Psalm 122 Psalm 112

So, here's a funny thing. The reading for today is supposed to be Psalm 122, but I accidentally spent my time in Psalm 112. So here are my thoughts on that:

Sometimes when I read a Psalm like this one I struggle a bit. The words I read here don't always seem to correspond to my perception of reality. However, I need to remind myself of a few truths:

1. I don't always perceive reality accurately. My ability to judge what is a good outcome and what is a bad outcome is marred by sin.
2. I don't always see the end of the story. My life has been impacted in many ways by people and decisions who are years and miles removed from me. The end of my life's story will be woven into many lives of people who live far beyond me. I may never know how thing turn out.
3. I don't always remember eternity. Ultimately, success on earth is a nice perk, but success in eternity is far more important. I may not reap great benefits today, but that is okay if I am deemed to be right with God and can enjoy the inheritance He has set aside for me.

So here's the general idea of Psalm 112:

There are great benefits for those who live rightly.

1. The definition of living rightly:

Living rightly means having a right relationship with God

• those who fear the LORD -- a healthy respect for God, a reverence
  
• those who are righteous -- their life's work reflects a desire to be right in the eyes of God
• those who trust the LORD -- they are confident and fearless because they know God will take care of them

Living rightly means having a right relationship with others

• They are generous -- the lend money generously, they conduct business fairly (their first priority is not personal gain), they share freely and give generously to those in need.
• They are compassionate -- they are most concerned with what is good for others

2. The benefits of living rightly:

• their children will be successful and an entire generation will be blessed -- right living will impact the generations to come
• they will be wealthy and their good deeds will last forever -- TRUE wealth is defined by God's standards not ours
• light will shine in the darkness for them -- even in the hard times of life, they will have something to look to
  
• good will come to them -- "Blessed are they..."
• they will not be overcome by evil -- they may come under attack from evil, but they will never be on the losing end
• they will be long remembered -- generational impact
• they do not fear bad news -- there is NO bad news for those who have been made right in God's eyes
• they can face their foes triumphantly -- they will have foes, but they need not fear them
• they will have influence and honor -- generational impact. remember, influence and honor may not always take the shape or come in the amount we would choose. but God's standard is different from ours
• they wicked will be angry and frustrated -- no one can stand against the LORD's righteous.