Sunday Devotional 26th February, 2023
by Bruce Billington
We are continuing to explore the knowledge of God as expressed in the Psalms. Thi
s week we will continue to explore Psalm 37 – a Psalm of David.
Psalm 37: 23-26
The steps of a man are established by the LORD,
And He delights in his way.
When he falls, he will not be hurled headlong,
Because the LORD is the One who holds his hand.
I have been young and now I am old,
Yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken
Or his descendants begging bread.
All day long he is gracious and lends,
And his descendants are a blessing.
(NKJV)
The person these verses speak of is one who follows God, trusts Him, and makes every effort to do His will. God watches over and makes firm every step that person takes.
We should take great comfort in this statement of truth that comes to us from a loving Father who is totally engaged in our lives and well-being. We are not subject to fate, chance, coincidence, or other people’s intentions for us – our life is nurtured in the ever-loving arms of the Almighty God who delights in our way.
Just as parents or grandparents watch with delight at the actions of their young children, so God watches over us with an even greater measure of joy. All that concerns us is of interest to Him. He delights in being our companion and sharing every aspect of life with us. It is sad for Him as well as us, that so few ever focus on having that sort of relationship with Him – knowing Him as Abba, Father.
V24 tells us that although we may fall and find that the circumstances of our life have brought about trials, tribulations and hardships, our Lord will watch over all these events and make sure that none of them separate us from His love or from His call upon our lives (1 Corinthians 10:13; Romans 8:35-37). We may fall but we won’t be cast down.
We can think of the challenge Abraham faced, bringing his long waited for son to be sacrificed on the altar; or the story of Joseph who was sold into slavery by his brothers and finished up in prison; or Esther approaching the King under the risk of being sentenced to death. Each time we find these stories and so many others in the Bible, we discover that God stepped in at exactly the right time to bring freedom to them and to further glorify His name and His work on earth.
The wonderful truth expressed here, is that the Lord always upholds us with His hand. Abraham gained his son and a strengthened relationship with God; Joseph became the leader of Egypt and saved his whole family during a severe famine; Esther saved her people from a terrible time of persecution and death.
Although it may not seem as dramatic as some of these examples – each believer has his or her own stories of the incredible faithfulness of God and His “sudden appearance,” rescuing them from all sorts of circumstances in their life. Because God is for us, no one can prevail against us.
Verse 25 is compelling. David is at the end of his life, having faced no end of trials and tribulations, some caused from his own unwise and sinful actions. Yet he is makes the statement that he has never seen the righteous forsaken.
Verse 26 adds even further to this by presenting an amazing truth. Although the righteous may not always have a lot, they will always have enough – not only for themselves, but also to be able to give to others. In all circumstances the righteous will have sufficient not only for their own well-being, but also to contribute to the well-being of others. By doing this they bring God’s blessing not only upon themselves but also on their children, who follow in their godly footsteps.
What are we left to do when contemplating all of this but humble ourselves in worship before the Living God?
May God Bless you.
Bruce Billington