Closer Day 10 | Psalm 37:12-20
Read: Psalm 37:12-20
12 The wicked plots against the righteous
and gnashes his teeth at him,
13 but the Lord laughs at the wicked,
for he sees that his day is coming.
14 The wicked draw the sword and bend their bows
to bring down the poor and needy,
to slay those whose way is upright;
15 their sword shall enter their own heart,
and their bows shall be broken.
16 Better is the little that the righteous has
than the abundance of many wicked.
17 For the arms of the wicked shall be broken,
but the Lord upholds the righteous.
18 The Lord knows the days of the blameless,
and their heritage will remain forever;
19 they are not put to shame in evil times;
in the days of famine they have abundance.
20 But the wicked will perish;
the enemies of the Lord are like the glory of the pastures;
they vanish—like smoke they vanish away.
Reflect:
Continuing on in Psalm 37, David writes proverb-like sayings that describe the reality of the wicked and the righteous and how the Lord responds to each of these groups of people.
We read how the wicked “plot against the righteous and gnashes his teeth at him” and how they “draw the sword and bend their bows to bring down the poor and needy, to slay those whose way is upright.” These are terrifying actions of the wicked against the righteous, yet the righteous, the people of God, have no reason to worry about the occasional success of the wicked. There is a day of judgment coming. The wicked can do their worst to God’s people in this life, but God is not threatened by them. He even “laughs at the wicked, for he sees his day is coming.” God knows. His plan is being carried out.
You see, fear, worry, and anxiety about the evil in this world are unwarranted. We have the promises of God in the Bible that He protects, upholds, and provides for His people. The success, fame, and prosperity of the wicked are as temporary as vapor. It never has any real substance and soon vanishes away.
As the people of God, we are in relationships, jobs, communities, and circumstances where we are in the midst of evil and sin. Even as the wicked appear to prosper, as David instructs, we should not abandon hope, as our hope is in the Lord. There’s a beauty that is found in being content in how the Lord provides. While it seems as if the wicked receive the rewards, theirs is only temporary. Believer, the reward of the righteous is eternal. This life is fleeting. With the perspective of eternity, we can be confident and content right here, right now.
Prayer:
Father, help me to maintain confidence and trust in You. Give me the right perspective when it appears that evil is winning and prospering all around me. It is temporary, and You are eternal. Help me to fix my eyes on You and to rest in Your promises.
This devotional is part of our Closer: 21 Days of Prayer and Fasting. Our hope is that this will assist you in focusing your heart each day. To learn more or to get caught up, click here.