The Lodestar

The Book of Psalms opens by comparing the nature and the destiny of the righteous and the wicked (Psalm 1). Psalm 37 also maintains the same focus, comparing the lives of the godly and ungodly.

While the ungodly may be better off than the godly at some point, the godly should not fret over their material well-being. “Fret not yourself because of evildoers; be not envious of wrongdoers!” (Psa 37:1). Material well-being is not a measure of a person’s standing with God. It will fade away. “For they will soon fade like the grass and wither like the green herb” (Psa 37:2).

Although they may experience lows at times, the reward for those who lead godly lives is the steady supply of God’s grace throughout their lives, extending to their descendants.

The psalmist argues that his life illustrates this truth: that the Lord’s favour for his people is constant. He is an old man who has observed life over an extended period. He has never seen a person devoted to the Lord “forsaken.” He adds that throughout his life, he has never encountered a godly person whose descendants become so poor as to beg for food.

While the wealth the ungodly have amassed will wither away over time, the Lord’s favour over the godly continues as long as they and their descendants remain faithful to him.

Even when things go wrong for Christ-followers, they should remember that the Lord’s grace is sufficient and steady, turning everything into a blessing in its own time. We can trust the Lord for you and your children.

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