Psalm 112 is a fascinating presentation of God’s good intentions towards people who turn to him. It is the Psalmist’s equivalent of the teachings of Solomon. Solomon says it’s “The fear of the Lord” that is the foundational thinking for those who live healthy and happy lives. The Psalmist agrees. He writes in Verse one, “Blessed is the man who fears the Lord. We know that the word, in the original language, blessed, is the same word for happiness. The Psalmist goes on to explain what makes the person who fears the Lord blessed or happy. His children will be mighty in the land. Wealth and riches are in his house. It is well with him as he deals honestly with others. He will not be afraid of bad news. Instead, “his heart is firm, trusting in the Lord” (Psalm 112:7).
Success in life does not make us happy. Wealth does not make us happy. Possessions of any kind bring happiness only temporarily. Pleasures are only for the moment. The kind of happiness that the Psalmist is talking about is a different kind of happiness. The type of happiness that the fear of the Lord initiates is more of a sense of security in an unstable world. There is no security in things. In fact, things are deceptive: they appear to be satisfying and lasting when they are actually temporary and unable to satisfy the deepest needs of life. … Certainly, God wants us to enjoy the blessings of life. There is nothing spiritual about sitting morosely in a corner and saying, “These things will not last anyway! Why enjoy them?” God wants us to enjoy his good gifts, just as we want our children to enjoy what we give them. But God does not want them to replace our confidence in Him. We were not made in such a way that the things of this world will fully satisfy us. They will not. We will always be disappointed if we look to them for ultimate happiness. God does not want us to depend on things–He wants us to depend on Him.
Verse seven is the key to understanding this Psalm. The one who fears the Lord “is not afraid of bad news; his heart is firm, trusting in the Lord.” It’s faith in the God of the universe that saves us. The New Testament makes that clear. It is by grace we are saved through “faith.” Faith is not just believing that God exists. It’s trusting God to have our best interest foremost in mind regardless of our life circumstances. It’s saying with Job, “Naked I came into the world. Naked from it, I shall go. The Lord gives, and the Lord takes away. Blessed be the name of the Lord. Though he slay me, I trust in Him. The New Century Version of the Bible translates Psalm 64:10 this way, “Good people will be happy in the Lord and will find protection in him.”