Thoughts for the Day

Blessings of the Righteous

Praise the Lord!
Happy are those who fear the Lord,
who greatly delight in his commandments.
Their descendants will be mighty in the land;
the generation of the upright will be blessed.
Wealth and riches are in their houses,
and their righteousness endures for ever.
They rise in the darkness as a light for the upright;
they are gracious, merciful, and righteous.
It is well with those who deal generously and lend,
who conduct their affairs with justice.
For the righteous will never be moved;
they will be remembered for ever.
They are not afraid of evil tidings;
their hearts are firm, secure in the Lord.
Their hearts are steady, they will not be afraid;
in the end they will look in triumph on their foes.
They have distributed freely, they have given to the poor;
their righteousness endures for ever;
their horn is exalted in honour.
The wicked see it and are angry;
they gnash their teeth and melt away;
the desire of the wicked comes to nothing.

(Lectionary, New Revised Standard Version)

Thoughts

What we might ask today is 'Righteousness' and who might be called 'righteous'? In both Hebrew and Greek the word normally translated 'righteousness' is used to indicate someone who is just in their dealings with God and with other people, but also who shows their generosity to those around them. Many chapters have been written on these words, and to try and put it simply is difficult, but we might say that a righteous man or woman will try to live by God's laws, and will be open handed in their generosity to others and especially to those in need.

Psalm 112 is linked to Psalm 111, as well as this they are both acrostic poems, each having 22 lines beginning with successive letters of the Hebrew alphabet. They were written as companions with the first, Psalm 111, ending with the idea that the 'fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom', and the second, Psalm 112, starting with this same phrase. The meaning is less about "fear" and more properly about "awe". The person who shows such awe of God is truly blessed says the writer.

↠ Do we fear God, or do we embrace His involvement in our life but stand in awe of His generosity to us?

We should note that the righteous are not exempt from pain or from death, neither are they perfect. But their reputation will not be forgotten by God. For those who have faith in God and trust in Him, and for those who delight in obeying God's commandments to love God and love others, then they they can be assured that for honestly confessed sin much will be forgiven.

Father-God,
You call us to be righteous,
to live just lives by obeying Your laws;
to give generously of our time, talents
and money to others;
and above all to put all our trust in You,
knowing that Your Son died for us
so that we might be put right with You.
Forgive our selfishness,
and help us to live the life we profess
as Your loving children.
Amen.