Psalm 111 declares that the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. Rightly understanding who God is, is the foundation for living in this world with wisdom. Psalm 112 declares that the fear of the Lord leads to blessing. It's the next step. The fear of the Lord (rightly understanding God) leads to wisdom (skill to live rightly) which in turn leads to the blessings we reap while walking in God's ways. This psalm describes those who fear the Lord as upright, righteous, gracious, merciful, just, and generous. According to Psalm 112, the blessings that flow to these who fear the Lord can include strong offspring, riches, honor, favor, security, and victory.
O Lord, there is hope in this psalm, as it declares: "light dawns in the darkness for the upright" (v. 4). Sometimes living in this world can make us feel as helpless as trying to make our way across a room that is pitch black, or to follow a path on a dark night. We may not be afraid of the dark; nonetheless, there's still an uncertainty as we stretch out our hands trying to feel for something familiar that will help orient us, and trying to keep ourselves from running into unseen obstacles. But you shine light into the darkness that we might see our way. That light is the Lord Jesus Christ, who reveals you and your ways to us.
Lord, as you brighten the world before us with the light of Christ, let us not foolishly squeeze our eyes shut, stubbornly trying to make our way on our own. Instead, let us humbly accept the gift of the light you shine before us. It will show us how far we've wondered astray in the dark, and how far we've missed our mark without a proper sense of orientation. As you make these things clear to us in Christ, O Lord, let us be quick to come back to the path before us, quick to avoid the obstacles that nearly waylaid us, and quick to rejoice in your paths: righteousness, grace, mercy, justice, and love. We praise you, O Lord, because not only do you call us to walk in these ways that will most benefit us, but you yourself walk in these ways toward us, for our benefit. You are gracious and merciful and loyal in love, forever and ever. We praise you and pray these things in Jesus' name, amen.
