The Lord Loves And Blesses The Just
April 6, 2024
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.
He protects their ways (vv. 23-24)He provides food for them (vv. 25-26)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)
Verses not found.
Illustration: Gun Point in Paupa New Guinea
In the early 90’s I went to Paupa New Guinea to arrange a short-term missionary to trip for 70 young people. After being in the country less than four hours John Airi (a national) and I went into the country to look for a place to lodge the group. While on a lonely country road we were stopped by a masked man with a gun who shot it over our vehicle. Another masked man stepped out of the brush with a bundle of rope and they ordered us to go behind the vehicle, still nervously pointing the gun at us. All at once they ordered us to run in the direction in which we came which we did wondering if they would shoot us in the back as we went. All at once, we heard the engine of our vehicle rev up and they sped off. We had a prayer meeting in the middle of the road and thanked the Lord we were still alive realizing He must still have more work for us to do. Some workers nearby told us we were lucky because a few days earlier they had shot two policemen in that same spot. We knew that it was not luck but that God had protected us. (Lou Nicholes – Missionary/Author).