This psalm celebrates the difference that God can make in a person’s life. The basis of that individual’s life is God’s commands, but his attention to them is marked by great delight. So he has a heart affection for them. Clearly, they are the priority in his life. He focuses on his sanctification, on pleasing his God (v. 1).
We need to bear in mind that in Old Testament times, divine blessing was often given in earthly benefits. So in verses 2 and 3, some of those benefits are mentioned: powerful descendants, prosperity, and a prominent name. Such features are not always a sign of divine blessing in New Testament times, nor is their absence a sign that God is not blessing his people.
The man’s character is mentioned in verse 4. He is like the sun shining on others, no matter the problem or how dark and complex it seems, and that benefit happens because he is a gracious, merciful and righteous person. His presence and his actions change situations because God uses him to bring benefits to others.
His consistency is described in verses 5 and 6. He maintains his devoted lifestyle throughout his life. Nothing can make him change his determination to follow God’s instructions. This consistency is marked by his confidence which is illustrated in verses 7 and 8. News of trouble will not move him away from serving God, no matter how threatening it might seem. Indeed, his strong devotion to God and trust in him will be revealed in his determination to see any source of trouble thoroughly dealt with.
His character, consistency and confidence will be revealed in his conduct, as described in verse 9. As is often the case in the Old Testament, the value of a person is estimated by his concern for the poor, an outlook that was stressed and continued at the Council of Jerusalem in the Book of Acts. Such a lifestyle is lifelong, and it will be rewarded at the Day of Judgement with divine commendation when he will be ‘exalted in honour’.
There is such a contrast between that devout man and a wicked man. Righteous behaviour makes the wicked angry, but his anger is futile, and his plans will perish eventually. God, the judge, will see to that.
The obvious deduction from the first verse of the psalm is that we should praise God for every person who delights in his commandments.
No comments:
Post a Comment