Ps 37:21-24 "The wicked borrow and do not repay, but the righteous give generously; 22 those the LORD blesses will inherit the land, but those he curses will be cut off. If the LORD delights in a man's way, he makes his steps firm; 24 though he stumble, he will not fall, for the LORD upholds him with his hand." NIV
A man’s heart is revealed by how he relates to money! The scriptures teach that where a man’s treasure is there his heart is. The way that we respond to the existence of our own needs and wants as well as the needs and wants of others demonstrates trust in God, fear of lack, selfishness, compassion and so much more. The underlying principle concerning money and possessions that is revealed throughout all of the pages of scripture is that we are only stewards of that which belongs to the Lord. In Hag 2:8 the Lord tells us “the silver is mine and the gold is mine," declares the LORD Almighty. And in Deut 8:17-18 He warns us, “you may say to yourself, "My power and the strength of my hands have produced this wealth for me." 18 But remember the LORD your God, for it is He who gives you the ability to produce wealth.” So if the gold and silver belong to the Lord and the ability to produce wealth comes from Him then everything that we have comes from the Lord.
We are not owners but are called to responsibly care for that which has been entrusted to us in a way that advances God’s purposes and reflects God’s values system. We either live with an open heart and an open hand or we live with a closed heart and a closed hand. If we rightly understand God’s ways and have embraced His Lordship and ownership of all things then we relate to our finances as tools to serve His purposes. We treat all that we have as His investment in us; first for the meeting of our own needs and the needs of our families, but it is equally important to remember that He has entrusted us with resources as a means to partner with Him in displaying His power and His kingdom, His compassion and His purposes. Those who have chosen to live for the Lord and accept His gift of righteousness through Jesus Christ relate to wealth more and more as an opportunity to display God and less and less as a means to advance their own personal comfort.
David further identifies the distinction that God views each man’s ways and relates to them differently from one another. God’s dealings with man are not universally the same. He responds to each one of us according to our ways. In Psalm 37 David captures the principle that our ways before God determine His response to us. The man whose ways delight the Lord lives under His blessings and God makes His way sure and firm. Another man lives with a closed heart and the Lord curses His ways and though this man may walk for a season in prosperous circumstances, in the end the scriptures declare that he will be cut off. In Daniel chapter 4 Nebuchadnezzar was judged by the Lord and stripped of not only his wealth and power, but his sanity to teach him and the generations that would follow that it was the Lord not his own wisdom and abilities that had raised him up to be king and this same Lord could remove the hand of blessing at any time. The king was warned and given a season to repent but when he neglected this call to turn from his pride God’s judgment came. Choose today to live with an open heart towards the needs of others and the needs of God’s purposes and as a faithful steward of all that the Lord has entrusted to you and you will live under
the hand of blessing.
Friday
Psalm 37:18-20 - April 24, 2009
Ps 37:18-20 "The days of the blameless are known to the LORD, and their inheritance will endure forever. 19 In times of disaster they will not wither; in days of famine they will enjoy plenty. 20 But the wicked will perish: The LORD's enemies will be like the beauty of the fields, they will vanish — vanish like smoke." NIV
There is power in living an upright life! When a man walks blameless in his life before the Lord the Lord keeps a close watch over him. David says that “his ways are known to the Lord.” As many have said before, “the Lord is watching.” But not only is He watching, He holds onto the memory of how we have lived and what we have done. The only time the Lord’s memory does not retain the knowledge of our deeds as an influence upon His dealings with us is when our sins are covered by the blood of His Son Jesus Christ through repentance and faith. All that we do has laid up for us an account before the Lord. As Jesus said in Matt 6:20, “lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven…” With the Lord we establish an eternal treasure that endures forever but we also receive the blessings of His covenant in this life as well.
