Psalm 112 shows what grace looks like when it becomes a human life. The blessed man fears the Lord, delights in His commandments, gives generously, shows mercy, and does not collapse before evil report. St Augustine refuses to read this as respectable morality only. He links it to the rebuilding of God’s house and to the works of mercy that flow from a heart made upright by grace.
Its spiritual center is steadfast mercy. Augustine calls works of mercy “the seed of the future harvest,” and even says, “His deeds themselves are the words whereby he shall be defended at the Judgment.” The Psalm is therefore not merely about private virtue. It is about a life so reordered by the fear of God that almsgiving, gentleness, and fearless trust become visible witnesses to the kingdom.
Psalm 112 (LXX 111) - Blessed is the Man that Fears the Lord
Psalm Metadata
| Field | Notes |
|---|---|
| NKJV / Masoretic numbering | Psalm 112 |
| Septuagint / Coptic numbering | Psalm 111 |
| Accepted author | Alleluia. |
| Period in author’s life | No precise life event is given; the Psalm is a wisdom meditation on the blessed man. |
| Christ prophecy status | Typological and ecclesial. The blessed man who fears the Lord and whose righteousness endures points toward Christ, the righteous One. |
| Coptic lectionary/service use | Scripture from this study has an established place in the Coptic Orthodox lectionary through documented Church readings. |
| Numbering issue | This note embeds Brenton LXX Psalm 111. The local lectionary rows (if any) would preserve printed Psalm 112 references. |
Historical and Scriptural Context
Psalm 112 is an acrostic Psalm, paired with Psalm 111. It is a wisdom Psalm that describes the blessed life of the one who fears the Lord. It stands beside Proverbs and the wisdom literature on the fear of the Lord as the beginning of wisdom.
Scripturally, it echoes the Beatitudes and the description of the righteous man in the wisdom books.
Geographical Significance ⛰️
The geography is the house where glory and riches are, the earth where the seed is mighty, the darkness where light springs up, and the place where the righteous is in everlasting remembrance.
The Characters 👥
The man that fears the Lord. The blessed one who delights in the commandments, is merciful, lends, and is not moved for ever.
His seed / the generation of the upright. Those who are blessed because of him.
The sinner. The one who sees and is angry, gnashing his teeth and consuming away.
🕯️ Light from the Word
Psalm 111:1-3, Blessed is the man that fears the Lord
111:1 Alleluia. Blessed is the man that fears the Lord: he will delight greatly in his commandments. 111:2 His seed shall be mighty in the earth: the generation of the upright shall be blessed. 111:3 Glory and riches shall be in his house; and his righteousness endures for evermore.
The Psalm opens with the declaration that the man who fears the Lord is blessed. He will delight greatly in His commandments. His seed shall be mighty in the earth, the generation of the upright shall be blessed. Glory and riches shall be in his house, and his righteousness endures for evermore.
St Augustine sees the fear of the Lord as the foundation of the blessed life that endures. Theodoret emphasizes that the delight in the commandments leads to the blessing of the seed.
The Christological reading is that Christ is the man who fears the Lord perfectly, and His righteousness endures for ever.
Lesson Guide
- Key phrases: “Blessed is the man that fears the Lord”; “his righteousness endures for evermore.”
- Emphasize: the fear of the Lord leads to enduring righteousness and blessing for the generations.
- Avoid: thinking that blessing is only material. The Psalm teaches the spiritual blessedness of the one who fears God.
Psalm 111:4-6, To the upright light has sprung up in darkness
111:4 To the upright light has sprung up in darkness: he is pitiful, and merciful, and righteous. 111:5 The good man is he that pities and lends: he will direct his affairs with judgment. 111:6 For he shall not be moved for ever; the righteous shall be in everlasting remembrance.
The Psalm continues with the description of the upright man. To him light has sprung up in darkness: he is pitiful, and merciful, and righteous. The good man is he that pities and lends: he will direct his affairs with judgment. For he shall not be moved for ever; the righteous shall be in everlasting remembrance.
St Augustine sees the light in darkness as the hope that comes to the one who fears the Lord. Theodoret emphasizes that the mercy and pity are the marks of the blessed man.
