The Glory & Reward of Righteousness - July 6th, 2025

Psalm 112 KJV

1 Praise ye the LORD. Blessed is the man that feareth the LORD, that delighteth greatly in his commandments. 2 His seed shall be mighty upon earth: the generation of the upright shall be blessed. 3 Wealth and riches shall be in his house: and his righteousness endureth for ever. 4 Unto the upright there ariseth light in the darkness: he is gracious, and full of compassion, and righteous. 5 A good man sheweth favour, and lendeth: he will guide his affairs with discretion. 6 Surely he shall not be moved for ever: the righteous shall be in everlasting remembrance. 7 He shall not be afraid of evil tidings: his heart is fixed, trusting in the LORD. 8 His heart is established, he shall not be afraid, until he see his desire upon his enemies. 9 He hath dispersed, he hath given to the poor; his righteousness endureth for ever; his horn shall be exalted with honour. 10 The wicked shall see it, and be grieved; he shall gnash with his teeth, and melt away: the desire of the wicked shall perish.

Formal Elements / Descriptive Data

Text – Psalm 112 (KJV)

Title – “The Glory and Reward of Righteousness”

CIT (Central Idea of the Text) Psalm 112 teaches that the man who fears Jehovah enjoys enduring blessing, radiates gracious generosity, and remains unshaken while the wicked wither in frustrated envy.

Proposition Because reverent obedience produces an enduring, outward‑flowing righteousness, God’s people must cultivate a God‑fearing, gracious life that shines in a dark world.

Sermonic Purpose – Major Objective – Exhortation: to move believers to admire and adopt the psalm’s portrait of righteous living. – Specific Objective – By the close of the message each hearer will identify and schedule one concrete act of gracious generosity for the coming week as evidence of trusting the Lord.

Sub‑Introduction – Setting Psalm 112 in Context

Psalm 112 stands as the second panel of a deliberate diptych with Psalm 111. Both psalms share an alphabetic acrostic structure, twenty‑two cola marching through the Hebrew alphabet in perfect order. Psalm 111 rehearses the mighty deeds and gracious character of Jehovah; Psalm 112 mirrors those same attributes in the life of the individual who fears Him. In other words, what God IS in Psalm 111, the righteous person REFLECTS in Psalm 112.

The superscriptionless composition likely arose in the early Persian period, when post‑exilic communities gathered around Torah teaching rather than a standing monarchy. Its opening beatitude, “Blessed is the man that feareth the LORD,” intentionally echoes Psalm 1, while its closing warning that the desire of the wicked “shall perish” repeats that psalm’s final verb. The poet thus frames the entire Psalter’s wisdom motif—two divergent ways—with a single alphabet of praise.

Historically, Jewish families recited these twin psalms at festive meals to imprint covenant piety on succeeding generations. Literarily, the ordered acrostic models an ordered life: fear of the Lord (v 1) flowers into generational influence (v 2), material sufficiency (v 3), compassionate generosity (vv 4‑5), unshakeable stability (vv 6‑8), and public vindication (v 9). A solitary closing verse (v 10) sketches the tragic mirror‑image of the lawless—a life that sees blessing but cannot taste it.

For a Baptist pulpit devoted to historic, plain‑sense exposition, Psalm 112 offers a ready bridge from doctrine to duty: covenant grace received becomes covenant grace displayed. The psalmist’s artistry—light piercing darkness, a horn lifted in honor, teeth gnashing in vain—heightens the call to let our reverence erupt in visible righteousness. As we savor this psalm, we stand invited to join the alphabet of praise with lives that make God’s generosity believable to the watching world.

I. THE BLESSING OF THE GODLY (vv 1‑9)

A. Benefits of Reverent Obedience (vv 1‑3)

1. Posterity (vv 1‑2)

Psalm 112:1–2 KJV

1 Praise ye the LORD. Blessed is the man that feareth the LORD, that delighteth greatly in his commandments. 2 His seed shall be mighty upon earth: the generation of the upright shall be blessed.

“Blessed is the man that feareth the LORD… His seed shall be mighty upon earth: the generation of the upright shall be blessed.”

• ’ashrê (“Blessed”) = many‑layered happiness, covenant favor.

• yārē’ (“fears”) = awe‑filled reverence that produces obedience.