This is a time in human history when the world is filled with conflict and shaking. It is a time when all men will be sifted by the trying times that are coming upon the earth. Economic disasters and times of famine are prophesied in the last times and all the earth will feel the pressure of these times. The glory of God’s promise is that even in the midst of these dark times as disaster touches the earth there will be a people whom the Lord looks upon with pleasure. While all around them people are withering from the pressures of earthquake and flood, tsunami and drought, when others are feeling the pain of economic shaking God will raise up a testimony of His goodness in the midst of the storm. Psalm 37 declares that those whom the Lord finds blameless will not wither but will enjoy plenty while those around them are being shaken by the storm. It is during this time that one man will experience trial that reduces him to desperation and another man who experiences the same circumstances yet he walks in the goodness of God’s abundant provision and protection. There will be a clear distinction between those whom the Lord has deemed His enemies and those whom the Lord has clothed with favor and blessing.
There is power in living an upright life! When a man walks blameless in his life before the Lord the Lord keeps a close watch over him. David says that “his ways are known to the Lord.” As many have said before, “the Lord is watching.” But not only is He watching, He holds onto the memory of how we have lived and what we have done. The only time the Lord’s memory does not retain the knowledge of our deeds as an influence upon His dealings with us is when our sins are covered by the blood of His Son Jesus Christ through repentance and faith. All that we do has laid up for us an account before the Lord. As Jesus said in Matt 6:20, “lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven…” With the Lord we establish an eternal treasure that endures forever but we also receive the blessings of His covenant in this life as well.
This is a time in human history when the world is filled with conflict and shaking. It is a time when all men will be sifted by the trying times that are coming upon the earth. Economic disasters and times of famine are prophesied in the last times and all the earth will feel the pressure of these times. The glory of God’s promise is that even in the midst of these dark times as disaster touches the earth there will be a people whom the Lord looks upon with pleasure. While all around them people are withering from the pressures of earthquake and flood, tsunami and drought, when others are feeling the pain of economic shaking God will raise up a testimony of His goodness in the midst of the storm. Psalm 37 declares that those whom the Lord finds blameless will not wither but will enjoy plenty while those around them are being shaken by the storm. It is during this time that one man will experience trial that reduces him to desperation and another man who experiences the same circumstances yet he walks in the goodness of God’s abundant provision and protection. There will be a clear distinction between those whom the Lord has deemed His enemies and those whom the Lord has clothed with favor and blessing.
Thursday
Psalm 37:16-17 - April 23, 2009
Ps 37:16-17 "Better the little that the righteous have than the wealth of many wicked; 17 for the power of the wicked will be broken, but the LORD upholds the righteous." NIV
Can you imagine a situation where you are better off with a little money than a lot of money? Maybe when you are being robbed? How about when your house burns down or a flood destroys everything you own? Each of these is a true situation where having less would reduce the pain of the loss but the scriptures identify a situation of even greater substance where it is better to have a little than a lot. According to the Word of God it is better to have a little when gaining a lot will cost you your integrity! There is no price that you can put on character and holiness. A righteous life cannot be exchanged for gold, silver or prestige! Too often we relate to our character as something that is negotiable. We are tempted to relate to the pursuit of wealth as purely an issue of opportunity and reward. But this is not the way of God.
The wealth of the wicked is pleasant to them for a season but the book of Proverbs tells us the wealth of the wicked comes with a cost. Prov 15:16 says “Better a little with the fear of the LORD, than great wealth with turmoil.” Wealth acquired through wickedness comes at the cost of all of the violations of integrity that have been involved in its acquisition; broken trusts, damaged relationships, compromise of character. Even when no one else is seemingly hurt my own spirit is greatly wounded when I violate my integrity. My conscience suffers a distancing from the peace of the Holy Spirit and my confidence before God is diminished. We are reminded by the Psalmist of two things in this verse; that wealth equals power and that both the power and the wealth of the wicked are broken in a moment when the Lord chooses to move. At the end of God’s dealings when all of the wealth has slipped away through the affairs of life there is nothing left if we have forfeited our character in pursuit of that wealth. But if I have lived righteously the fruit of this can never be taken away from me even when all the wealth is gone.
