What is the meaning of Psalm 112:1? Hallelujah! • The psalm opens with a shout of praise that lifts our eyes from ourselves to the Lord. • Similar calls erupt throughout Scripture—“Hallelujah! Praise the LORD, O my soul” (Psalm 146:1)—showing that worship is the natural response of a heart captivated by God’s greatness (Psalm 106:1; Revelation 19:1–6). • By beginning with praise, the psalm reminds us that every blessing described in the verses that follow is rooted in God’s character, not human merit. Blessed is the man • “Blessed” speaks of a settled, God-given happiness that cannot be shaken by circumstances (Psalm 1:1–3; Jeremiah 17:7–8). • This blessing is personal—“the man”—yet open to all who embrace the same posture of faith (Luke 11:28). • True prosperity, then, is defined not by material gain but by God’s favor resting on a life aligned with His ways. Who fears the LORD • The fear of the LORD is reverent awe, not crippling dread (Proverbs 9:10). It is the recognition that He is Creator, Judge, and Redeemer. • Such fear produces: – Wisdom (Proverbs 1:7) – Confidence (Proverbs 14:26) – Comfort for the church (Acts 9:31) – Enduring love from generation to generation (Psalm 103:17) • When we rightly fear God, lesser fears lose their grip. Who greatly delights in His commandments • The blessed person doesn’t obey grudgingly; he “greatly delights” in God’s directives, echoing “Oh, how I love Your law!” (Psalm 119:97). • Delight leads to: – Consistent obedience—“If you love Me, you will keep My commandments” (John 14:15). – Freedom—“The one who looks intently into the perfect law of freedom…will be blessed in what he does” (James 1:25). – Light burdens—“His commandments are not burdensome” (1 John 5:3). • Such joy-filled obedience flows from gratitude for salvation, not an attempt to earn it. summary Psalm 112:1 paints a vivid portrait of the truly blessed life: it begins with wholehearted praise, is marked by God-centered happiness, rooted in reverent awe, and expressed through joyful obedience. This verse assures us that when we fear the LORD and delight in His commands, we step into a life of unshakable, God-given blessing. |
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