Psalms 112 · The Lantern

The `title of the hundrid and twelfthe salm. Alleluya. Children, preise ye the Lord; preise ye the name of the Lord.

The name of the Lord be blessid; fro this tyme now and til in to the world.

Fro the risyng of the sunne til to the goyng doun; the name of the Lord is worthi to be preisid.

The Lord is hiy aboue alle folkis; and his glorie is aboue heuenes.

Unto the upright of heart a light has risen in the darkness. We were once in darkness, we were sitting in darkness and in the shadow of death: but a light has arisen for us, according to Isaiah. Merciful and compassionate and righteous. See the two things he says, Merciful and righteous. If you are a sinner, do not despair of pardon: He is merciful.

"Unto the right-hearted there arises up light in the darkness" [Psalm 112:4]. Justly do the godly direct their heart unto their God, justly do they walk with their God, preferring His will to themselves; and having no proud presumption in their own. For they remember that they were some time in darkness, but are now light in the Lord.

"Behold, an angel of the Lord stood by them, and the brightness of God shone around them." What does it mean that, as the angel was appearing to the shepherds, the splendor of divine brightness also enclosed them, something that we have never discovered in the whole course of the Old Testament?

Who is as oure Lord God, that dwellith in hiye thingis;

and biholdith meke thingis in heuene and in erthe?

Reisynge a nedi man fro the erthe; and enhaunsinge a pore man fro drit.

That he sette hym with princes; with the princes of his puple.

Which makith a bareyn womman dwelle in the hous; a glad modir of sones.

But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully. Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.

There are many people even today who in imitation of them want to be remembered for such achievements, by building splendid homes, baths, porches and avenues.

For our part, beloved brothers, when we recognize our kind Redeemer and reflect on our price, let us not love "the world or the things that are in the world"; but according to the apostle, "having food and sufficient clothing, with these let us be content." Let us seek the use of what is necessary but not have greedy desires.

Psalms112