God is not against a life of abundance. In fact God’s ways are quite the opposite. Wealth from God enables the fulfillment of many of God’s kingdom purposes. It is the wrong acquisition and use of wealth that God despises. It is the love of wealth and the damage that this does to people that is his primary concern. Deut 8:18 tells us the truth of God’s purpose in regard to wealth, “remember the LORD your God, for it is he who gives you the ability to produce wealth, and so confirms his covenant.” In 1 Chron 29:12 the scriptures continue on to say “Wealth and honor come from you; you are the ruler of all things.” The ability to produce wealth comes from the Lord! It is not my own intelligence or hard work. It is favor with God that produces wealth. It is His mercy and His purpose that prospers one man above another. Deu. Goes as far as to say that the production of great wealth is a confirmation of God’s covenant to us! What these verses do is put into context the passage we have been considering in Psalm 37. It is not teaching us that poverty is better than wealth. What it is placing in our hearts is that little is better than much when it costs you your integrity to acquire that wealth and that wealth gained in such a way is going to be blown away like the wind. Prov 8:18 is the voice of God telling us the simple truth, “With me are riches and honor, enduring wealth and prosperity,” and Prov. 10:22 concludes the principle. “The blessing of the LORD brings wealth, and he adds no trouble to it.” God desires to bless you and to cause you to walk in the abundance that is found in Him and when it is His blessing acquired through righteous means it comes without pain and loss in some other area of life!
Can you imagine a situation where you are better off with a little money than a lot of money? Maybe when you are being robbed? How about when your house burns down or a flood destroys everything you own? Each of these is a true situation where having less would reduce the pain of the loss but the scriptures identify a situation of even greater substance where it is better to have a little than a lot. According to the Word of God it is better to have a little when gaining a lot will cost you your integrity! There is no price that you can put on character and holiness. A righteous life cannot be exchanged for gold, silver or prestige! Too often we relate to our character as something that is negotiable. We are tempted to relate to the pursuit of wealth as purely an issue of opportunity and reward. But this is not the way of God.
The wealth of the wicked is pleasant to them for a season but the book of Proverbs tells us the wealth of the wicked comes with a cost. Prov 15:16 says “Better a little with the fear of the LORD, than great wealth with turmoil.” Wealth acquired through wickedness comes at the cost of all of the violations of integrity that have been involved in its acquisition; broken trusts, damaged relationships, compromise of character. Even when no one else is seemingly hurt my own spirit is greatly wounded when I violate my integrity. My conscience suffers a distancing from the peace of the Holy Spirit and my confidence before God is diminished. We are reminded by the Psalmist of two things in this verse; that wealth equals power and that both the power and the wealth of the wicked are broken in a moment when the Lord chooses to move. At the end of God’s dealings when all of the wealth has slipped away through the affairs of life there is nothing left if we have forfeited our character in pursuit of that wealth. But if I have lived righteously the fruit of this can never be taken away from me even when all the wealth is gone.
God is not against a life of abundance. In fact God’s ways are quite the opposite. Wealth from God enables the fulfillment of many of God’s kingdom purposes. It is the wrong acquisition and use of wealth that God despises. It is the love of wealth and the damage that this does to people that is his primary concern. Deut 8:18 tells us the truth of God’s purpose in regard to wealth, “remember the LORD your God, for it is he who gives you the ability to produce wealth, and so confirms his covenant.” In 1 Chron 29:12 the scriptures continue on to say “Wealth and honor come from you; you are the ruler of all things.” The ability to produce wealth comes from the Lord! It is not my own intelligence or hard work. It is favor with God that produces wealth. It is His mercy and His purpose that prospers one man above another. Deu. Goes as far as to say that the production of great wealth is a confirmation of God’s covenant to us! What these verses do is put into context the passage we have been considering in Psalm 37. It is not teaching us that poverty is better than wealth. What it is placing in our hearts is that little is better than much when it costs you your integrity to acquire that wealth and that wealth gained in such a way is going to be blown away like the wind. Prov 8:18 is the voice of God telling us the simple truth, “With me are riches and honor, enduring wealth and prosperity,” and Prov. 10:22 concludes the principle. “The blessing of the LORD brings wealth, and he adds no trouble to it.” God desires to bless you and to cause you to walk in the abundance that is found in Him and when it is His blessing acquired through righteous means it comes without pain and loss in some other area of life!
