PSALM 112:7-8: “He is not afraid of bad news; his heart is firm, trusting in the Lord. His heart is steady; he will not be afraid, until he looks in triumph on his adversaries.” (ESV)‬‬

OBSERVATION:  What should my heart attitude be when I hear “bad news”?  If I only listen to all of the news and talk show pundits I would simply walk around with my head down and in a bent over posture. The weight of all this bad news is just too overwhelming. With the information super highway we are now susceptible to a new malady that was unheard of even 50 years ago – “information overload”! How can one keep their perspective in the midst of all of this bad news?

The Psalmist begins this Psalm with these words:

“Praise the Lord! Blessed is the man who fears the Lord, who greatly delights in his commandments!” (Psalm 112:1, ESV)

It begins with the fear of the Lord and a delight for His commandments. What does this mean? It is not speaking of transferring your fear of what is happening in the world to a fear of God. To fear the Lord in Scripture is a call to reverence the Lord God. It is the same call that Jesus taught us in the opening words of the Lord’s Prayer – “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be Your name…” It takes our eyes off of the brokenness of this world and refocuses them upon the glory, power, might, and splendor of the Lord, the Creator of all things. It is the call of a child to take the hand of his father and know the security of walking with the one who is bigger than anything we will face in this world.

It continues with a delight in His commandments. If we spend all our time listening to the “bad news” that the world is constantly giving us – we will be undone! We tend to believe that which we hear the most. This is where the term “spin” came from. The enemy tries to give us his “spin” through a constant barrage of bad news and fear. The Lord delights in giving us His truth through His Word and the still small voice of His Spirit. When we delight in His Word our lives are redirected to the true reality of life, all of the competing voices in this world are silenced through the voice of the one True and Holy God! Our faith grows stronger because – “Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God.”

What is the result of all of this? It is the verses we began with. The one who fears the Lord, the one who delights in His commandments – “He is not afraid of bad news; his heart is firm, trusting in the Lord. His heart is steady; he will not be afraid, until he looks in triumph on his adversaries.” We are delivered from fear – through faith! We are delivered from depression – through faith! We are delivered from despair – through faith! We are delivered from impatience – through faith! We know and fully understand this truth – “By no means! Let God be true though every one were a liar, as it is written, “That you may be justified in your words, and prevail when you are judged.” (Romans 3:4, ESV)

Lord, this morning I give You thanks and praise for Your presence and promises that deliver me from fear, depression, despair, and impatience. I know that You hold everything in Your mighty hand. You will redeem and bring justice to this earth! I do not need to fear when I hear bad news. Lord, make my heart steady as I wait for Your blessed return with hope and peace. In Jesus Name!