Today, Tuesday February 21
“The LORD Shall Help Them”
Psalm 37:32-40
“The wicked watches the righteous, And seeks to slay him. The LORD will not leave him in his hand, Nor condemn him when he is judged.
Wait on the LORD, And keep His way, And He shall exalt you to inherit the land; When the wicked are cut off, you shall see it. I have seen the wicked in great power, And spreading himself like a native green tree. Yet he passed away, and behold, he was no more; Indeed I sought him, but he could not be found.
Mark the blameless man, and observe the upright; For the future of that man is peace. But the transgressors shall be destroyed together; The future of the wicked shall be cut off. But the salvation of the righteous is from the LORD; He is their strength in the time of trouble. And the LORD shall help them and deliver them; He shall deliver them from the wicked, And save them, Because they trust in Him.
I just remembered as I was writing the date for this blog that today is my spiritual birthday! A day I will never forget, February 21, 1971, 52 years ago! On that day everything changed for me! I was “delivered from the power of darkness and conveyed into the kingdom of the Son of His love” (Colossians 1:13). It began a journey that I would never have imagined in my fondest dreams! I feel like I’m the most blessed person in all the world! Praise the LORD!!!!!!
I can assure you that after 52 years of walking with the Lord and studying His Word, the blessings are well worth any hardship and difficulties that I have encountered along the way. As I said when we started looking at this 37th chapter of Psalms, as a young believer, this is one of the first entire chapters that I committed to memory, and the great lesson that David teaches in it has definitely encouraged me to stay faithful to the Lord!
Over and over again in this chapter David points out that the wicked are out to take advantage of and even destroy those who live righteous and holy lives. Because of the corruption of the human heart, there have always been those who have prospered because of their corrupt and deceitful ways. As they gained more and more wealth they also obtained more influence and authority which gives them access to take powerful positions in the courts as judges and as business and political leaders.
They can’t stand the godly and upright who believe the Bible and trust in an eternal God who will call everyone to accountability and judgment one day (v. 32). We are experiencing this very environment today even in our country. And it can be very difficult and discouraging. The righteous and upright person loves the truth and justice. The wicked are “hypothetical liars” (1 Timothy 4:2). They say they are the champions of the poor and of justice but it is obvious they are only interested in more wealth, authority and control. (Read Romans 1:18-25).
Well, these last nine verses of Psalm 37 should be very helpful and encouraging for those who are determined to trust the Lord and His Word, and live out their faith in a crooked and perverse generation! We are promised that the LORD is the final holy, righteous, and just Judge, and that He will not condemn us in the final judgment.
David assures us that even though the wicked grows like a beautiful tree in a desert place, and spreads out its branches and leaves quickly for everyone to see, they will disappear just as quickly and be no longer found. They not only do not last, but they also have no fruit! (vv. 35-36). The righteous are also likened to a tree in Psalm 1:2-3, but they are a tree that has fruit because they have deep roots in the River of Life! They have a future of peace and great reward (v. 37).
David finishes this great chapter with the promise of Jehovah’s salvation and deliverance for the righteous person! (vv. 39-40). The LORD is our strength in the time of our trouble (that often comes from the wicked). The LORD helps us and delivers us from the wicked, and saves us, because we trust in Him!
So today, be encouraged and keep looking up and trusting in our great God and Redeemer and enjoy the peace that only He can give. Remember the words of Jesus in John 14:27: “Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.”
God bless!
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