Wednesday
Psalm 37:7-11 - April 22, 2009
Ps 37:7-11 "Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for him; do not fret when men succeed in their ways, when they carry out their wicked schemes. 8 Refrain from anger and turn from wrath; do not fret — it leads only to evil. 9 For evil men will be cut off, but those who hope in the LORD will inherit the land. 10 A little while, and the wicked will be no more; though you look for them, they will not be found. 11 But the meek will inherit the land and enjoy great peace." NIV
Can we get in God’s way? Can unbelief manifest as striving in our own strength to do those things that God has said He will do? Yes. David sets a pastoral tone in this next portion of Psalm 37. Once again his Father heart is shining through his writing as he states much like a parent to a child, “Be still, wait patiently!” When the pressure is on most of us don’t like it very much. Most of us are inclined to do rather than to rest. Yet God commands us through this passage to lean into Him and wait in patience for Him to move on our behalf. Many times our compulsion to move is really fueled by a deep rooted fear that God isn’t going to. We try to wait and be still for a season but when the answer doesn’t come in our time frames we panic and begin to try to do things in our own strength. Consider Abraham. He has an angelic promise of a son that will be born to him but he gets tired of waiting for the promise. First he conceives a plan then he conceives a child. The problem is that it was the wrong plan and the wrong child! As a result the world has witnessed generations of conflict between the promised son who did come in due season and the rejected son who was the fruit of Abraham’s impatience.
As David continues to write he reminds us that though the wicked may seem to prosper for a season it is only an illusion. Through David God calls us to keep our eyes fixed on Him, not on the works of men. The simple principle that is conveyed in verse 7-9 is once again, “Don’t worry about it” but the message does not stop there. David goes on to describe in very clear and simple fashion the fruit of worry. “When you worry it leads to evil.” How profound a connection, when we worry about something it produces sinful behavior in our life. Too often we are compelled by our worry to become angry and vengeful at the evil actions of people around us but James declares in James 1:19-20 “Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, 20 for man's anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires.” My anger does not accomplish God’s purpose!
Instead of allowing ourselves to be dominated by these carnal emotions we are invited by the lord to a place of rest and trust. David reminds us that in just a little while the wicked will be cut off and the righteous will inherit the purposes of God. The invitation that the Lord extends through this passage is a call to meekness, a call to rest. When we fall into the snare of vengeful self-empowered actions we are really opening the doors of our heart for the sins of accusing God and of pride as if to say, “God you are not fixing this so I will have to!” How arrogant of us to think that we can stand before God and provide something that He is not providing. In doing this we forfeit the place of peace that leaves our hearts open to God. As we choose humility and surrender we are restored to a joyful peace that keeps us living with a pure heart while we wait for God to be our vindication.
Can we get in God’s way? Can unbelief manifest as striving in our own strength to do those things that God has said He will do? Yes. David sets a pastoral tone in this next portion of Psalm 37. Once again his Father heart is shining through his writing as he states much like a parent to a child, “Be still, wait patiently!” When the pressure is on most of us don’t like it very much. Most of us are inclined to do rather than to rest. Yet God commands us through this passage to lean into Him and wait in patience for Him to move on our behalf. Many times our compulsion to move is really fueled by a deep rooted fear that God isn’t going to. We try to wait and be still for a season but when the answer doesn’t come in our time frames we panic and begin to try to do things in our own strength. Consider Abraham. He has an angelic promise of a son that will be born to him but he gets tired of waiting for the promise. First he conceives a plan then he conceives a child. The problem is that it was the wrong plan and the wrong child! As a result the world has witnessed generations of conflict between the promised son who did come in due season and the rejected son who was the fruit of Abraham’s impatience.
