SALVATION COMES FROM THE LORD

Passage: Psalm 37:23-40

Key verse: 39

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

The Psalmist clearly contrasts the lifestyles and final outcomes of the righteous and the wicked. The LORD upholds the righteous. He does not forsake them nor their children (25, 28). The righteous are generous and their children are blessed. They speak words of wisdom and justice. God’s law is in the heart of the righteous. When the wicked revolt against the righteous, intent on putting them to death, God will not allow the righteous to be condemned. He protects them. God promises that they will inherit and dwell in the land forever, a promise ultimately fulfilled in the kingdom of heaven. God promises a future of peace.

By contrast, God is against the wicked. They will be completely destroyed (28a, 38a). God rescues his people from the crooked schemes of evil people. The wicked may appear to be flourishing in luxury but they will pass away and be no more. They will not be found. There is no future for the wicked.

Considering the destinies of the righteous and the wicked, we can take heart in the LORD. God alone offers salvation. That salvation comes by faith in Jesus Christ, who took the penalty for our sins on himself through his death and resurrection. Let us turn from evil and hold onto Jesus for salvation. In Jesus, we become righteous (2 Co 5:21).

Prayer: Father, thank you for Jesus who saves us and makes us righteous.

One Word: Jesus, you are my salvation!