Psalms

Psalms 37: The LORD upholds the righteous

Begin in prayer

Before we think about people whose wrongdoing seems to succeed, let us ask God to search our envy. Pray that He would bring us to Jesus and teach us to trust His justice while doing good.

The remnant of Israel will not do iniquity, nor speak lies, neither will a deceitful tongue be found in their mouth, for they will feed and lie down, and no one will make them afraid.”

Zephaniah 3:13

Father in heaven, please open our eyes as we read Your Word, and help us to see Christ. Show us that the LORD loves justice and upholds His people, so they may do good while waiting for Him. Make us more like Jesus. And please bless our family as we worship You together. In Jesus' name, Amen.

See where we're going

David teaches people troubled by the prosperity of evildoers to trust the LORD, do good and wait for Him. Wicked success will wither like grass, while those who delight in God and commit their way to Him receive His care. The humble will inherit the land and enjoy peace, while the weapons and power of the wicked turn toward their own ruin. The LORD knows the righteous person's days, supplies need and holds him up when he stumbles. Speaking as an old man, David remembers God's faithfulness and calls for generosity, departure from evil and God's law within the heart. He closes by contrasting the vanished power of the wicked with the future of the man of peace, whose salvation comes from the LORD.

As you read Psalms 37, look for the answers:

Reflect together

Key truth

The LORD loves justice, upholds the righteous, and gives the humble an inheritance while the wicked are cut off.

David addresses the anger and envy that another person's dishonest prosperity can stir, warning that fretting leads into evildoing. Delighting in the LORD shapes the desires entrusted to Him, while committing the way to Him includes waiting for Him to make righteousness known. Inheritance names the land God gave His people, promised here to the humble and echoed in Jesus' promise in Matthew 5 verse 5. Their peace is secure because God sees the wicked person's coming day, breaks his power and turns his weapons against him. The righteous may have little, face famine or stumble, yet the LORD knows their days and upholds them with His hand. David recalls never seeing the righteous forsaken or their children begging bread. His remembered care encourages the generous lending he describes. God blesses the righteous person's offspring, while the wicked person's children will be cut off. The final rescue belongs to those taking refuge in the LORD, whose love of justice gives the man of peace a lasting future.

How does Psalm 37 show us that the LORD loves justice, upholds the righteous, and gives the humble an inheritance while the wicked are cut off?

The LORD calls His people to trust and wait.

Evildoers' prosperity can stir envy and angry fretting. David calls the hearer to delight in God, do good and commit his way to Him. The LORD will make righteousness known, while wicked success withers like grass.

The LORD upholds the humble and judges the wicked.

The humble inherit the land and delight in abundant peace. God breaks the wicked person's power and turns his weapons toward his own ruin. Those upheld by the LORD receive His care even through famine and stumbling.

The LORD gives the righteous a lasting future.

God's care frees the righteous to give and lend generously, while the wicked borrow and do not repay. The law in the heart shapes wise speech and steady steps. The wicked person's future is cut off, while the LORD rescues those who take refuge in Him.

Memorise

But the salvation of the righteous is from Yahweh. He is their stronghold in the time of trouble.

Psalm 37:39

Looking to Jesus in my life

Ask yourself in your heart, whose success is tempting me to envy instead of waiting for Jesus?

David teaches, “Yahweh holds him up with his hand.” The righteous man's stumble cannot cancel the care of the Lord who loves justice. Wicked power may spread like a flourishing tree and still vanish without a future.

Our envy and anger have also led us into sin. Jesus died in His people's place and bore the punishment their guilt deserved. The Father raised Him to life. Their acceptance and lasting inheritance rest on His accomplished rescue, with everything needed supplied by His perfect obedience and atoning death.

Turn from sin and trust Jesus. He forgives everyone who comes to Him for mercy. Bring Him the prosperity you envy and the anger it has stirred. The hand of their risen Saviour upholds believers as they do good and wait for His justice.

Parent's note

Tell your children that the LORD loves justice and upholds His people, so they may do good while waiting for Him. Please do not tell them they are saved just because they grew up in a Christian home. Call each child to turn from sin and trust Jesus, and pray that God would give them a new heart.

Pray together

Now please close your time together in prayer. Thank God for upholding His people and giving the humble a lasting inheritance. Bring the heart question to Him. Every child can pray, so let each one say a short prayer if they want to.

I am the vine. You are the branches. He who remains in me, and I in him, the same bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.

John 15:5

Lord, You see the success that stirs our envy and the anger we hide. Please lead us to trust Jesus and receive mercy for our sins. Teach us to delight in You, lend generously and do good. Uphold Your people when they stumble, and help us wait for Your justice this week. Amen.