As David continues to write he reminds us that though the wicked may seem to prosper for a season it is only an illusion. Through David God calls us to keep our eyes fixed on Him, not on the works of men. The simple principle that is conveyed in verse 7-9 is once again, “Don’t worry about it” but the message does not stop there. David goes on to describe in very clear and simple fashion the fruit of worry. “When you worry it leads to evil.” How profound a connection, when we worry about something it produces sinful behavior in our life. Too often we are compelled by our worry to become angry and vengeful at the evil actions of people around us but James declares in James 1:19-20 “Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, 20 for man's anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires.” My anger does not accomplish God’s purpose!
Instead of allowing ourselves to be dominated by these carnal emotions we are invited by the lord to a place of rest and trust. David reminds us that in just a little while the wicked will be cut off and the righteous will inherit the purposes of God. The invitation that the Lord extends through this passage is a call to meekness, a call to rest. When we fall into the snare of vengeful self-empowered actions we are really opening the doors of our heart for the sins of accusing God and of pride as if to say, “God you are not fixing this so I will have to!” How arrogant of us to think that we can stand before God and provide something that He is not providing. In doing this we forfeit the place of peace that leaves our hearts open to God. As we choose humility and surrender we are restored to a joyful peace that keeps us living with a pure heart while we wait for God to be our vindication.
Tuesday
Psalm 37:5-6 - April 21, 2009
Ps. 37:5 -6 "Commit your way to LORD; trust in him and he will do this: 6 He will make your righteousness shine like the dawn, the justice of your cause like the noonday sun." NIV
Do you have a plan B? I am not anti-planning and preparation but there are times when we yield to the temptation to plan for the failure of faith rather than walking in confident assurance of the victory that God has for us. There are times when the alternative plan that we have generated is really rooted in a fear that trusting the Lord won’t work out. We have God and then our plan if God doesn’t meet our expectations. This situation can grow out of unbelief in His promises at times, or simply the power of our negative fears. It can spring out of past failures and at other times it can grow out of not having spent the time to hear God’s voice so that we have assurance of what His promises are. In Acts 27 as the ship that Paul is being transported in is being battered by a great storm some of the soldiers attempt to escape from the ship by using a life boat but the Word of the Lord comes to Paul saying that they must not do this for everyone to be saved. They have to cut away the lifeboat and place their trust in the Word of the Lord.
There are times in our walk with God that He calls us to cut away the life boat of our alternative plans and commit our way fully into his hands. This is the kind of trust that David walked in. On two occasions David had the opportunity to kill Saul and fulfill his calling to be king by the power of his own hand. David lives up to the standard of his own teachings as he chooses to honor the Word of the Lord above his desire to relieve his own suffering. David refuses to touch Saul and by doing so prolongs his own trial. This choice was costly but worth it. This is one of the highest principles of God’s way; Costly but worth it! This was the path that Abraham chose when he left his familiar surroundings to go to a new land. This is the choice that Rebekah made in Ge. 24 when she left her family behind to travel to a distant land and marry a total stranger. And who could forget the stand that Daniel and his three friends took when confronted with the choice of compromise or persecution. Finally it is said of Jesus in the book of Hebrews that “for the joy set before Him,” He endured the cross. Jesus had an unquenchable confidence in His father’s promises to Him. So much so that He trusted His life to them.
David’s confidence is that The Lord is faithful. Out of this confidence he declares to us that if we will trust, in due time we will not only receive the needed breakthrough but our righteousness will shine like the dawn. David’s deliverance was more glorious than his persecution was. David’s integrity spoke louder than Saul’s corruptness. In the same way Christ was shamed publicly, but He was raised gloriously! This is the hope of those who place their trust in the Lord.
