Matthew Henry Commentary Psalms 112:1-10

"Praise ye Jehovah. Blessed is the man that feareth Jehovah, That delighteth greatly in his commandments. His seed shall be mighty upon earth: The generation of the upright shall be blessed. Wealth and riches are in his house; And his righteousness endureth for ever. Unto the upright there ariseth light in the darkness: [He is] gracious, and merciful, and righteous. Well is it with the man that dealeth graciously and lendeth; He shall maintain his cause in judgment. For he shall never be moved; The righteous shall be had in everlasting remembrance. He shall not be afraid of evil tidings: His heart is fixed, trusting in Jehovah. His heart is established, he shall not be afraid, Until he see [his desire] upon his adversaries. He hath dispersed, he hath given to the needy; His righteousness endureth for ever: His horn shall be exalted with honor. The wicked shall see it, and be grieved; He shall gnash with his teeth, and melt away: The desire of the wicked shall perish." — Psalms 112:1-10 (ASV)

We have to praise the Lord that there are a people in the world who fear him and serve him, and that they are a happy people, which is owing entirely to his grace. Their fear is not that which love casts out, but that which love brings in. It follows and flows from love.

It is a fear to offend. This is both fear and trust. The heart touched by the Spirit of God, like the needle touched with the magnet, turns directly and speedily to God, yet still with trembling, being filled with this holy fear.

Blessings are laid up for the faithful and their children's children; and true riches are bestowed on them, with as much of this world's possessions as is profitable for them. In the darkest hours of affliction and trial, the light of hope and peace will spring up within them, and timely relief will turn mourning into joy.

From their Lord's example they learn to be kind and full of compassion, as well as just in all their dealings; they use discretion, so that they may be generous in the way that seems most likely to do good. Envy and slander may for a time hide their true characters here, but they will be held in everlasting remembrance. They need not fear bad news.

A good man will have a settled spirit. And it is the endeavour of true believers to keep their minds focused on God, and so to keep them calm and undisturbed; and God has promised them both cause to do so, and grace to do so. Trusting in the Lord is the best and surest way of establishing the heart. The heart of man cannot fix anywhere with satisfaction except in the truth of God, and there it finds firm footing.

And those whose hearts are established by faith will patiently wait until they prevail. Compare all this with the vexation of sinners. The happiness of the saints is the envy of the wicked. The desire of the wicked will perish; their desire was wholly for the world and the flesh, therefore when these perish, their joy is gone.

But the blessings of the gospel are spiritual and eternal, and are conferred upon the members of the Christian church, through Christ their Head, who is the Pattern of all righteousness, and the Giver of all grace.