If you were to name one characteristic that described some of the most righteous, what would it be? Honesty? Integrity? Peaceful?
“Good will come to a man who lends generously and conducts his business fairly” (Ps 112:5).
“He distributes freely to the poor, his righteousness endures forever” (Ps 112:9).
“He is gracious, compassionate and righteous (Ps 112: 4).
Righteousness and generosity are prominent themes for a righteous man. And that is culturally the case as well as generosity and hospitality are two of the most important virtues in the Middle East even to this day.
God says this of the righteous:
- “His descendants will be powerful in the land; the generation of the upright will be blessed” (Ps 112:2).
- “Wealth and riches are in his house and his righteousness endures forever” (Ps 112:3,9).
- “Light shines in the darkness for the upright” (Ps 112:4).
- “Good will come to a man who lends generously and conducts his business fairly” (Ps 112:5)
- “He will never be shaken” (Ps 112:6)
- “The righteous man will be remembered forever” (Ps 112:6).
- “He will not fear bad news; his heart is confident trusting in the LORD. His heart is assured; he will not fear” (Ps 112:8).
- “In the end he will look in triumph on his foes” (Ps 112:8).
- “His horn will be exalted in honor” (Ps 112:9).
This truly is quite a list. There is great blessing for those who are righteous in the LORD. It doesn’t mean that there life is always easy. There are enemies and foes” (Ps 112:8). “In the end” he will look in triumph on his foes means he has been steadfast through trials where it might seem like he is losing, but “in the end” righteousness prevails.
But the wicked? Those who do evil? Total jealousy.
“The wicked man will see it and be angry; he will gnash his teeth in despair. The desire of the wicked man will come to nothing” (Ps 112:10).
Who are the people you know that are genuinely righteous people? I can name a few. And they truly are a blessed blessing.
