Sunday Devotional 12th of March, 2023
by Bruce Billington
We are continuing to explore the knowledge of God as expressed in the Psalms. This week we will continue to explore Psalm 37 – a Psalm of David.
Psalm 37:34 – Wait for the LORD and keep His way, And He will exalt you to inherit the land; When the wicked are cut off, you will see it.
Psalm 37:39 – But the salvation of the righteous is from the LORD; He is their strength in time of trouble.
This verse presents a very challenging concept to most of us – it is about waiting, something very few of us are good at. However, most of the unwise decisions we make in life point back to our impulsiveness, or not exercising wisdom and discernment, or having the wrong motives that drive our hasty actions.
The way of the Lord is a marathon not a sprint. It is about a lifetime journey of walking by His side – not falling behind, but not running ahead either. Jesus said in Matthew 10:22 that it is the one who has endured to the end who will be saved.
We all must live in the present and that requires a degree of decisiveness even some risk taking – but we must also focus on our future which is where we draw both strength and hope to face the issues of life that each day brings. Verse 34 urges us to carefully observe the way of the Lord and stay in a place of peace and restfulness, holding on to the promise that He is a great Father and that He holds us in the palm of His hands.
This is not so for the wicked, who are left unattended and to their own ways. The Psalmist compares their end to the end of the righteous – they will be cut off, while the righteous will inherit the land. Although this does assure us of a blessed life on this earth (although not a trouble free one), it also has a strong futuristic aspect to it.
Hebrews 6:10-11 tells us, For God is not unjust so as to forget your work and the love which you have shown toward His name, in having ministered and in still ministering to the saints. And we desire that each one of you show the same diligence so as to realize the full assurance of hope until the end,
Whatever we must face in the present times, the promise of God is that He will exalt us; honour us and raise us up on that day when the wicked are cut off and we will reign with Christ forevermore. We are told that we will inherit the promised land with Christ and then live eternally in the new heaven and new earth. Throughout the dark days of this present age, this is the great light of hope that we are given to hold on to.
So here we are considering both the present and the future as this Psalm comes to a close. Verse 39 is speaking of both realms when it says that the salvation of the righteous comes from the Lord. It is an act of His free grace, and He is delighted to express it both for the here and now and as our doorway into the age to come.
The word “salvation” (Hebrew teshuah) is referring to deliverance of every kind; not only the salvation which finally lands us in glory, but all the “minor” rescues along the way. These are all supplied to the righteous by the grace of God. While trouble is said to overthrow the wicked, it should drive us into the arms of the Lord, who rejoices to uphold us, be our deliverer, take us safely into all that He has promised us and nurture us as we inherit all that He has for us.
There are all sorts of challenges in the fallen world that we live in, but the great promise is that God will sustains throughout all these troubles, ultimately deliver us from all that would seek to dishonour His ways and take us into the age to come where all these things will be removed and only that which fully reflects His love, glory and Kingdom will remain, for us to enjoy for eternity.
God bless you.
Bruce Billington