If Proverbs 31 is the Biblical reference for a godly woman, what is the Biblical reference for a godly man? Amid a culture war over what a man should and/or should not be, can we look to the Word of God and find his guidance? I want to offer Psalm 112. I believe it shows us the desires of our Father for every man to fully embody the righteousness of their Creator and Lord.
Psalm 112 (NKJV)
Praise the Lord!
Blessed is the man who fears the Lord,
Who delights greatly in His commandments.
2 His descendants will be mighty on earth;
The generation of the upright will be blessed.
3 Wealth and riches will be in his house,
And his righteousness endures forever.
4 Unto the upright there arises light in the darkness;
He is gracious, and full of compassion, and righteous.
5 A good man deals graciously and lends;
He will guide his affairs with discretion.
6 Surely he will never be shaken;
The righteous will be in everlasting remembrance.
7 He will not be afraid of evil tidings;
His heart is steadfast, trusting in the Lord.
8 His heart is established;
He will not be afraid,
Until he sees his desire upon his enemies.
9 He has dispersed abroad,
He has given to the poor;
His righteousness endures forever;
His horn will be exalted with honor.
10 The wicked will see it and be grieved;
He will gnash his teeth and melt away;
The desire of the wicked shall perish.
It’s clear, we should Praise The Lord! This is a nonnegotiable for all creation. We also see that a godly man has fear of the Lord. This fear is not being scared but a holy trembling that His ways are the only ways, or as this verse says, those who delight in His commandments. Proverbs 9:10 teaches us that “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, And the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.” The Lord is teaching us that having fear for Him will lead us into wisdom and a better understanding of how to live life. Verses 2 and 3 teach us that this wise man will have a blessed family, generationally, and that wealth and finances will be a part of his legacy. He is also a man of graciousness and discretion in all of his interactions with people. Because he fears the Lord he is not shaken or bothered by evil, rather his heart is established. The Lord declares that this man’s righteousness endures forever and his life will be exalted with honor. Verse 10 highlights the impact that this man will have on his culture. The wicked will see it and be grieved; He will gnash his teeth and melt away; The Desire of the wicked shall perish. This man of righteousness will be a total disruptor of the evil on the earth and the enemy will be overwhelmed and grieved, eventually perishing.
I want to urge every man, and every woman that speaks into a man, to press into this Psalm. What would happen if all the sons of God feared the Lord and delighted in His commandments? What would happen if he dealt with his affairs with grace and discretion, rather than Facebook or Twitter?
We have an opportunity to establish a Kingdom culture in our homes and families that have a ripple effect into our workplaces and communities.
Pastor Joshua Ogle