In The Word
Read: Psalm 111, 112
111 Praise the Lord!
I will give thanks to the Lord with all my heart,
In the company of the upright and in the assembly.
2 Great are the works of the Lord;
They are studied by all who delight in them.
3 Splendid and majestic is His work,
And His righteousness endures forever.
4 He has caused His wonders to be remembered;
The Lord is gracious and compassionate.
5 He has given food to those who fear Him;
He will remember His covenant forever.
6 He has made known to His people the power of His works,
In giving them the inheritance of the nations.
7 The works of His hands are truth and justice;
All His precepts are trustworthy.
8 They are upheld forever and ever;
They are performed in truth and uprightness.
9 He has sent redemption to His people;
He has ordained His covenant forever;
Holy and awesome is His name.
10 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom;
All those who follow His commandments have a good understanding;
His praise endures forever.
112 Praise the Lord!
Blessed is a person who fears the Lord,
Who greatly delights in His commandments.
2 His descendants will be mighty on the earth;
The generation of the upright will be blessed.
3 Wealth and riches are in his house,
And his righteousness endures forever.
4 Light shines in the darkness for the upright;
He is gracious, compassionate, and righteous.
5 It goes well for a person who is gracious and lends;
He will maintain his cause in judgment.
6 For he will never be shaken;
The righteous will be remembered forever.
7 He will not fear bad news;
His heart is steadfast, trusting in the Lord.
8 His heart is firm, he will not fear,
But will look with satisfaction on his enemies.
9 He has given freely to the poor,
His righteousness endures forever;
His horn will be exalted in honor.
10 The wicked will see it and be vexed,
He will gnash his teeth and melt away;
The desire of the wicked will perish.
New American Standard Bible (NASB) Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation
Walking In The Word
Today, we are reminded that the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. This fear is a reverence for who God is and an understanding of who we are in Him. As we study His Word and His works, we see His truth, justice, majesty and righteousness. We realize that He is gracious and compassionate, and we give Him thanks with all of our heart for His redemption and His covenant. He is holy and awesome. True worship and praise begins with this reverence.
Also, we see that those who fear the Lord will be blessed. They gladly follow the Lord’s direction and teachings, and they gain understanding. As they walk in the Lord’s ways their generation and future generations will be blessed. As they follow Him, they will not walk in darkness, but they will have the Light of life (John 8:12). They know the graciousness of the Lord and they extend that to those around them. They give freely to the poor. They are not afraid of the wicked. Their heart is steadfast and upheld because they trust in the Lord.
How about you? Do these psalms describe you? Do you fear Him or do you walk in the fear of the world. Does His light shine in you? As you read and study His word today, meditate on who He is and what He has done for us. Worship Him with the reverence that only He is worthy of.