• gibbôr (“mighty”) pictures valiant warriors—moral strength, not merely brawn.

Hist-Cult: As an acrostic wisdom psalm, 112 was likely recited in family gatherings after the exile to instill generational piety.

True reverence never ends with the individual; it propagates. The man who delights in God’s commands seeds a moral lineage that out‑lives him, echoing the promise to Abraham that in his seed “all nations” would be blessed.

[Quote] “Godly parents produce godly children… the children of the upright are blessed—happy and whole—because they walk in the footsteps of their godly parents.”

[Prompt] [EXP→ILL] Imagine the ripple of one obedient decision reaching your great‑grandchildren. 

 [ILL→APP] So, what legacy is your obedience writing today?

2. Possessions (v 3)

Psalm 112:3 KJV

3 Wealth and riches shall be in his house: and his righteousness endureth for ever.

“Wealth and riches shall be in his house: and his righteousness endureth for ever.”

• hôn = “wealth/enough,” stressing sufficiency.

• “Righteousness” here includes the reward of righteousness.

Hist‑Cult: In Israel’s covenant economy, material sufficiency testified to Yahweh’s faithfulness, yet poverty never disqualified one from covenant blessing.

Integrity is itself an inexhaustible capital. Whether God adds silver or not, the righteous man’s true treasure is the un‑eroding righteousness that mirrors God’s own (Ps 111:3).

[Quote] “There is wealth which the poorest can have… to be godly is the true riches.”

[Prompt] [EXP→ILL] Picture a widow with an unfading joy that outshines her sparse budget. 

 [ILL→APP] Where does your balance sheet place righteousness?

B. Benediction that Overflows (vv 4‑9)

1. Gracious (vv 4‑5)

Psalm 112:4–5 KJV

4 Unto the upright there ariseth light in the darkness: he is gracious, and full of compassion, and righteous. 5 A good man sheweth favour, and lendeth: he will guide his affairs with discretion.

“Unto the upright there ariseth light in the darkness: he is gracious, and full of compassion, and righteous. A good man sheweth favour, and lendeth…”

Word Snapshot:

• ḥānan = to show grace.

• ḥûs = deep compassion that moves to action.

Hist‑Cult: Lending without interest to the poor (Ex 22:25) was a covenant hallmark of social justice, contrasting pagan exploitation.

The God‑fearer becomes a little sunrise for others—dispensing practical mercy that reflects the gracious character of the LORD (Ps 111:4).

[Quote] “Benevolence should express itself in beneficence… If we are good, we’ll do good.”

[Prompt] [EXP→ILL] Light a single candle in a dark sanctuary—see how unselfconscious generosity pushes back night. 

[ILL→APP] Whose darkness will your grace illumine this week?

2. Grounded (vv 6‑9)

Psalm 112:6–9 KJV

6 Surely he shall not be moved for ever: the righteous shall be in everlasting remembrance. 7 He shall not be afraid of evil tidings: his heart is fixed, trusting in the LORD. 8 His heart is established, he shall not be afraid, until he see his desire upon his enemies. 9 He hath dispersed, he hath given to the poor; his righteousness endureth for ever; his horn shall be exalted with honour.

“Surely he shall not be moved for ever… His heart is fixed, trusting in the LORD… He hath dispersed, he hath given to the poor; his righteousness endureth for ever; his horn shall be exalted with honour.”

Word Snapshot:

• kûn (“established”) = set like a pillar.

• Chiastic line‑pairing: fearlessness ⇄ fixed heart (vv 7‑8).

Hist‑Cult: “Horn” was a Near‑Eastern emblem of strength and royal dignity; generosity, not conquest, lifts this horn.

Storms swirl, but the righteous heart is anchored in Jehovah’s reliability. His open‑handed life becomes the very means God uses to crown him with honour now and eschatologically (cf. 2 Cor 9:9, quoting v 9).

2 Corinthians 9:9 KJV

9 (As it is written, He hath dispersed abroad; he hath given to the poor: his righteousness remaineth for ever.

[Quote] “Grace and gumption should go together.”

[Prompt] [EXP→ILL] Think of an oak whose roots grip bedrock; gale‑force headwinds do not topple it.  

[ILL→APP] Which promise will you drive a deeper root into before the next headwind hits?

