HOPE IN THE LORD

Passage: Psalms 37:23-40

Key verse: 34

NIV

23 The Lord makes firm the steps(A)
    of the one who delights(B) in him;
24 though he may stumble, he will not fall,(C)
    for the Lord upholds(D) him with his hand.

25 I was young and now I am old,
    yet I have never seen the righteous forsaken(E)
    or their children begging(F) bread.
26 They are always generous and lend freely;(G)
    their children will be a blessing.[a](H)

27 Turn from evil and do good;(I)
    then you will dwell in the land forever.(J)
28 For the Lord loves the just
    and will not forsake his faithful ones.(K)

Wrongdoers will be completely destroyed[b];
    the offspring of the wicked will perish.(L)
29 The righteous will inherit the land(M)
    and dwell in it forever.(N)

30 The mouths of the righteous utter wisdom,(O)
    and their tongues speak what is just.
31 The law of their God is in their hearts;(P)
    their feet do not slip.(Q)

32 The wicked lie in wait(R) for the righteous,(S)
    intent on putting them to death;
33 but the Lord will not leave them in the power of the wicked
    or let them be condemned(T) when brought to trial.(U)

34 Hope in the Lord(V)
    and keep his way.(W)
He will exalt you to inherit the land;
    when the wicked are destroyed,(X) you will see(Y) it.

35 I have seen a wicked and ruthless man
    flourishing(Z) like a luxuriant native tree,
36 but he soon passed away and was no more;
    though I looked for him, he could not be found.(AA)

37 Consider the blameless,(AB) observe the upright;(AC)
    a future awaits those who seek peace.[c](AD)
38 But all sinners(AE) will be destroyed;(AF)
    there will be no future[d] for the wicked.(AG)

39 The salvation(AH) of the righteous comes from the Lord;
    he is their stronghold in time of trouble.(AI)
40 The Lord helps(AJ) them and delivers(AK) them;
    he delivers them from the wicked and saves(AL) them,
    because they take refuge(AM) in him.

Read full chapter
Footnotes
  1. Psalm 37:26 Or freely; / the names of their children will be used in blessings (see Gen. 48:20); or freely; / others will see that their children are blessed
  2. Psalm 37:28 See Septuagint; Hebrew They will be protected forever
  3. Psalm 37:37 Or upright; / those who seek peace will have posterity
  4. Psalm 37:38 Or posterity
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source: BibleGateway

ESV

23 The (A)steps of a man are (B)established by the Lord,
    when he delights in his way;
24 (C)though he fall, he shall not be cast headlong,
    for the Lord (D)upholds his hand.

25 I have been young, and now am old,
    yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken
    or his children (E)begging for bread.
26 He is ever (F)lending generously,
    and his children become a blessing.

27 (G)Turn away from evil and do good;
    so shall you (H)dwell forever.
28 For the Lord (I)loves justice;
    he will not forsake his (J)saints.
They are preserved forever,
    but the children of the wicked shall be (K)cut off.
29 The righteous shall inherit the land
    and (L)dwell upon it forever.

30 The mouth of the righteous utters wisdom,
    and his tongue speaks justice.
31 (M)The law of his God is in his heart;
    his (N)steps do not slip.

32 The wicked (O)watches for the righteous
    and seeks to put him to death.
33 The Lord will not (P)abandon him to his power
    or let him (Q)be condemned when he is brought to trial.

34 (R)Wait for the Lord and keep his way,
    and he will exalt you to inherit the land;
    you will look on (S)when the wicked are cut off.

35 (T)I have seen a wicked, ruthless man,
    spreading himself like (U)a green laurel tree.[a]
36 But he passed away,[b] and behold, (V)he was no more;
    though I sought him, he could not be found.

37 Mark the blameless and behold the upright,
    for there is a future for the man of (W)peace.
38 But (X)transgressors shall be altogether destroyed;
    the future of the wicked (Y)shall be cut off.

39 (Z)The salvation of the righteous is from the Lord;
    he is their stronghold in (AA)the time of trouble.
40 The Lord helps them and (AB)delivers them;
    (AC)he delivers them from the wicked and saves them,
    because they (AD)take refuge in him.

Read full chapter
Footnotes
  1. Psalm 37:35 The identity of this tree is uncertain
  2. Psalm 37:36 Or But one passed by
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Source: BibleGateway

1. I have never seen the righteous forsaken (23-33)

David was old when he wrote this Psalm. He saw that the LORD was faithful to his own. He provided everything for them materially and spiritually, including upholding those who stumbled. The LORD never forsakes the one who turns to him and seeks to be just and righteous. The wicked always seek to destroy the righteous, but the LORD does not leave his own or forsake his faithful ones.

2. Hope in the LORD and keep his way (34-4

)

David proclaimed hope in the LORD. He knew the LORD would reward those who put their hope in him with eternal salvation; they would inherit the kingdom of God as their blessing. What we see in this world so often is the wicked prospering at the expense of God's people. We learn to see the LORD in the time of trouble. There he is revealed as our salvation and deliverance when we take refuge in him.

Prayer: LORD, thank you for your faithfulness to save and deliver me. Help me to put my hope in you and be a testimony of your power to save.

One Word: Have hope in the LORD's faithfulness