The Steps of a Good Man Are Ordered by the Lord . Psalm 37 Part 2

 

Psalm 37:21-40 Part 2

Psalm 37:21-22 The wicked borrows and pays not again: but the righteous shows mercy and gives. For such as be blessed of him shall inherit the earth; and they that be cursed of him shall be cut off.

Jesus said, “Be therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful…Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that you give withal it shall be measured to you again,” Luke 6:36 & 38.

Psalm 37:23-24 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.

Jesus has told us that we are in His and in His Father’s hand and no man is able to pluck us out of His Father’s hand, John 10:28-29. We may fall, but God is at our side ready to help us get back on our feet. “There is no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that you are able; but will with the temptation also make a way of escape, that you might be able to bear it,” 1 Corinthians 10:13.

“Being confident of this very thing, that He which has begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ,” Philippians 1:6. “Faithful is He that called you, who also will do it, 1 Thessalonians 5:24.

Psalm 37:25 I have been young and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread.

God says He will take care of us even until our old age. In Psalm 71:17-18 we find a beautiful prayer we can claim. “O God, you have taught me from my youth: and hither have I declared your wondrous works. Now also when I am old and grey-headed, O God, forsake me not; until I have showed your strength unto this generation, and your power to everyone that is to come.”

In Isaiah 46:4 we also find another promise from the Lord to each of us concerning old age: “And even to your old age I am He; and even to grey hairs will I carry you: I have made, and I will bear; even I will carry, and will deliver you.”

Do not worry and fret over your future. God has promised that He will not cast you off in your old age. He has promised to supply all your needs according to His riches and glory.

Psalm 37: 26 He (the righteous) is ever merciful and lends; and his seed is blessed.

Jesus has told us in the Sermon on the Mount what the behaviour of a follower of Christ should be like. “And if any man will sue you at the law, and take away your coat, let him have your cloak also. And whosoever shall compel you to go a mile, go with him two. Give to him that asks you, and from him that would borrow of you turn not away,” Matthew 5:39-41. Generosity and lovingkindness are two of the characteristics of a true Christian.

Psalm 37: 27-28 Depart from evil and do good; and dwell for evermore. For the Lord loves judgment and forsakes not his saints; they are preserved for ever: but the seed of the wicked shall be cut off.

God is constantly asking us to choose between good and evil. Right from the Garden of Eden down to the present, God has given mankind the freedom to choose between right and wrong. In Deuteronomy Moses chides the children of Israel to make the right choice and choose life rather than death.

Deuteronomy 30:11-14 For this commandment which I command you this day, it is not hidden from you, neither is it far off. It is not in heaven, that you should say, Who shall go up for us to heaven, and bring it unto us, that we may hear it, and do it? Neither is it beyond the sea, that you should say, Who shall go over the sea for us, and bring it unto us, that we may hear it, and do it? But the word is very nigh unto you, in your mouth, and in your heart, that you may do it.

Deuteronomy 30:15-18 See, I have set before you this day life and good, and death and evil; In that I command you this day to love the Lord your God, to walk in His ways, and to keep His commandments and His statutes and His judgments, that you may live and multiply: and the Lord your God shall bless you in the land whither you go to possess it. But if your heart turn away, so that you will not hear, but shall be drawn away, and worship other gods, and serve them; I denounce unto you this day, that you shall surely perish, and that you shall not prolong your days upon the land, whither you pass over Jordan to go to possess it.

Deuteronomy 30:19-20 I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both you and your seed may live: That you may love the Lord your God, and that you may obey His voice, and that you may cleave unto Him: for He is your life, and the length of your days: that you may dwell in the land which the Lord swore unto your fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give them.

Like Elijah challenged the people of Israel and said, “How long halt you between two opinions? If the Lord be God, follow Him: but if Baal, then follow him: but the people answered him not a word,” 1 Kings 18:21. Why didn’t the people answer him? It was because they had compromised with the culture and were having a hard time forsaking their false gods. But we must not follow the fashions of this world!

Psalm 37:29 The righteous shall inherit the land, and dwell therein for ever.

Jesus said the same thing: “Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth. Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled,” Matthew 5:5-6. The righteous are those who are dependent on the righteousness of Christ to save them, and not their own righteousness. Their own righteousness is filthy menstrual rags. But we have put on the righteousness of Christ through our confession of sin and acceptance of His sacrificial offering on our behalf.

Psalm 37:30-31 The mouth of the righteous speaks wisdom, and his tongue talks of judgment. The law of his God is in his heart; none of his steps shall slide.

We have hidden God’s word in our hearts, that we might not sin against Him, Psalm 119:11. His word is a lamp onto our feet, and a light unto our path, Psalm 119:105.

Psalm 37:32-33 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.

The Lord promises, “No weapon that is formed against you shall prosper, and every tongue that shall rise against you in judgment you shall condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, and their righteousness is of Me, says the Lord.” Isaiah 54:17. Jesus, also, said, “For I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which all your adversaries shall not be able to gainsay nor resist,” Luke 21:15. In your patience possess you your souls,” Luke 21:19.

Psalm 37:34 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.

To “wait” on the Lord, means to come unto Him in prayer and meditation, or reading God’s word. Those that wait on the Lord renew their strength. They mount up on wings like eagles. They run and are not weary. They walk and do not faint. Isaiah 41:31.

Psalm 37:35-36 I have seen the wicked in great power and spreading himself like a green bay tree. Yet he passed away, and, lo, he was not: yea, I sought him, but he could not be found.

The day of the Lord will come. “Behold, the day of the Lord comes, cruel both with wrath and fierce anger, to lay the land desolate: and He shall destroy the sinners thereof out of it,” Isaiah 13:9.

Psalm 37:37 Mark the perfect man and behold the upright: for the end of that man is peace.

One of the characteristics of a Christian is peace of heart and mind. We get that peace knowing our sins have been forgiven. We who have accepted Jesus have His peace. He said, “Peace I leave with you, My peace I give unto you…Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid,” John 14:27. “These things I have spoken unto you, that in Me you might have peace. In the world you shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world,” John 16:33.

In the Old Testament we find, “I will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on Me, because he trusts in Me,” Isaiah 26:3 adapted. In the psalms, “Great peace have they which love Your law and nothing shall offend them,” Psalm 119:165.

Apostle Paul tells us we can find peace through desperate prayer and praise. “Rejoice in the Lord always: and again I say, Rejoice…Be anxious for nothing; but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passes all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus,” Philippians 4:4 & 6-7.

We need to do our part and fight the mental and spiritual attacks of the enemy through positive meditation and praise. Paul admonishes us, "Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. These things, which you have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you," Philippians 4:8-9. 

Let's review those items we should think on. They should be true, honest, pure, lovely, of good report, virtuous, and praiseful. Sounds like the qualities of Jesus! 

Psalm 37:38 But the transgressors shall be destroyed together: the end of the wicked shall be cut off.

The Bible seems to indicate a “second death” for those who continue to reject God and His offer of forgiveness for sins. Those who stay in rebellion even after God sends His loving chastisements will eventually come to the end. That end may very well be the second death, Revelation 20:14-15.

Psalm 37:39-40 But the salvation of the righteous is of 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.

Amen!