Psalms 37:17-32: a reflection

17For the arms of the wicked shall be broken, but the LORD upholds the righteous. 18The LORD knows the days of the perfect. Their inheritance shall be forever. 19They shall not be disappointed in the time of evil. In the days of famine they shall be satisfied. 20But the wicked shall perish. The enemies of the LORD shall be like the beauty of the fields. They will vanish— vanish like smoke. 21The wicked borrow, and don’t pay back, but the righteous give generously. 22For such as are blessed by him shall inherit the land. Those who are cursed by him shall be cut off. 23A man’s steps are established by the LORD. He delights in his way. 24Though he stumble, he shall not fall, for the LORD holds him up with his hand. 25I have been young, and now am old, yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his children begging for bread. 26All day long he deals graciously, and lends. His offspring is blessed. 27Depart from evil, and do good. Live securely forever. 28For the LORD loves justice, and doesn’t forsake his saints. They are preserved forever, but the children of the wicked shall be cut off. 29The righteous shall inherit the land, and live in it forever. 30The mouth of the righteous talks of wisdom. His tongue speaks justice. 31The law of his God is in his heart. None of his steps shall slide. 32The wicked watch the righteous, and seek to kill him.

This psalm gives a quiet assurance about the security of those who belong to God. A person's steps are established by the LORD; though he stumble, he shall not fall headlong, for the LORD holds him up with his hand. The righteous are not promised they will never stumble; they do stumble. But they are promised that they will not fall utterly, be cast down beyond recovery, because the LORD holds them up. Even when they stumble, God's hand upholds them.

Notice the assurance: though he stumble, he shall not fall, for the LORD holds him up. The psalm does not promise a life without stumbling; the righteous stumble, falter, trip. But it promises that they will not fall headlong, cast down beyond recovery, because God's hand holds them up. The stumbling is real, but it is not the end; God's upholding hand keeps the stumbler from falling utterly. Held by God, we may stumble, but we will not be cast down beyond recovery.

That assurance is a comfort, for we do stumble, and can fear that a stumble will be our undoing. We falter in our faith, trip in our walk, stumble in various ways; and we can fear that our stumbling will cast us down beyond recovery. But the psalm promises that though we stumble, we shall not fall headlong, for the LORD holds us up with his hand. God's upholding hand keeps the stumbler from falling utterly. When you stumble, as you will, do not fear that it will be your undoing; the LORD holds you up, and though you stumble, you shall not fall beyond recovery. Your security is not in never stumbling, which you cannot promise, but in the hand of God that holds you up when you do. When you stumble, trust the upholding hand of God; he holds his own, so that though they stumble, they do not fall headlong. Rest not in your own sure-footedness, which fails, but in the hand of God that upholds you, keeping you, even when you stumble, from falling beyond recovery.

Lord, this psalm gives a quiet assurance about the security of those who belong to you: a person's steps are established by the LORD; though he stumble, he shall not fall headlong, for the LORD holds him up with his hand. The righteous are not promised they will never stumble; but they are promised they will not fall utterly, because you hold them up. Show me the assurance: though I stumble, I shall not fall, for you hold me up. You do not promise a life without stumbling; I stumble, falter, trip. But you promise that I will not fall headlong, cast down beyond recovery, because your hand holds me up. The stumbling is real, but it is not the end; your upholding hand keeps me from falling utterly. Give me the comfort of that, for I do stumble, and can fear a stumble will be my undoing. I falter in my faith, trip in my walk, stumble in various ways; and I can fear my stumbling will cast me down beyond recovery. But you promise that though I stumble, I shall not fall headlong, for you hold me up. When I stumble, as I will, keep me from fearing it will be my undoing; you hold me up, and though I stumble, I shall not fall beyond recovery. My security is not in never stumbling, which I cannot promise, but in your hand that holds me up when I do. When I stumble, help me trust your upholding hand, Lord; you hold your own, so that though they stumble, they do not fall headlong. Hold me up when I stumble.