God's Bountiful Provision

Good Morning!

Another long Psalm to start your day (sigh…)

Psalm 37 (English Standard Version)
He Will Not Forsake His Saints
[a] Of David.
1 Fret not yourself because of evildoers; be not envious of wrongdoers!
2For they will soon fade like the grass and wither like the green herb.

Do you ever find yourself being envious of those people you know are doing wrong but seem to get all the “good stuff”? Come on now – it’s hard not to see folks “thrive” while we struggle to survive. It is only human nature to do so. But God cautions us to not worry about them or to be envious for their reward is so temporary.

3 Trust in the LORD, and do good; dwell in the land and befriend faithfulness.[b]
4 Delight yourself in the LORD, and he will give you the desires of your heart.
5 Commit your way to the LORD; trust in him, and he will act.
6 He will bring forth your righteousness as the light, and your justice as the noonday.

Why should we trust in the Lord when we have so little (by comparison)? Perhaps we are comparing the wrong things. Earthly junk (and that what it ultimately becomes) doesn’t last. Heavenly treasures are for eternity. Our Father in Heaven has promised us that He will take care of us – don’t we believe Him? If we will just enjoy His presence in our lives, we will receive the best things.

7 Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for him; fret not yourself over the one who prospers in his way,
over the man who carries out evil devices!
8 Refrain from anger, and forsake wrath! Fret not yourself; it tends only to evil.
9 For the evildoers shall be cut off, but those who wait for the LORD shall inherit the land.
10In just a little while, the wicked will be no more; though you look carefully at his place, he will not be there.
11But the meek shall inherit the land and delight themselves in abundant peace.

Waiting on God is tough – especially when those who do evil seem to enjoy the spotlight and convince others that being evil is the “right thing to do”. But don’t be discouraged – God has His timetable and will take care of the situation. Remember that “trust” thing…

12The wicked plots against the righteous and gnashes his teeth at him,
13but the Lord laughs at the wicked, for he sees that his day is coming.
14The wicked draw the sword and bend their bows to bring down the poor and needy, to slay those whose way is upright;
15their 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.
17For the arms of the wicked shall be broken, but the LORD upholds the righteous.

Grab ahold (an old Southern term) of that verse 16. What we have may seem to be so small but it is better than the abundance that the wicked have – for theirs is an abundance of woe.

18The LORD knows the days of the blameless, and their heritage will remain forever;
19they are not put to shame in evil times; in the days of famine they have abundance.
20But the wicked will perish; the enemies of the LORD are like the glory of the pastures; they vanish—like smoke they vanish away.
21The wicked borrows but does not pay back, but the righteous is generous and gives;
22for those blessed by the LORD[c] shall inherit the land, but those cursed by him shall be cut off.

These verses remind me of our current economic “miseries”. To be certain, many of you have been negatively impacted by the failing economy – but take courage – God will provide. I know this because I have been through the fire before and KNOW that he is faithful.

23The 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.
25I have been young, and now am old, yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken or his children begging for bread.
26He is ever lending generously, and his children become a blessing.
27 Turn away from evil and do good; so shall you dwell forever.
28For the LORD loves justice; he will not forsake his saints. They are preserved forever, but the children of the wicked shall be cut off.
29The righteous shall inherit the land and dwell upon it forever.

More promises from God for this Good Morning!!! I have known a bunch of believers in my lifespan and I know that the faithful always seem to have what they need to survive. I know some of you who have been through tough times can testify that provision seems to always come at the right time in the right way.

30The mouth of the righteous utters wisdom, and his tongue speaks justice.
31 The law of his God is in his heart; his steps do not slip.
32The wicked watches for the righteous and seeks to put him to death.
33The LORD will not abandon him to his power or let him be condemned when he is brought to trial.
34 Wait for the LORD and keep his way, and he will exalt you to inherit the land; you will look on when the wicked are cut off.
35 I have seen a wicked, ruthless man, spreading himself like a green laurel tree.[d]
36But he passed away,[e] and behold, he was no more; though I sought him, he could not be found.
37Mark the blameless and behold the upright, for there is a future for the man of peace.
38But transgressors shall be altogether destroyed; the future of the wicked shall be cut off.
39 The salvation of the righteous is from the LORD; he is their stronghold in the time of trouble.
40The LORD helps them and delivers them; he delivers them from the wicked and saves them, because they take refuge in him.

Footnotes:
a. Psalm 37:1 This psalm is an acrostic poem, each stanza beginning with the successive letters of the Hebrew alphabet
b. Psalm 37:3 Or and feed on faithfulness, or and find safe pasture
c. Psalm 37:22 Hebrew by him
d. Psalm 37:35 The identity of this tree is uncertain
e. Psalm 37:36 Or But one passed by

And so it is on this good day! God bless each of you.

Agape’

Mr. Jim