The Christological depth is that Christ is the light that springs up in the darkness of the world, and He is the merciful and righteous One.
Lesson Guide
- Key phrases: “To the upright light has sprung up in darkness”; “the righteous shall be in everlasting remembrance.”
- Emphasize: the fear of the Lord brings light in darkness and enduring remembrance.
- Avoid: separating mercy from righteousness. The Psalm teaches that the blessed man is both merciful and just.
Psalm 111:7-10, He shall not be afraid of any evil report
111:7 He shall not be afraid of any evil report: his heart is ready to trust in the Lord. 111:8 His heart is established, he shall not fear, till he shall see his desire upon his enemies. 111:9 He has dispersed abroad; he has given to the poor; his righteousness endures for evermore: his horn shall be exalted with honour. 111:10 The sinner shall see and be angry, he shall gnash his teeth, and consume away: the desire of the sinner shall perish.
The Psalm concludes with the confidence of the righteous man. He shall not be afraid of any evil report: his heart is ready to trust in the Lord. His heart is established, he shall not fear, till he shall see his desire upon his enemies. He has dispersed abroad; he has given to the poor; his righteousness endures for evermore: his horn shall be exalted with honour. The sinner shall see and be angry, he shall gnash his teeth, and consume away: the desire of the sinner shall perish.
St Augustine sees the established heart as the one that trusts in the Lord and is not moved by evil reports. Theodoret emphasizes that the giving to the poor is the mark of the one whose horn is exalted with honour.
The Christological reading is that Christ is the One whose heart is established, who gives to the poor, and whose desire is fulfilled in the victory over the enemies.
Lesson Guide
- Key phrases: “He shall not be afraid of any evil report”; “his righteousness endures for evermore.”
- Emphasize: the fear of the Lord brings confidence and enduring righteousness, while the sinner consumes away.
- Avoid: fearing evil reports. The Psalm teaches that the one who fears the Lord has an established heart.
The Church’s Voice in Worship 📖
Scripture from this study has an established place in the Coptic Orthodox lectionary through documented Church readings.
Iconography Connection 🖼️
Psalm 112 connects with icons of the righteous man, the fear of the Lord, and the light in darkness. The icon of the righteous Job or the blessed man reminds the faithful that the fear of the Lord leads to enduring blessing.
Spiritual Fruit 🍇
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Fear the Lord and delight in His commandments. Let the fear of God be the foundation of your joy in His word.
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Be merciful and lend. The good man pities and lends; let your life be marked by generosity.
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Trust in the Lord with an established heart. Do not fear evil reports; let your heart be ready to trust.
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Give to the poor. The one who disperses abroad has his righteousness enduring for evermore.
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Endure in righteousness. The sinner consumes away, but the righteous is in everlasting remembrance.
Teacher's Notes
- Timing: 10 minutes for the blessed man who fears the Lord, 15 minutes for the light in darkness and mercy, 15 minutes for the established heart and giving to the poor, 10 minutes for application.
- Where to linger: Psalm 111:4-6 and 111:7-10.
- Key phrase to say slowly: “To the upright light has sprung up in darkness: he is pitiful, and merciful, and righteous.”
- Pastoral warning: do not use the Psalm to promise material riches without the fear of the Lord. The blessing is spiritual and enduring for those who fear God.
Glossary
- Fear of the Lord: The reverence and awe that leads to delight in the commandments.
- Light in darkness: The hope and guidance that comes to the upright.
- Established heart: The heart that is fixed on the Lord and not moved by fear.
- Horn exalted with honour: The strength and dignity that comes from righteousness.
Translation and Source Notes
Embedded Scripture is Brenton’s English Septuagint, Psalm 111. The study title uses NKJV/Masoretic numbering first, Psalm 112, with LXX 111 in parentheses. No verified local lectionary rows were found for the printed Psalm 112 in the current data.
Sources
Primary sources: Brenton Septuagint, Psalm 111; Proverbs 9:10; St Augustine, Exposition on Psalm 112 in the older English numbering tradition corresponding to LXX Psalm 111; Theodoret of Cyrus, Commentary on Psalm 112 in the Hill translation.
Coptic Orthodox / liturgical sources: Scripture from this study has an established place in the Coptic Orthodox lectionary through documented Church readings.