Seder 6 Sermon: He Remembers

Several wisdom Psalms are traditionally associated with the biblical account of Noah.  Wisdom Psalms, like the book of Proverbs, contrast two ways of life and their consequences.  We also see such a contrast starkly portrayed in Gen 6-9.

In his Seder 6 sermon,  Kyle Kettering looks at the description of the righteous man in Psalm 112, highlighting several characteristics:

1. The righteous person is the one who fears God.  (This does not mean the person is sinless, so we should not be hesitant to use this biblical word.)
2. His descendants (i.e., all those whom he influences) grow mighty.
3. He is remembered forever (by God, in particular).
4. He is not frightened by the news.
5. He lends and gives to the poor.
6. He thrives as the wicked perish.

Two examples that Kyle considered in his sermon are Noah and Zechariah, father of John the Baptist.  He urged us to exemplify the characteristics of the righteous during the current epidemic, being confident that God will remember us as he remembered Noah and Zechariah.  He concluded that

1. Being frightened is unbecoming of the righteous (see 4 above).
2. Trust and faith are the posture of the righteous.