HUMAN CONDITION C: PSALM 112 The contentment of the trusting, in a broken world

 Psalm 112 

^1 hPraise the LORD!

ⁱBlessed is the man who fears the LORD,

who ^jgreatly delights in his commandments!

2  His ^koffspring will be mighty in the land;

^lthe generation of the upright will be blessed.

3  ^mWealth and riches are in his house,

and his ⁿrighteousness endures forever.

4  Light dawns in the darkness ^ofor the upright;

he is gracious, merciful, and ^prighteous.

5  It is well with the man who ^qdeals generously and lends;

who conducts his affairs with justice.

6  For the righteous will ^rnever be moved;

^she will be remembered forever.

7  He is not ^tafraid of bad news;

his ^uheart is firm, ^vtrusting in the LORD.

8  His heart is steady;² he will not be afraid,

until he looks in triumph on his adversaries.

9  He has ^wdistributed freely; he has given to the poor;

his righteousness endures forever;

his ^xhorn is exalted in honor.

10  The wicked man sees it and is angry;

he ^ygnashes his teeth and ^zmelts away;

^athe desire of the wicked will perish!

Some basic pondering on PS 112

1. As we see the ultimate fulfilment of this psalm through Christ we see that He is the one who shows ultimate reverence and obedience, delight in GOD and His law, justice, overflowing of blessing to generations, ultimate mercy and generosity.

2. As we see ourselves in a wicked world this Christmas, our hearts can be torn by the dichotomy of living under GOD and all that he has for us in Christ and the same time a world which is melting away in self destruction.

3. Ultimately our salvation or contentment can not be wiped out by wickedness if we are in CHRIST. THE LORD reigns, and his coming into a wicked world, his protection against wicked plans (Herod) and his sovereignty over wicked plans (Pilate) both lead to our salvation. God has all eventualities included and encompassed in his plan of redemption. 

4. OUR HEARTS CAN BE STEADIED THIS CHRISTMAS as we focus on CHRIST. The steadfastness of the baby who was born to die, can be the steadfastness of us as we go through life in the certain purposes of GOD by his help and in the power of His spirit. Contrast this with the wishful thinking of so many symbolised in the escapism of John Lennon. "Let's hope it's a good one...", "war is over..." Such optimism and reality of expectation is not tenable in a Christmas without Christ.

5. FROM STEADFAST FOUNDATIONS IN HIM (6), come all the expressions of his grace to us, overflowing to others this Christmas.

• Uprightness, holy living, compassion with those who aren't (4)
• Generous extensions of grace (5) which give and give again.
• Steadfast faith in an increasingly fearful broken world (7)
• Certain victory over the enemies of God and their schemes (8)
• True freedom in life, from sin, freedom from self obsession, freedom to love others in the name of CHRIST. (9)
• Freedom from roots of bitterness (10) which chew us up to waste and strangle life.