Praise the Lord! Blessed is the man who fears the Lord, who delights greatly in His commandments. (Psalm 112:1)

There are those people who do things, including serving others, for the benefit of receiving something in return. History bears out that, in many cases, their pursuit of a payoff is indeed rewarded. But in a Biblical context, God is not looking for that kind of servant; He is looking for those who will obey Him because they love Him and would do so without the hope of a reward. The blessed man — the wise man — obeys the commands of the Lord, not to receive the inherent reward in doing so, but to fulfill God’s purpose through it. He understands and loves the precepts contained within the Lord’s instructions and wishes to see it’s intention brought to fruition.

In an earlier psalm, David wrote these words: “I delight to do Your will, O my God, and Your law is within my heart” (Psalm 40:8). David did not consider obedience to God to be a chore that must be adhered to lest disaster strike, nor did he embrace obedience as a means to acquire riches and honor. Being the servant that he was, David took delight in doing what the Almighty desired of him which, as he saw it, was not religious rote. As he said, “Sacrifice and offering You did not desire … burnt offering and sin offering You did not require” (Psalm 40:6). David’s motivation was a deep love and appreciation for the Lord which, in turn, caused him to walk upright before the Lord gladly and without reservation.

All of this is predicated upon what the psalmist first has to say in this composition: “Blessed is the man who fears the Lord,” which is to say the man who understands God loves him and gives him instructions that lead to life, abundance and happiness. Recognizing this, the wise man “delights greatly in His commandments” and longs to do what is pleasing to the Heavenly Father. One last thought on the matter: when Messiah was told that his family had traveled far and desired to speak with Him, He said: “Whoever does the will of My Father in heaven is My brother and sister and mother” (Matthew 12:50). In other words, the blessed man is the one who desires an intimacy with the Father — indeed, to be regarded as His child. And as an obedient child who loves Him, he desires to do to what is pleasing to Abba.

Blessings and Shalom,  

Bill