“Our steps are made firm by the LORD, when he delights in our way; though we stumble, we shall not fall headlong, for the LORD holds us by the hand. I have been young, and now am old, yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken or their children begging bread. They are ever giving liberally and lending, and their children become a blessing.” (Psalm 37:23-26 NRS)
When reading this passage, many people stumble across it and interpret it in haste. How many of us bring delight to the Lord with our attitudes, behaviors, and lifestyles? Yet, the promise of stability and safety is to those whose “way” delights God. He is not capricious! His is a “whosoever will” plan. God told Cain, “If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin is lurking at the door; its desire is for you, but you must master it” (Gen. 4:7). And Jesus said, “For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life” (John 3:16).
So then, note that David’s point is not about our delighting the Lord as much as about the Lord holding our hands. We delight the Lord when we take hold of his hand. We delight the Lord when we trust him. We delight the Lord when our way brings glory to his name. And as we continually delight him, his hand supports us and keeps us from falling headlong in failure.
David is convinced that as long as he can remember, he has never seen those who delight the Lord (the righteous) ever forsaken by the Lord. David can not remember any righteous person’s children ever missing a meal because of the Lord’s failure to supply the need. Yet, do not consider this a promise from God. Rather, it is David’s personal observance that blessings result when one brings delight to the Lord. In this New Year, focus on bringing delight to the Lord, and the Lord will focus on holding us by the hand.
In addition, those who delight the Lord, and are not forsaken by him, also give liberally. They live by the biblical principle: “Freely you have received, so freely give” (Mt. 10:8 KJV). Those who trust the Lord to support them do not have to hoard their material wealth. God will not desert us, but graciously protect us in our difficulties and needs. A further blessing from the Lord is that their children will also bless others. The righteous example lived before children will be seen in the children’s lives.
Dear Father, thank you for holding our hands. Empower us with endurance and enable us to daily bring delight to you. This I pray in the name of Jesus. AMEN
Be encouraged today as you delight the Lord,