Closer Day 11 | Psalm 37:21-29
Read: Psalm 21-29
21 The wicked borrows but does not pay back,
but the righteous is generous and gives;
22 for those blessed by the Lord shall inherit the land,
but those cursed by him shall be cut off.
23 The steps of a man are established by the Lord,
when he delights in his way;
24 though he fall, he shall not be cast headlong,
for the Lord upholds his hand.
25 I have been young, and now am old,
yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken
or his children begging for bread.
26 He is ever lending generously,
and his children become a blessing.
27 Turn away from evil and do good;
so shall you dwell forever.
28 For the Lord loves justice;
he will not forsake his saints.
They are preserved forever,
but the children of the wicked shall be cut off.
29 The righteous shall inherit the land
and dwell upon it forever.
Reflect:
David has a perspective of God’s care and provision over time. As an old man (vs. 25), David shares the wisdom and behaviors of the righteous. We see how the wicked and the righteous deal with possessions: the wicked take and don’t give; they are greedy and selfish. The righteous are selfless and give generously. The righteous are merciful. The behaviors of the righteous mirror the “ever lending” generosity of the Lord. And while the wicked shall be cut off, God establishes the steps and upholds the hand of the righteous. David shares how he has “not seen the righteous forsaken or his children begging for bread.” (vs 25) This speaks in personal ways of how God cares and provides. David has seen many things in his lifetime, but in this later-life reflection, it stands out to him that the Lord cares deeply for His people.
What a picture of the care and provision the Lord provides for those who love Him! As believers who are cared for and remembered by God, we can walk in confidence that He knows us, our lives are ordered and ordained by him, and that God takes joy in His people. Regardless of what we face in life, we can truly walk in trust that He loves and cares for us. Out of that God-confidence, we can live lives that are marked by Him: generous, selfless, merciful; reflections of the One who cares for us.
Prayer:
Father, I know that I will face times of challenge and struggle in my life. Help me to be strong in my confidence in Your care and provision for me. Help me to live a life marked by Your love, selfless, generous, and merciful; as an example of You to the world around me.
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.