Psalm 37:23-27
‘Such…blessed by Him, shall inherit the Earth…. They that be cursed by Him, shall be cut off. The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord…. Though he falls, he shall not be cast down utterly; for the Lord upholds him…. I have been young, and now am old; yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed…. Do good; and dwell for evermore!’ Psalm 37:22-27.
Calvin comments: “The footsteps of the godly, are ordered by the grace of God…. God favours…His Own…. Whatever they undertake, always has a favourable and happy result…. Because the way of the godly is acceptable to God, He directs their footsteps to a happy outcome…. As God sees that the faithful act conscientiously and do not turn aside from the way which He has appointed — He blesses their efforts….
“‘Though he falls, he shall not be cast down utterly!’…. The miseries of the godly are so tempered with God’s fatherly mercy, that they do not fail under their burdens. And even when they fall, they do not sink into destruction…. We know that if God smites the reprobate, though it be but very slightly, it becomes the cause of their final destruction.” But if “‘a just man falls seven times — he rises up again!’ (Proverbs 24:16)…. The godly are not only subjected to frequent afflictions in this life, but…are visited with daily trails — and yet, are never forsaken by the Lord!…
“‘I have been young; I have also become old!’ The meaning of these words is not in the least doubtful — namely that David, even when he had become an old man, had not seen any of the righteous or any of their children begging for their bread….
“He leads them, by a variety of afflictions, to fix their thoughts in meditation upon the heavenly life…. An abundance of earthly blessings, sufficient for the supply of all their wants, is promised to the godly. This, however, is always to be understood…that God will bestow these blessings only in so far as He shall consider it expedient….
“They should lift up their minds on high, to that blessed state in which God will largely recompense them for all that is now wanting in the blessings of this transitory life…. We are however certain of this, that God makes such provision for His Own people that, being contented with their lot, they are never in want….
“God’s blessing does not terminate with the death of the righteous…. It extends even to his children…. There is…no inheritance more certain to which our children may succeed us than when God, receiving them in like manner into His fatherly favour, makes them partakers of His blessing….
“‘Depart from evil, and do good!’… If the meek possess the Earth, then everyone…ought also to endeavour to walk uprightly…. Daily experience shows us that the children of God do not as yet inherit the Earth. Yet…we feel how efficacious the blessing of God is — which, like a spring that cannot be drained, flows continually…. The righteous have at present this reward!” For God upholds good men, and is merciful to their descendants. And to you?
