“The LORD upholds the righteous” Psalm 37:6, 16, 17, 25, 29
INTRODUCTION
1. Two Groups of people are highlighted in Psalm 37
a) The Upright
b) The Wicked
2. The Psalmist sought to outline the characteristics of both Groups
3. He also sought to offer a Contrast between the Two Groups
4. It is also correct to say that there was a Third Party
That was the LORD Himself
REFERENCES TO THE LORD IN PSALM 37
1. Trust in the LORD, and do good;
Dwell in the land, and feed on His faithfulness. Psalm 37:3
2. Delight yourself also in the LORD,
And He shall give you the desires of your heart. Psalm 37:4
3. Commit your way to the LORD,
Trust also in Him,
And He shall bring it to pass. Psalm 37:5
4. He shall bring forth your righteousness as the light,
And your justice as the noonday. Psalm 37:6
5. Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for Him; Psalm 37:7
6. For evildoers shall be cut off;
But those who wait on the LORD,
They shall inherit the earth. Psalm 37:9
7. The Lord laughs at him,
For He sees that his day is coming. Psalm 37:13
8. For the arms of the wicked shall be broken,
But the LORD upholds the righteous. Psalm 37:17
9. The LORD knows the days of the upright,
And their inheritance shall be forever. Psalm 37:18
10. But the wicked shall perish;
And the enemies of the LORD,
Like the splendor of the meadows, shall vanish.
Into smoke they shall vanish away. Psalm 37:20
11. The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD,
And He delights in his way. Psalm 37:23
12. Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down;
For the LORD upholds him with His hand. Psalm 37:24
13. For the LORD loves justice,
And does not forsake His saints;
They are preserved forever,
But the descendants of the wicked shall be cut off. Psalm 37:28
14. The law of his God is in his heart;
None of his steps shall slide. Psalm 37:31
15. The LORD will not leave him in his hand,
Nor condemn him when he is judged. Psalm 37:33
16. Wait on the LORD,
And keep His way,
And He shall exalt you to inherit the land;
When the wicked are cut off, you shall see it. Psalm 37:34
17. But the salvation of the righteous is from the LORD;
He is their strength in the time of trouble. Psalm 37:39
18. And the LORD shall help them and deliver them;
He shall deliver them from the wicked,
And save them,
Because they trust in Him. Psalm 37:40
THE LORD AND THE WICKED
1. What He will do against the Wicked
a) They will be cut off Psalm 37:34
b) He will laugh at them
The Lord laughs at him,
For He sees that his day is coming Psalm 37:13
c) He breaks the power of the wicked
For the arms of the wicked shall be broken Psalm 37:17
d) He will cause the wicked to perish
But the wicked shall perish Psalm 37: 20
2. The Road of the Wicked
a) A hard road
b) Resisted by the Lord
c) Wickedness must be abandoned
THE LORD AND THE UPRIGHT
1. God will provide for the Upright
a) And He shall give you the desires of your heart Psalm 37:4
b) They shall inherit the earth Psalm 37:9
2. God will protect the Righteous
a) But the LORD upholds the righteous. Psalm 37:17, 24
b) And does not forsake His saints;
They are preserved forever Psalm 37:28
c) The LORD will not leave him in his hand,
Nor condemn him when he is judged Psalm 37:33
d) And the LORD shall help them and deliver them;
He shall deliver them from the wicked,
And save them,
Because they trust in Him. Psalm 37:40
3. God will exalt the righteous
a) He shall bring forth your righteousness as the light,
And your justice as the noonday. Psalm 37:6
b) And He shall exalt you to inherit the land;
When the wicked are cut off, you shall see it. Psalm 37:34
CONCLUSION
1. Let us be challenged to draw closer to the LORD
a) Trust in the LORD Psalm 37:1
b) Delight in the LORD Psalm 37:4
c) Wait on the LORD Psalm 37:7
2. Let us believe that God would
a) Fulfil His promises
b) Hear and answer our prayers
c) Give us the strength we need