The Righteous Will Endure Forever

“Praise the Lord! Blessed is the man who fears the Lord, Who delights greatly in His commandments…Surely he will never be shaken; The righteous will be an everlasting remembrance…His righteousness endures forever. His horn will be exalted with honor.” -Psalm 112:1, 6, 9b (NKJV. Read Psalm 112).

Continuing with the Wisdom Psalms, 112 lauds the righteous and declares they will endure forever. Psalm 112 mirrors the life of a righteous person. The statement, “the righteous will endure forever.” is made three times in this psalm, enough to assure the reader that it is indeed a promise to those whose lives are lived uprightly and in the fear of the Lord. He is promised that his descendants will be “mighty on the earth” and “be blessed.” In the area of family the righteous will be blessed from the Lord. Economically, “Wealth and riches will be in his house.” A sense of stewardship and responsibility will ensue and the righteous will have provision. He may not gain great wealth, but the humble will not go hungry nor beg for bread, as we learn in another psalm. “Light in the darkness” will guide the upright. God will show the earnest seeker His way. “He will not be afraid of evil tidings” because he is steadfast in his ways and trusts God. Even if misfortunes come, they will be received with the right attitude and the righteous follower will overcome. “He has scattered abroad his gifts to the poor.” He shares generously with those in need. The wicked is contrasted to the righteous in verse 10 and is seen as one who grieves, gnashes his teeth, and vanishes away.

Today I honor the memory of my dear father, Jewel Marion Dyer (May 25, 1890-September 3, 1974). He lived to be 84 years of age. Today is the 120th anniversary of his birth. He was a hard-working (not prosperous, but successful) farmer, a solid citizen, a man of his word, a son who honored his parents, a faithful husband, a parent who loved and nurtured his children, a Christian who lived his beliefs. As a role model, he was exemplary. Could he see his descendants to the fifth generation today, he would find among them doctors, lawyers, teachers, ministers, social workers, missionaries, nurses, farmers, musicians, business persons, administrators, workers in many occupations, mothers, and fathers who have emulated what he put into practice. I use him as an example of the truths of Psalm 112. The righteous will be blessed for generations. That is the way God works out His plan. No wonder the psalmist introduced this wisdom psalm with the Hebrew ‘halelu-yah”—“Praise the Lord!”

c Ethelene Dyer Jones; Tuesday, May 25, 2010