“And the LORD shall help them and deliver them; He shall deliver them from the wicked, And save them, Because they trust in Him.”

Today we conclude our journey through Psalm 37 and the Gospels of Luke and Mark. This final promise of Psalm 37 is that God will help us, deliver us, and save us from our enemy because we place our trust in Him. The Lord is our helper.

“But the salvation of the righteous [is] from the LORD; [He is] their strength in the time of trouble.”

How many times have you relied on your own strength? This makes me think of the story of David and Goliath. For anyone unfamiliar with the story, there was a giant named Goliath who challenged the children of Israel to battle. David, who was not a part of the army at the time, came to the camp to meet his brothers and challenged this giant to a fight.

“But the transgressors shall be destroyed together; The future of the wicked shall be cut off.”

The psalmist in this passage shows us that the Lord has a plan for the wicked. In Mark 13, the Lord outlines a plan for the future of humanity: the righteous, the unrighteous, etc. How would you live today in light of the future the Lord has painted for you? What would you do differently today if you believed in the future that the Lord has painted for you and of you?

“Mark the blameless [man], and observe the upright; For the future of that man is peace.”

The word peace means freedom from disturbance. Often, when people talk about peace, it is associated with an emotion. While peace produces emotions, it results from intentional action or effort in a given area that was once chaotic and confused or caused a disturbance in your life.

“Yet he passed away, and behold, he [was] no [more]; Indeed I sought him, but he could not be found.”

This passage reminds me of the time in the Bible when the sun stood still. There was a moment in Joshua's life when time stopped. It was a time when God fought for Israel. Joshua was a leader of Israel after the death of Moses. God gave the children of Israel land, but the land still had giants and enemies within it, and God called them to drive them out.

“I have seen the wicked in great power spreading himself like a native green tree.”

It's a common struggle to maintain hope and avoid bitterness when we witness the apparent success of the wicked while we strive to follow the Way of Jesus faithfully. Despite our efforts to be present parents, immerse ourselves in His Word, and do what we believe to be right, we may find ourselves feeling disheartened by the lack of visible results.

“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.”

In Isaiah 55:8-9, we're reminded of the vast difference between God's thoughts and ways and our own. The passage emphasizes the incomparable nature of God's wisdom and understanding. This distinction is crucial as we consider the path laid out by Jesus, often referred to as "The Way" in the early church.

“The LORD will not leave him in his hand, Nor condemn him when he is judged.”

This passage from Psalm 37 deeply resonates with me because it underscores the Lord's transformative power. It starts by depicting the wicked's desire to harm the righteous, setting a backdrop of adversity. Yet, the subsequent verses convey a profound truth: when the Lord encounters us, even in the grip of our enemies, His commitment is to uplift and transform us. He doesn't intend to leave us in our current state or condemn us.

“The wicked watches the righteous, And seeks to slay him.”

In the spiritual journey of every believer, there exists a tension between opposing forces. On one side stands the adversary, Satan, known by various names such as the Prince of Darkness, Tempter, Adversary, and Accuser. As depicted in 1 Peter 5:8, he prowls like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. Yet, on the other side stands our Savior, Jesus Christ, portrayed in Mark 7 as the Teacher, Healer, Miracle Worker, and Compassionate Messiah.

“The law of his God [is] in his heart; None of his steps shall slide.”

What would your life look like if God’s word was in your heart and readily accessible to you. Psalm 37:31 emphasizes the significance of God's law dwelling within us. When we internalize God's wisdom, it becomes a guiding force in our lives, leading us to make decisions that align with His will.

Many people try to put their “do” before their “who”. Identity must come before activity. Until we know who we are, our daily actions will not be meaningful. when it’s switched it creates confusion, frustration, and inhibits our capacity to meet the demands of reality.

The mouth of the righteous speaks wisdom, And his tongue talks of justice.

In the ancient world, wisdom wasn't merely a philosophical concept but a practical tool for shaping lives. In the Bible wisdom is personified as a guide to living in alignment with God's principles. Proverbs, in particular, emphasize the power of words, stating that the tongue holds the power of life and death. This insight serves as a call to partner with the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of Truth, using God's Word, practical wisdom, and our voice to transform and refine our lives.

“The righteous shall inherit the land, And dwell in it forever.”