Do you have a plan B? I am not anti-planning and preparation but there are times when we yield to the temptation to plan for the failure of faith rather than walking in confident assurance of the victory that God has for us. There are times when the alternative plan that we have generated is really rooted in a fear that trusting the Lord won’t work out. We have God and then our plan if God doesn’t meet our expectations. This situation can grow out of unbelief in His promises at times, or simply the power of our negative fears. It can spring out of past failures and at other times it can grow out of not having spent the time to hear God’s voice so that we have assurance of what His promises are. In Acts 27 as the ship that Paul is being transported in is being battered by a great storm some of the soldiers attempt to escape from the ship by using a life boat but the Word of the Lord comes to Paul saying that they must not do this for everyone to be saved. They have to cut away the lifeboat and place their trust in the Word of the Lord.
There are times in our walk with God that He calls us to cut away the life boat of our alternative plans and commit our way fully into his hands. This is the kind of trust that David walked in. On two occasions David had the opportunity to kill Saul and fulfill his calling to be king by the power of his own hand. David lives up to the standard of his own teachings as he chooses to honor the Word of the Lord above his desire to relieve his own suffering. David refuses to touch Saul and by doing so prolongs his own trial. This choice was costly but worth it. This is one of the highest principles of God’s way; Costly but worth it! This was the path that Abraham chose when he left his familiar surroundings to go to a new land. This is the choice that Rebekah made in Ge. 24 when she left her family behind to travel to a distant land and marry a total stranger. And who could forget the stand that Daniel and his three friends took when confronted with the choice of compromise or persecution. Finally it is said of Jesus in the book of Hebrews that “for the joy set before Him,” He endured the cross. Jesus had an unquenchable confidence in His father’s promises to Him. So much so that He trusted His life to them.
David’s confidence is that The Lord is faithful. Out of this confidence he declares to us that if we will trust, in due time we will not only receive the needed breakthrough but our righteousness will shine like the dawn. David’s deliverance was more glorious than his persecution was. David’s integrity spoke louder than Saul’s corruptness. In the same way Christ was shamed publicly, but He was raised gloriously! This is the hope of those who place their trust in the Lord.
Monday
Psalm 37:3-6 - April 20, 2009
Ps 37:3-6 "Trust in the LORD and do good; dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture. 4 Delight yourself in the LORD and he will give you the desires of your heart." NIV
What does it mean to trust in the Lord? In searching out the definition more fully for this word Strong’s concordance states that it means to be confident in or to be sure of. This is what it means to trust in the Lord. God is speaking through his servant David and telling us, “You can be confident in me. You can be sure of me.” What a powerful hope this is. There are so many situations I know of where there is a great need but there is not the ability to be sure of a person to take care of it. There is no one that I can be certain will solve the problem wisely and correctly. But then there is God! When man fails us God is sure. When circumstance overwhelms us we can be confident in God! This passage is God endorsing his own character to us. This verse is more than just a king persuading us to lean on the Lord. This passage is the Lord himself through the inspired scriptures calling us to lean on Him!
There is a second powerful principle woven into the fabric of this verse. The Lord exhorts us to do more than trust! Through David the Lord challenges his people in the face of need to not become closed or withdraw from doing good. Our natural tendency under pressure is to focus on self preservation, to isolate and in our stress to place all of our attention on solving our problems or finding the path of deliverance from need. The problem with this situation is found in the fact that when we do this it dries up our hearts and cuts off our future harvest. The good things that we are reaping in our lives today are the result of past sowing not current sowing. The blessing that is on me today is the fruit of the years that are behind me. No farmer reaps in the same season that he sows. We sow and in due time we reap. Because of this principle if I withdraw from sowing goodness both financially and in my acts of kindness and obedience to the Lord then I can creating a future season of barrenness by the withholding of seed today. I may look at my circumstances and say, “I am doing okay right now so there is no consequence to withholding but be certain the harvest of tomorrow is hanging in the balance. God calls us in times of pressure to keep our hearts open and flowing with life and a spirit of generosity in all that we do and our obedience in this brings blessing and matures our faith as we look beyond the current trial with eyes of faith that say I will not be overcome by what I am walking through.
