The Lord Loves And Blesses The Just

Topic: Protection
Passage: Psalms 37:18–29

November 24, 2022

Commentary

The wicked man has no protection. The psalmist likens his future to smoke that soon disperses and vanishes. God has His winds which can soon blow away the defenses of the wicked man. On the other hand no calamity can befall the righteous that God is unaware of (v. 18). They won’t be in trouble when times are bad and they will have plenty when food is scarce (v. 19)

Wicked people are enemies of the Lord and will vanish like smoke (v. 20). One of the characteristics of a wicked man is that he borrows having no intention of repaying (v. 21). Characteristic of the righteous person is that he freely gives of himself and all that he has. The people the Lord blesses will receive the land and the ones He curses will be destroyed (v. 22). David was now an old man and yet he had never seen the righteous abandoned by God.

The psalmist lists some of the blessings that the righteous enjoy.

  1. He protects their ways (vv. 23-24)
  2. He provides food for them (vv. 25-26)
  3. He gives them security in the land (vv. 27-28)

Application

When is the last time I thanked the Lord for His protection and His provision for my family? It is so easy to just take everything for granted.

Psalms 37:18– 29 (NET)

18 The Lord watches over the innocent day by day, and they possess a permanent inheritance.

19 They will not be ashamed when hard times come; when famine comes they will have enough to eat.

20 But evil men will die; the Lord’s enemies will be incinerated — they will go up in smoke.

21 Evil men borrow, but do not repay their debt, but the godly show compassion and are generous.

22 Surely those favored by the Lord will possess the land, but those rejected by him will be wiped out.

23 The Lord grants success to the one whose behavior he finds commendable.

24 Even if he trips, he will not fall headlong, for the Lord holds his hand.

25 I was once young, now I am old. I have never seen the godly abandoned, or their children forced to search for food.

26 All day long they show compassion and lend to others, and their children are blessed.

27 Turn away from evil. Do what is right. Then you will enjoy lasting security.

28 For the Lord promotes justice, and never abandons his faithful followers. They are permanently secure, but the children of the wicked are wiped out.

29 The godly will possess the land and will dwell in it permanently.