You have an inheritance. It is greater than anything you will ever receive from an earthly benefactor. You may never inherit anything from your relatives, but every believer in Jesus Christ is an heir of God. Paul said, “...Now if we are His children, then we are His heirs--heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ…” (Ro. 8:17). Our inheritance includes the assurance of our future place in the Father’s house - our heavenly home. Peter writes that we were born again ”to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you…”. (1Pe 1:4).

“For the LORD loves justice, And does not forsake His saints; they are preserved forever, But the descendants of the wicked shall be cut off.”

In our reading from Mark, we see the dark clouds of opposition begin to gather against Jesus and His ministry. In this chapter Jesus faces opposition from demons (v. 11), false accusations (v. 22)), and even His own family (v. 21, 31). But of all the enemies Jesus faced there was none as fierce or spiteful as the one he encountered first - a religious spirit.

“Depart from evil, and do good; And dwell forevermore.”

The Lord never really asks us to give something up. Instead, He asks us to exchange what we have for something better. Our reading in Psalm 37:27 says, “...depart from evil and do good”. In our struggle against sin and the flesh we too often focus on surrendering the short-term pleasure of the thing we are trying to resist. But God wants us to focus on the pleasure of the thing we are reaching for - not the thing we are leaving behind.

He is ever merciful and lends; And his descendants are blessed.

A few years ago I found out my oldest son was going to have a baby. I remember feeling immediate joy - followed by a strange aftertaste of dysphoria. As I examined this feeling I found myself thinking, “I'm too young to be a grandpa!” But once he was born that thought immediately dissolved. As soon as I held Summit in my arms the “age anxiety” vanished. I realized that it was a massive blessing to live to see God’s goodness to my children’s children. In fact it’s a theme of promise in God’s Word!

I have been young, and [now] am old; Yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken, Nor his descendants begging bread.

This might be one of my favorite passages in the Psalms. Here, King David boldly testifies that he has lived long enough to see that God is faithful to provide for His people. The word translated forsaken here is the Hebrew word azab and it means to desert entirely, to leave behind, to abandon. This is one of the most often repeated promises in the bible. God never abandons us. Like a good and loving father, the Lord knows us by name and is determined to stay with us - come what may.

The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord and He delights in his way, Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down; For the LORD upholds him with His hand.

We all fall down. Sooner or later each of us takes a tumble as we walk down our path in life. This passage in Psalm 37:24 is not addressing the stumbling ways of the unbeliever. It is directed to the good man of verse 23, who delights in walking in God’s ways. The bible teaches that part of our journey as children of God will include slips and falls.

This does not mean that we are powerless to resist sin and failure. We are not intended to resign in our struggle against the flesh just because failure happens. It means that falling down is a part of growing up. As we follow the Lord we sometimes miss the mark. As the Apostle James admitted, “For we all stumble in many things…” (James 4:2).

The steps of a [good] man are ordered by the LORD, And He delights in his way.

The bible has a lot to say about where we place our feet. Our steps can take us to both good places and bad. Job said “My foot has held fast to His steps; I have kept His way and not turned aside.” (Job 23:11). David prayed, “Uphold my steps in Your paths, that my footsteps may not slip.” (Psa 17:5), and, “Direct my steps by Your word, And let no iniquity have dominion over me.” (Psa 119:133). If we don’t take time to examine our steps we can find ourselves in some pretty unhappy places.

For [those] blessed by Him shall inherit the earth, But [those] cursed by Him shall be cut off.

Luke Chapter 21 begins like this, “And then He looked up and saw the rich putting their gifts into the treasury, and He saw also a certain poor widow putting in two mites”.

The Temple treasury was a large box set up by King Jehoiada to collect money for the ongoing repairs and upkeep of the Temple (2 Chron. 24:8). In addition to the people bringing their tithes, they were also commanded to give generously to this fund as they were able. By the time of Jesus it was customary for everyone to bring something for God’s house when they came to worship. This was an open public offering and everyone could see what each worshiper gave.

The wicked borrows and does not repay, But the righteous shows mercy and gives.

Generosity is a core character trait of our heavenly Father. He is a God who delights in giving extravagantly to His children. Like a loving parent to their child, the Lord gives to us without conditions, and for the sheer pleasure of seeing us delighted.