II. THE BEREAVEMENT OF THE GODLESS (v 10)

A. Disappointment (v 10a)

Psalm 112:10 KJV

10 The wicked shall see it, and be grieved; he shall gnash with his teeth, and melt away: the desire of the wicked shall perish.

“The wicked shall see it, and be grieved; he shall gnash with his teeth…”

Word Snapshot:

• kāʿas = to be vexed, enraged to the core.

• Gnashing is courtroom language of frustrated defeat.

Hist‑Cult: Public vindication at the city gate exposed the hollowness of unrighteous schemes.

Devoid of covenant hope, the wicked can only grind teeth at blessings they refused by unbelief—a preview of final judgment.

[Quote] “What gladdens the godly grieves the ungodly. The sinner loathes what he cannot prevent.”

[Prompt] [EXP→ILL] Like Haman sizing up Mordecai’s promotion.  

[ILL→APP] Will envy sour your spirit or send you back to the fear of the LORD?

B. Destruction (v 10b)

“…and melt away: the desire of the wicked shall perish.”

Word Snapshot:

• “Melt” (tāmās) evokes wax before flame—self‑consumed.

• “Desire” contrasts with the righteous “desire” of v 8.

Hist‑Cult: Psalm wisdom equates perishing hopes with covenant curse (cf. Prov 10:28).

Proverbs 10:28 KJV

28 The hope of the righteous shall be gladness: but the expectation of the wicked shall perish.

All ambitions severed from righteousness are terminal ventures; the godless future evaporates in God’s just presence.

[Quote] “He sees what he does not desire, and what he desires he will not see.”

[Prompt] [EXP→ILL] A sandcastle at high tide—grand for a moment, gone by dusk.  

[ILL→APP] Are your goals buoyant in eternity, or brittle against it?

Theology Summary #1 – Canonical Arc Psalm 112 extends Eden’s commission—image‑bearing—as the righteous mirror God’s compassion (Ps 111) and anticipate the Servant‑King whose righteousness is forever. The beatitude echoes Psalm 1 and blossoms in Christ’s Beatitudes, grounding ethics in doxology.

Theology Summary #2 – Gentile Inclusion By quoting v 9 in 2 Cor 9:9 Paul universalizes the psalm’s promise, inviting Jew and Gentile givers alike into the Messiah’s harvest. In Jesus, the blessings of the fear‑of‑Yahweh man overflow to the nations (Isa 49:6).

Isaiah 49:6 KJV

6 And he said, It is a light thing that thou shouldest be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob, and to restore the preserved of Israel: I will also give thee for a light to the Gentiles, that thou mayest be my salvation unto the end of the earth.

[Prompt] Six‑Scene Argument Diagram 1 Praise → 2 Fear/Delight → 3 Generational & material blessing → 4 Gracious overflow → 5 Unshakeable courage → 6 Public vindication / Wicked collapse

III. CHRIST — THE PERFECTLY RIGHTEOUS MAN

“He hath dispersed, he hath given to the poor…” (Ps 112:9) cf. 2 Cor 9:9

2 Corinthians 9:9 KJV

9 (As it is written, He hath dispersed abroad; he hath given to the poor: his righteousness remaineth for ever.

Jesus embodies Psalm 112 without deficit—light in deepest darkness, generous even to His enemies, raised in honour at the right hand of God. United to Him, believers inherit the psalm’s steady heart and eternal posterity.

[Prompt] Literary‑Echo Sheet — Psalm 111 (God’s attributes) ↔ Psalm 112 (God‑like man); Proverbs 10:22; Matthew 5:3‑12; 2 Cor 9:6‑9.

Proverbs 10:22 KJV

22 The blessing of the LORD, it maketh rich, and he addeth no sorrow with it.

Matthew 5:3–12 KJV

3 Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 4 Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted. 5 Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth. 6 Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled. 7 Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy. 8 Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God. 9 Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God. 10 Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness’ sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 11 Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. 12 Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.

2 Corinthians 9:6–9 KJV

6 But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully. 7 Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver. 8 And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work: 9 (As it is written, He hath dispersed abroad; he hath given to the poor: his righteousness remaineth for ever.

Application Bank

• The fear of the LORD frees us from fear of news cycles. • Generosity is an investment with eternal dividends. • Legacy is shaped more by obedience than by DNA. • Righteous stability grows from habitual delight in Scripture. • Envy warns us we have left the path of worship.