Psalm 112 (111):4Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

Paul elaborates on this sentiment, stating, “For we do not want to leave you, brethren, in ignorance of our affliction which was with us in Asia, because we were weighed down exceedingly and beyond our strength, so that we had no hope of remaining alive.” Can you perceive the darkness? “But we had in ourselves a sentence of death, in order that we might not hope in ourselves, but in God who raises the dead, who both delivered us from death so near, and is delivering us, and in whom we hope that he will also deliver us again” (2 Cor. 1:8-10). Can you see the light that emerges? The same is evident in the experience of the three young men. They anticipated being burned, yet were met with purest refreshment. Daniel and the other prophets encountered similar experiences. Nonetheless, if anyone wishes to interpret these words in an alternate allegorical sense, they will also find their fulfillment throughout the cosmos. When darkness enveloped the earth and sea, and falsehood prevailed in abundance, the Sun of righteousness appeared. At that time, humanity, having turned from heaven, sought God on earth, and He shone down to them from above, descending to the frail to elevate them to immeasurable heights. “He is merciful and generous and righteous.” By affirming that the virtue of the righteous endures, He provides comfort; however, acknowledging that many merciful and righteous individuals face adversity here, He offers further reassurance: “merciful,” He asserts, “and generous and righteous,” indicating a profound assurance. If God is “merciful” and frequently extends forgiveness to sinners, how much more will He uphold the righteous as they depart from this world? If He does not reward them in this life, He will certainly compensate them in the next. He describes Him as “righteous,” asserting that if He is indeed “righteous,” He will bestow rewards according to one's deeds, even if those rewards are delayed here. This particularly underscores the profound significance of the resurrection. Indeed, if many virtuous individuals endure countless trials while the wicked enjoy peace, how will each receive their due if resurrection, an afterlife, judgment, and recompense do not exist?

Let such a person thus embody the subsequent verses, not merely through words spoken, but through the testimony of their life. The culmination of this building will lead to the indescribable realm of wisdom, whose foundation is the awe of the Lord; thus, let those who are edified by this message begin from this point.

Blessed is the individual who reveres the Lord; great shall be their delight in His commandments, Psalm 110:1. God, who alone judges rightly and mercifully, observes how faithfully one adheres to His commandments; for earthly life is fraught with challenges, as Job 7:1 points out. Yet, our Judge is the Lord. 1 Corinthians 4:4 He will assess the benefit each person derives from His commandments, but those who cherish the harmony of this construction shall find joy in them; they should not lose hope, for peace abounds on earth for those of goodwill. Luke 2:14

Next, we find, his offspring shall be mighty upon the earth, Psalm 111:2. The fact that acts of mercy are the seeds for future blessings is affirmed by the Apostle’s words: “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap, if we do not give up," Galatians 6:9; and again: “He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly," 2 Corinthians 9:6. What could be more compelling, dear ones, than how not just Zacchaeus gained the kingdom of heaven by giving half of his wealth, Luke 19:8, but also the widow, who contributed merely two coins, Mark 12:42, while all shared equally in its worth? What is more significant than the notion that the same kingdom signifies great treasure for the affluent and simply a cup of cold water for the impoverished? Glory and riches will be in his home, Psalm 110:3. His dwelling is his heart; there, with praise for God, he abides in richer treasures as he hopes for eternal life, rather than seeking vain flattery among those residing in splendid marble palaces and lavishly decorated ceilings, under the impending weight of eternal death. His righteousness endures forever; behold His glory, there lie His riches. Meanwhile, the splendor of others, adorned with fine garments and extravagant feasts, is fleeting; once over, they experience only the torment of thirsting for even a single drop of water from the tip of a finger. Luke 16:24

For the upright, light will shine forth in darkness, Psalm 110:4. Justly, the righteous direct their hearts towards their God; justly, they walk with their God, prioritizing His will above their own and shunning any arrogance. They remember that they were once in darkness but have now been illuminated in the Lord. Ephesians 5:8 The Lord God is merciful, compassionate, and just. We rejoice in His mercy and compassion; still, the justice of the Lord evokes a certain fright. Fear not, and do not despair at all, fortunate is the man who fears the Lord and finds joy in His commandments; be kind, be compassionate, and be willing to lend. The Lord judges justly, without mercy, him who shows no mercy; James 2:13 but blessed is the man who is gracious and lends, Psalm 111:5: God will not reject him, as if he were unworthy. “Forgive, and you will be forgiven; give, and it will be given to you,” Luke 6:37-38. Forgive to receive forgiveness; be merciful when you lend. While generally all acts assisting others in distress are termed charity, there is a distinction when we neither spend money nor labor physically, but instead foster a forgiving spirit towards those who have wronged us, thereby receiving free pardon for our own transgressions.

He who refuses to give to the needy seeks after riches; witness the scripture: “You will have treasure in heaven," Matthew 19:21. Upon forgiving, you do not lose honor; for conquering anger is a most commendable victory. You will not find yourselves impoverished by your generosity; for heavenly treasures represent a far more secure possession. The earlier verse about "wealth and abundance in his house" resonates through this teaching.

