The Fruit of Trust (Psalm 37:23-40)
This Psalm continues by contrasting the saved, who trust in the Lord, with the wicked, who live as if there was no God. The righteous are promised His guidance, protection, strength, provision, stability, peace, eternal security, and hope for a blessed eternity, whereas the wicked will ultimately be cut off and destroyed in Hell. The life that the wicked have now is the best they will ever have, but for the righteous it is the worst they will ever have. v23: “The steps of a good man are ordered (established) by the Lord, and He (he) delights in his (His) way.” This is a promise of guidance, for those who trust in the Lord. He will lead us step by step into our Promised Land (Isaiah 1:19). v24: “Though he fall (fail or sin), he shall not be utterly cast down (fall away from God forever) for the Lord upholds him with His hand.” Like a loving Father with His son, He will not cast us away, but will lift us up again (as Jesus did when Peter walked on the water – Matthew 14:30-31). We have a covenant relationship with Him. When we confess our sin, He forgives and restores us (1John 1:9). Then David testifies to God’s faithful provision from his lifetime of experience: “I have been young, and now am old; yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his descendants begging bread” (v25). There may be exceptions to this general truth, if believers are not trusting God or obeying Him, or if they are under great persecution, the statement is still true, as it simply describes David’s own experience. v26: “He (the righteous man) is ever (all the day) merciful (gracious), and lends (he is not stingy or covetous, see v21), and his descendants are blessed.” He will reap blessing from his sowing, and that blessing will also be transmitted to his descendants, if they also walk with God. Therefore: “Depart from evil, and do good; and (you will) dwell (in the Land of God’s Blessing)FOREVERMORE. For the Lord loves justice, and does not forsake His saints (those who live under His covenant love and reciprocate it); they are preserved FOREVER, but the descendants of the wicked shall be CUT OFF” (v27-28). Again, we see the contrast between the righteous, who will dwell forever in God’s blessing, and the wicked, who will be cut off. v29: “The righteous shall INHERIT the LAND, and DWELL in it FOREVER.”
v30-31: “The mouth of the righteous speaks wisdom (from his meditation in God’s Word, v31), and his tongue talks of justice. The Law of his God is in his heart; none of his steps (in obedience to His Word) shall slide (slip, collapse).” He loves God’s Word and possesses it in his heart, and speaks it and walks by it. By contrast: “The wicked watches the righteous, and seeks to slay him” (v32). But: “The Lord will not leave him (the righteous) in his hand (under the power of the wicked), nor condemn him when he is judged.” Unlike the wicked who will be condemned forever in Hell, there is no condemnation for the righteous (Romans 8:1). God will have the last word, and the plans of the wicked will fail, and the righteous will be blessed forever in God. The Psalm continues with more promises of eternal security for the righteous, in contrast to the eternal destruction of the wicked. v34: “WAIT on (hope in) the Lord (humbly looking for His leadership), and keep His way (be obedient), and He shall exalt you (Isaiah 40:31) to INHERIT the LAND (or ‘earth’, also v9,11,22,29). When the wicked are CUT OFF, you shall see it (v9,22,28,34,38).”After the wicked are cut off (judged) the righteous will continue and inherit all things. Again, David testifies: “I have seen the wicked in great power (a terrible tyrant), and spreading himself like a native green tree (seemingly strong and immoveable). Yet he (or ‘I’) passed away (or ‘by’), and behold, he was no more, indeed, I sought him, but he could not be found (he was cut down and lost all his power forever)” (v35-36).v37-38: “Mark (watch) the blameless man, and observe the upright; for the FUTURE of that man is PEACE (shalom, God’s will fand blessing fully fulfilled in his life). But the transgressors shall be destroyed together (in the Lake of Fire, when they will all be cast in together – Rev 20:11-15); the FUTURE of the wicked shall be CUT OFF (from God’s goodness, cast into outer darkness).” The Psalm ends with a perfect description of the salvation of the righteous by God’s grace received through faith. v39-40: “But the SALVATION of the righteous is FROM the LORD; He is their Strength (Stronghold) 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 (take refuge) in HIM.”…..
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