The Blessing of Those Who Keep God’s Commandments
[Psalm 112]
Today, I came to church for Wednesday prayer service with my two daughters, Yeri and Yaeun. On the way, in the car, Yeri was reading a book to Yaeun. In the book, there was a line that said, “A dull clay mother, a duller clay father, and the dullest clay child.” When I heard Yeri read that, I jokingly told my daughters that somehow it reminded me of our own family. Yeri either didn’t hear me or just took it as one of Dad’s jokes and kept reading.
But a few seconds later, Yaeun said, “Then since I’m the youngest in the family, that means I’m the dullest one.” Hearing this, I felt like she might be a little hurt, so I tried to comfort her by saying, “What matters isn’t being smart, but making an effort.”
From that conversation, I received a spiritual lesson. That lesson is that in order not to become spiritually dull, we must diligently commit ourselves to meditating on God’s Word. And through that meditation, we must become people who hear and follow the voice of the Lord, our Shepherd.
Last Wednesday, based on Psalm 111, we meditated on the concept of “good understanding.” We learned that to gain good understanding, we must keep God’s commandments (v.10). The commandment mentioned here is to “fear the Lord” (v.10), and we also learned that to fear the Lord means to praise and worship His greatness and majesty. We were taught that to do this, we must study the works of the Lord, remember them, and take joy in them.
By keeping God’s commandments, we gain good understanding and are able to live wisely in this world.
In today’s Scripture, Psalm 112:1, the psalmist also encourages us to greatly delight in God's commandments:
“Praise the Lord! Blessed is the one who fears the Lord, who greatly delights in His commandments.”
The Bible says that when we do so, we will be blessed.
Today, as we meditate on this passage, I pray that both you and I will also enjoy the same blessing by keeping the commandments of God.
First, the blessing of those who keep God's commandments extends to their descendants.
Look at what Psalm 112:2 says:
"His descendants will be mighty on earth; the generation of the upright will be blessed."
One of the greatest desires of parents of faith is to pass down their faith as an inheritance to their children. But is it happening the way you and I hope? Truly, you probably know even better than I do that raising children in the faith does not always go as parents plan.
So what should we do as parents if we want to pass down a legacy of faith to our children and future generations? As today’s passage teaches, we parents must first fear the Lord, and that reverence must be shown by keeping His commandments.
We should not pass down uncertain material wealth to our children, but rather the way of fearing the living God (Pak Yoon-Sun).
In order for our children and descendants to be blessed, we parents must obey God’s commandments with a reverent heart. In other words, we must become “the upright” (v.2).
When we do that, God will bless our children and descendants even after we die and make them strong in this world.
Let us take this to heart: for our children and descendants to remain strong in this harsh world even after we are gone, you and I must fear God and diligently keep His commandments.
Second, the blessing of those who keep God's commandments is material abundance.
Look at Psalm 112:3:
"Wealth and riches are in his house, and his righteousness endures forever."
Those who fear the Lord and keep His commandments receive blessings in material things.
In other words, the one who truly keeps God's commandments is the one who is truly rich.
Then what kind of person is truly rich?
A truly rich person may not possess a large amount of wealth, but because he has God as his inheritance, he is always content and generous to others.
On the other hand, if someone has much wealth but cannot feel satisfied, such a person is not truly rich but a slave to greed, vain ambition, and the burdens of life (Pak Yoon-Sun).
However, the truly rich person is “gracious, compassionate, and righteous” (v.4).
Such a person lives by helping and giving to others (Pak Yoon-Sun).
How can we become truly rich?
In other words, how can we receive abundant wealth?
The reason lies in this: the one who fears God and keeps His commandments also possesses righteousness (v.3, Pak Yoon-Sun).
In other words, God looks at our righteousness and blesses us materially.
The one who fears God and keeps His commandments has righteousness that endures forever (vv.3, 9).
Therefore, God blesses his household with wealth and riches.
And so, his heart is filled with satisfaction.
Third, the blessing of those who keep God’s commandments is that they receive God’s grace.
Look at Psalm 112:4:
"Light arises in the darkness for the upright; he is gracious, compassionate, and righteous."
Our God has already delivered you and me from the power of darkness and transferred us into the kingdom of His beloved Son (Colossians 1:13).
We no longer belong to this dark world (John 17:14).
However, while living in this dark world, even as we strive to fear God and keep His commandments, there are times of darkness (“blackness”).
But even in such dark times, God causes light to shine.
That means, even in difficult circumstances such as sickness or trials, we receive God’s grace (Pak Yoon-Sun).
God shines His light on the upright who dwell in darkness and rescues them.
Therefore, those who fear God and keep His commandments enjoy even greater grace from God in the midst of darkness.
Fourth, the blessing of those who keep God’s commandments is prosperity.
Look at Psalm 112:5:
"Good will come to those who are generous and lend freely, who conduct their affairs with justice."
Those who fear God and keep His commandments share the grace they have received with others (v.5).
Look also at verse 9:
"They have freely scattered their gifts to the poor, their righteousness endures forever; their horn will be lifted high in honor."
They give to others—they live a life of service.
Therefore, they prosper.
I think of Proverbs 11:24-25:
"One person gives freely, yet gains even more; another withholds unduly, but comes to poverty. A generous person will prosper; whoever refreshes others will be refreshed."
The reason those who give prosper is because God sustains their wealth as long as their righteousness continues (Pak Yoon-Sun).
The secret to prospering is fearing God and carefully keeping His commandments.
One of those commandments is to do all things justly.
Look at Micah 6:8:
"He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God."
Doing all things justly is good.
This is the secret to prospering.
The wicked who envy the prosperity of the righteous grind their teeth and melt away.
The desires of the wicked come to ruin (Psalm 112:10).
Fifth, the blessing of those who keep God’s commandments is firmness.
Look at Psalm 112:8:
"Their heart is steadfast, they will not fear; in the end they will look in triumph on their foes."
Why is it that those who fear God and keep His commandments have a firm heart and do not fear “bad news” (v.7)?
Because they trust in God and have firmly set their hearts (v.7).
Moreover, because they help the poor, those who fear God and keep His commandments do not fear (Pak Yoon-Sun).
Helping the poor is loving your neighbor, and there is no fear in that love (1 John 4:18).
Because perfect love drives out fear.
We also must strengthen our hearts by fearing God and keeping His commandments.
We should not fear any “bad news” from the wicked.
We must fully trust in God and firmly set our hearts.
Those who fear God and keep His commandments are blessed.
They are blessed to their descendants.
They receive material blessings.
They receive God’s grace.
And those who keep God’s commandments prosper.
They do not fear.
The reason is because their hearts are firm.
May these blessings be upon you and me.
Wishing you blessings from keeping God’s commandments,
Pastor James Kim
(Longing for the joy of obeying the Word)