Thus, one who performs these deeds must articulate their words wisely. His actions will serve as the language that protects him in the Judgment; which shall not lack favor, as he himself has shown favor. For he will stand firm. Psalm 111:6 Those summoned to the right hand will hear this proclamation: “Come, you blessed of my Father; inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.” Only acts of mercy will be recalled there. Hence, they shall hear, “Come, you blessed of my Father; for the generation of the righteous shall be blessed.” Thus, the just will remain in everlasting remembrance. No fearful rumors shall disturb him; for his heart is steadfast, trusting in the Lord. Psalm 111:7 And he shall hear, much unlike those at his left, the words: “Depart into everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels.” Matthew 25:34, 41 Therefore, one who seeks not his own interests but those concerning Jesus Christ, Philippians 2:21, bears suffering patiently and awaits the promises in faith. He is unyielding to temptation; his heart remains steadfast until he perceives the plight of his adversaries (Psalms 111:8). His adversaries desire to witness good in this life; when threatened with unseen blessings, they ask, “Who will show us good?” Hence, let our hearts be strengthened and unwavering until we behold beyond our enemies. They long to observe the good deeds of men amid the realm of the dying; we hope to witness the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.

It is indeed a profound matter to possess a heart that remains resolute and unshaken, especially when others find joy in the tangible and ridicule one who hopes for that which is unseen, for the Lord has prepared for those who love Him. 1 Corinthians 2:9 How immense is the value of what remains unseen, acquired at a price that any man can pay. For this reason, he concealed his giving to the needy, Psalm 110:9: He saw not but had purchased; indeed, he has gathered treasure in heaven, who allowed the earthly poor to be satisfied and nourished. It is no surprise that his righteousness endures forever; the Creator of ages is its guardian. His might, which the arrogant disdained, shall be exalted with honor.

The wicked will see and become furious, Psalm 111:10: this is a late and fruitless repentance. For against whom does he truly rage but himself when he laments, “What good is our pride?” The arrogance of our wealth, what benefit has it brought us? Wisdom 5:8 Realizing his prominence being elevated, he who squandered yet generously assisted the poor will despair, gnashing his teeth in anguish, as there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. His opportunities for growth and blossoming have passed because he failed to repent in a timely manner, but he will seek remorse only when the cravings of the wicked dissipate, and there will be no comfort. The cravings of the wicked will cease as all things fade like a fleeting shadow, Wisdom 5:8-9, as flowers wilt upon withering grass. Yet the word of the Lord endures forever, Isaiah 40:8, and while it was once derided by the vainly happy, it will now be mocked in the downfall of those who are genuinely wretched.

He is "merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love." His decisions are guided by justice, compassion, and benevolence; for He loves humanity deeply. When the time is right to honor the just, He permits their challenges but swiftly concludes them with immense grace.

In reference to the words of Psalm 100, we reflect on the verse: "mercy and judgment I will sing unto Thee, O Lord" (Psalm 100:1). Theodoret explains that Scripture often associates darkness with ignorance or adverse conditions, while light may symbolize knowledge or liberation from evil. He asserts that God will manifest the truth to the uninformed and provide His support to those who are burdened by temptations and misfortune. Isychias questions, why specifically the upright? It is because those engaged in wrongful actions despise the light, feeling rebuked by it, and tend to avert their eyes from it.

Chrysostom adds that if God is so compassionate that He frequently bestows forgiveness upon sinners, how much more will He reward those who live rightly once they depart this life? Although He may not grant rewards in this world, rest assured that all will be recompensed eventually. If He is righteous, He indeed compensates each individual according to their deeds, even if such rewards are deferred, which underscores the essential role of the resurrection. For many virtuous people are undeniably subjected to countless trials, while numerous wicked individuals enjoy considerable freedom; where, then, will each one receive their due recompense if resurrection and judgment do not exist?

When misfortune arises (symbolized by darkness), the Lord remains his support (v.4b). Darkness represents adversity, whereas light symbolizes salvation and happiness (Psalm 96:11; Isaiah 58:7,8; Isaiah 60:1-3). The Lord, in His mercy, shines as a beacon in his darkness, thus ensuring that all things prosper for him (v.5), and he remains unshaken by accusers and foes. His trust in God fortifies him, leading to ultimate victory over every adversary (vv.6-8). He gazes with delight at the downfall of his enemies. The horn symbolizes strength; it flourishes and matures through struggles against adversaries, emerging in glory as it conquers them. Meanwhile, as providence aligns with the righteous through their compassion and virtue, the wicked, consumed by jealousy and wrath, will witness the collapse of their schemes (v.10).

They should diligently sing praises to God for the liberation from the bondage of sinful Babylon, achieved through the true Messiah, Christ the Lord, the Savior of all humanity. The reverence of God leads one toward virtue, guiding believers away from wickedness; seek God, who is passionate in upholding the law. The lineage of Christ signifies all the saints, as they are robust in the land of the living. The righteous generation consists of those who fulfill God's will.

Only a withered stump remained of the once-mighty tree that ruled a vast kingdom, yet beneath the surface lay hidden roots, from which sprang forth a Branch destined to provide shade over the earth and yield the fruits that would bring life to all humanity (Isaiah 11:1).