In times of crisis our needs tend to press in on us and consume our attention. All of our mental energy is absorbed in trying to find a way through the storm. David calls us to turn from this as nothing more than a distraction from devotion. Verse four calls us to delight ourselves in the Lord. You might be saying “What, worship now. Give thanks now! I can’t even find the presence of the Lord because my pain is speaking to loudly.” Take your eyes off of your situation and place them on the Lord! Delight in Him. There is no better thing to do in times of need than to take some time to enjoy God. Cultivate intimacy with Him and let him bring you to a place of peace and rest. God did not cause your problem, but He is the answer to it!!!!! Yield to His voice calling you to come and in his presence find life and wisdom. David is a wise counselor calling to us as if to say “Look to the Lord. He will carry you through.” It is in God’s presence that revelation comes, that proper attitudes of heart are imparted to us. So often pain and pressure become a poison to both our soul and our spirit and over time if we do not take our eyes off of circumstance and place them on the Lord we become bitter, angry, complaining and self-centered, as well as opening the door to temptations to find comfort in wrong forms of pleasure, all of these conditions lead us into greater darkness and frequently wrong choices and actions. However, if we will fix our eyes on Him he will give us right desires and clear directions. His faithfulness will lead us into victory over time as we praise Him.
What does it mean to trust in the Lord? In searching out the definition more fully for this word Strong’s concordance states that it means to be confident in or to be sure of. This is what it means to trust in the Lord. God is speaking through his servant David and telling us, “You can be confident in me. You can be sure of me.” What a powerful hope this is. There are so many situations I know of where there is a great need but there is not the ability to be sure of a person to take care of it. There is no one that I can be certain will solve the problem wisely and correctly. But then there is God! When man fails us God is sure. When circumstance overwhelms us we can be confident in God! This passage is God endorsing his own character to us. This verse is more than just a king persuading us to lean on the Lord. This passage is the Lord himself through the inspired scriptures calling us to lean on Him!
There is a second powerful principle woven into the fabric of this verse. The Lord exhorts us to do more than trust! Through David the Lord challenges his people in the face of need to not become closed or withdraw from doing good. Our natural tendency under pressure is to focus on self preservation, to isolate and in our stress to place all of our attention on solving our problems or finding the path of deliverance from need. The problem with this situation is found in the fact that when we do this it dries up our hearts and cuts off our future harvest. The good things that we are reaping in our lives today are the result of past sowing not current sowing. The blessing that is on me today is the fruit of the years that are behind me. No farmer reaps in the same season that he sows. We sow and in due time we reap. Because of this principle if I withdraw from sowing goodness both financially and in my acts of kindness and obedience to the Lord then I can creating a future season of barrenness by the withholding of seed today. I may look at my circumstances and say, “I am doing okay right now so there is no consequence to withholding but be certain the harvest of tomorrow is hanging in the balance. God calls us in times of pressure to keep our hearts open and flowing with life and a spirit of generosity in all that we do and our obedience in this brings blessing and matures our faith as we look beyond the current trial with eyes of faith that say I will not be overcome by what I am walking through.
In times of crisis our needs tend to press in on us and consume our attention. All of our mental energy is absorbed in trying to find a way through the storm. David calls us to turn from this as nothing more than a distraction from devotion. Verse four calls us to delight ourselves in the Lord. You might be saying “What, worship now. Give thanks now! I can’t even find the presence of the Lord because my pain is speaking to loudly.” Take your eyes off of your situation and place them on the Lord! Delight in Him. There is no better thing to do in times of need than to take some time to enjoy God. Cultivate intimacy with Him and let him bring you to a place of peace and rest. God did not cause your problem, but He is the answer to it!!!!! Yield to His voice calling you to come and in his presence find life and wisdom. David is a wise counselor calling to us as if to say “Look to the Lord. He will carry you through.” It is in God’s presence that revelation comes, that proper attitudes of heart are imparted to us. So often pain and pressure become a poison to both our soul and our spirit and over time if we do not take our eyes off of circumstance and place them on the Lord we become bitter, angry, complaining and self-centered, as well as opening the door to temptations to find comfort in wrong forms of pleasure, all of these conditions lead us into greater darkness and frequently wrong choices and actions. However, if we will fix our eyes on Him he will give us right desires and clear directions. His faithfulness will lead us into victory over time as we praise Him.
