for her to see how.
Psalm 112 is a list of promises God makes to all who are righteous. The promises seem golden: prosperity, riches, security and even fame. Seen from our worldly eyes anyone would be a fool not to pursue them. But wait. Look deeper. The promises are far more than mere worldly wealth. The prosperity lies in a security that is the result of trusting the Lord. The fame comes from living a life of integrity. Perhaps the key words in this psalm are “His heart is steadfast, trusting in the Lord.” For such a person there is indeed access to great riches – all the riches possible in the kingdom of God, regardless of circumstances. Someone living in poverty may be the richest person in the country, because “even in darkness light dawns for the upright.”
The one who knows God has everything he or she might ever need because he has clothed that person in the righteousness of God. It is his righteousness that gives us access to it all. He has promised and God does not lie.
Respond
Our Father in Heaven we thank you for the promises in your word. We ask that you help us see beyond what the world sees, to understand these promises and rely on them by trusting fully in you. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
Marcia Lee Laycock
Marcia Lee Laycock is an award-winning writer and sought-after speaker. Having lived a few kilometers from the Arctic Circle, and two degrees off the Equator, her writing draws from a rich field of experiences. Marcia was the winner of the Best New Canadian Christian Author Award for her novel, One Smooth Stone, and she now has four devotional books and a fantasy series in print, which have also garnered awards. Marcia lives in central Alberta with her pastor husband. They have three grown daughters and two huge Great Dane grand-puppies.