The promise of piety.
In Bacon's celebrated saying that "prosperity is the blessing of the Old Testament, but adversity of the New," there is a measure of truth; but it is far from covering all the ground. We may set against it the apostolic declaration that" godliness hath the promise of the life that now is." And though we may not press the sentences of this psalm to any nice exactitude, yet it is substantially as true of the good man, and as applicable to his life on earth now, as it was at the hour when it was written. Piety, a reverence for God which shows itself in ready obedience to his will, has these solid advantages: it ensures—
I. THE BLESSEDNESS OF HOLY SERVICE. (Psalms 112:1.) The man who fears God "delights greatly in his commandments." Others may be tasting the bitter fruits of self-will, may be reaping the sad consequences of disobedience, but his heart is filled with the peace and with the joy of holy service. He finds a pure, elevating, lasting happiness in doing everything unto God his Savior, even in bearing his will. Languor and dissatisfaction are banished from the life of devotion, and in their place are serenity of spirit and gladness of heart. "I delight to do thy will, O my God." For us to live is Christ—to be engaged every hour in his blessed service.
II. THE EFFICIENT TRAINING OF THE YOUNG (Psalms 112:2), and all which that includes. Not from the home of the holy do there go forth sons and daughters unprincipled, vicious, mischievous, short-lived. Taught God's truth and trained in Christian principles, young men and women leave the home of the godly prepared for the battle of life. It is they who are most ready for serious duties, for responsible positions, for offices of trust; it is they who are most likely to rise to power and to honor. Exceptions being excepted, it is distinctly true that "the generation of the upright are blessed." Even from a temporal standpoint, it is a very great advantage for any son or daughter to be trained in a Christian home.
III. WORK THAT WILL LAST FOR LIFE. (Psalms 112:3.) If the upright man does not obtain "wealth and riches"—though the virtues which are the fruit of piety are the root of much material success—he has the far more precious wealth of moral and spiritual worth, and "his righteousness endureth." It is not a brief flash that goes oat and is lost; it is a steady light that shines through all his days. He has the favor of God, the esteem of his neighbors, actual intrinsic goodness, for his possession. And of this no accident or misfortune can rob him.
IV. DELIVERANCE IN THE DARK HOUR. (Psalms 112:4.) He does not expect to go through life without his share of trial. If he were wise he would not choose such a dubious exemption (see Hebrews 12:5-11). But he knows he will not. "Many are the afflictions" even "of the righteous," and they will surely come to his door. He, too, will know something of "the power of darkness." But to him there will "arise light."
1. Present deliverance will come. He will patiently and devoutly pursue his course of integrity and of waiting upon God, and God will give him his heart's desire; his name will be cleared, his health restored, his property regained, his friendship renewed, his work prospered.
2. Divine support will be so abundantly bestowed that his soul will be filled with peace even in the midst of his trouble (see 2 Corinthians 12:10).
3. After bearing the burden of earthly trial, and passing through a long night of temporal adversity, there will gleam the bright light of the heavenly home.
V. THE BLESSING OF ENDURING GRATITUDE. (Psalms 1:6, 9.) He is gracious, com passionate, generous, full of practical kindness, just to others (guiding his affairs with a due regard to what is owing to other men); the result will be that he will earn the esteem and the thanks of many hearts, and he will live long in their grateful remembrance. The unholy and consequently self-centered man passes through life without awakening any affection or evoking any appreciation,—he is disregarded, perhaps denounced; men either forget or disparage him when he is dead; but the holy and unselfish man lives in the love of his fellows, and when he dies leaves a fragrant memory behind him.
VI. DEVOUT CONFIDENCE IN FACE OF THE FUTURE. (Psalms 112:8.) Unaccompanied, undefended, by a heavenly Friend, we may well fear as we look before us. Who can tell what the next turn in the road will reveal to us? Who can say what losses and disappointments await us? Who can count on continued health or prosperity? Who can be assured against calamity or sudden death? But the Christian man, who is well assured that all events are in the hand of God, that the life and death of his saints are precious in his sight, that all things work together for good to them that love God, that in the saddest sorrows there may be disguised the truest love and the greatest blessing, that death itself is but the somber gateway of eternal glory,—he need not fear. His heart is established; he will not be afraid. All will be well with him; everything will conduce to spiritual good and to a lasting heritage.
HOMILIES BY S. CONWAY