Sunday
Psalm 37:1-2 April 19, 2009
Ps 37:1-2 Of David. "Do not fret because of evil men or be envious of those who do wrong; 2 for like the grass they will soon wither, like green plants they will soon die away." NIV
Don’t worry – Pray! We can be sure that until the time comes when the Lord rolls up creation like a blanket, exchanging it for his new earth that the evil men and evil deeds will continue to be a part of our life’s experience. In Psalm 37 David challenges our hearts to keep the works of men in proper perspective. David has experienced betrayal. He knows the pain of injustice and yet he confidently tells the generations that follow, “Don’t worry about it!” If anyone has had a right to worry it is David. Lied about, set up for intentional failure by King Saul, falsely pursued out of jealousy, David could have easily been angry and vengeful. He could have easily embraced a bitter spirit and a fearful compulsion to strike back and be the source of his own vindication but he learned the secret of keeping his eyes fixed on the Lord and keeping his hope firmly planted in the character of God and God’s promises to him.
When we are in the midst of the fires of difficulty and injustice our natural tendencies are to worry and to strive for an answer. But the Word of the Lord comes to us and says, “Be still and know that I am God,” Ps. 46:10. The second temptation that is more common when we observe evil men seemingly succeeding in their ways is to envy their evident prosperity. When we only view things from a short term perspective it is a common reaction to misinterpret the nature of God’s justice and character. David calls us to remember that the justice and vindication of God are eternal. David relates the success of the evil man to the grass that withers and the plant that in due time fades away. The success of the wicked is only for a season and the bottom line is that whether in this life or the life to come God’s judgment will catch up to them. As for us as we wait upon the Lord we must rest knowing that He is faithful and find comfort in the words that David declares later in this psalm, Ps 37:25 “I was young and now I am old, yet I have never seen the righteous forsaken or their children begging bread.”
Don’t worry – Pray! We can be sure that until the time comes when the Lord rolls up creation like a blanket, exchanging it for his new earth that the evil men and evil deeds will continue to be a part of our life’s experience. In Psalm 37 David challenges our hearts to keep the works of men in proper perspective. David has experienced betrayal. He knows the pain of injustice and yet he confidently tells the generations that follow, “Don’t worry about it!” If anyone has had a right to worry it is David. Lied about, set up for intentional failure by King Saul, falsely pursued out of jealousy, David could have easily been angry and vengeful. He could have easily embraced a bitter spirit and a fearful compulsion to strike back and be the source of his own vindication but he learned the secret of keeping his eyes fixed on the Lord and keeping his hope firmly planted in the character of God and God’s promises to him.
When we are in the midst of the fires of difficulty and injustice our natural tendencies are to worry and to strive for an answer. But the Word of the Lord comes to us and says, “Be still and know that I am God,” Ps. 46:10. The second temptation that is more common when we observe evil men seemingly succeeding in their ways is to envy their evident prosperity. When we only view things from a short term perspective it is a common reaction to misinterpret the nature of God’s justice and character. David calls us to remember that the justice and vindication of God are eternal. David relates the success of the evil man to the grass that withers and the plant that in due time fades away. The success of the wicked is only for a season and the bottom line is that whether in this life or the life to come God’s judgment will catch up to them. As for us as we wait upon the Lord we must rest knowing that He is faithful and find comfort in the words that David declares later in this psalm, Ps 37:25 “I was young and now I am old, yet I have never seen the righteous forsaken or their children begging bread.”
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