The God Who Comes Through (Psalm 37)

One of the more challenging aspects of being a Christian, for me, is overcoming the self-inflicted pressure of doing it right. There are many days where I’ll look at a piece I’ve put together and feel anxious about content or the result of it. There are days in which I genuinely worry that something I write might be flat out wrong or misleading, and that punishment is incoming—which is very possible; but I came across this Psalm and it’s stuck to me as a reminder that before I’m a writer, a creator, a leader, a student, or anything else, I’m a child of God. And He doesn’t intend on leaving me, nor does He intend to leave you. No matter how far you feel from Him, He’s the God who comes through.

In my Bible (the ESV translation), this chapter of Psalms is entitled "He Will Not Forsake His Saints". This is a concept that I believe to be very important to hang onto and know in our hearts. That word "forsake" has a very simple meaning: to abandon; so we could just as easily read that title as "He Will Not Abandon His Saints". If nothing else, this is a truth to grasp to tightly as though our lives depend on it; in its many parts, this entry will offer some practical ways to remember the Lord and to conduct ourselves properly while doing so—things that the Bible teaches, things that I'm working on myself.

There are many commands and suggestions that King David offers throughout the psalm as a good starting place: "fret not", "trust in the Lord", "delight yourself in the Lord", "commit your way to the Lord, trust in Him", "be still before the Lord, and wait patiently for Him", "refrain from anger", "turn away from evil and do good", "wait for the Lord and keep His way", "mark the blameless and behold the upright". Now, as much as I'd love to do a fourteen-part series, it might be better for all of us if the advice were condensed; so this will be a three-part series, each combining a few of the commands. Each released as separate parts of a whole.

1: Delight in the Lord and His Ways

"Delight yourself in the Lord, and He will give you the desires of your heart...The steps of a man are established by the Lord, when He delights in his way." (Psalm 37:4, 23)

There are many promises like these sprinkled throughout this chapter: "He will act" (v. 5), "you shall dwell forever (v. 27), "your steps will not slip (v. 31), "He will exalt you to inherit the land" (v. 34). It's made evident that God desires to be with us and to provide for us, both needs and wants, but there's an important prerequisite: things have to be done His way. And an easy way to do things His way is to see the good in them, and to enjoy them. This isn't only good for us to get things, though—God isn't a genie, after all—but it's also necessary for our relationship with God (Jesus seems to imply as much in John 15:1-11). How much easier is it to be in relationship with someone when you take joy in them?

The idea that joy is important in our walks of faith and in relationship with Christ appears all throughout Scripture; it's often commanded of us and wished upon us:

"Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer." (Romans 12:12)

"May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope." (Romans 15:13)

"Rejoice in the Lord always; again I say rejoice." (Philippians 4:4)

"Count it all joy, my brothers and sisters, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing." (James 1:2-4)

"These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full." (John 15:11)

This is all great, but how exactly does one find joy in the Lord and His ways, that they may partake in all of this? I've found that a heart of gratitude does wonders here. I find it important, first and foremost, to acknowledge what we usually go to for a filling of joy. If we're aware of them, these hobbies and activities can be great vehicles for rejoicing in the Lord.

For example: I love to play basketball—I have my whole life—but it had always held a more prominent place in my life than God did—I'd put my identity in basketball. Once I stepped into faith for myself in college, I'd stopped playing basketball because I didn't want anything competing with God. That change was certainly necessary for me at the time, but after a few months, I'd felt a desire to get back on the court. So I went to a gym nearby and I was astonished at what had happened: I was playing the best basketball of my life, even after taking a few months off.

The shift happened when basketball became something to be grateful for rather than something I needed to fit in somewhere, I had God for that now. There are still moments in which I take myself a bit too seriously on the court; but, in general, I've found that playing basketball or playing other sports with friends or having a moment to get into a good book or to watch a good movie—again, whatever it looks like for you—has provided for me another way to rejoice in the Lord and in the gifts He's given me to enjoy. When I've taken a moment to thank the Lord in advance for the moments of joy that come about on the court, I've enjoyed myself more than when I'd step on with the sole intention of playing well to feel better (that, for me, is no different than placing identity in the wrong place).

There will times when the Lord asks us to give something up—sometimes, it might just be taken, as it was for Job. When God takes things from us, it's easy to feel as though we're being punished or that He's leaving us stranded, but what it really is is an opportunity for us to turn our focus back to Him. If you're feeling stranded by God, I'd encourage you to take a moment to be grateful for what you do have—that alone will do great things for you and your relationship with God. And if nothing else, be grateful that you serve a God who desires to be close with you and to provide for you. In doing so, you might not be surprised to find that, at the end of the day, He's the God who comes through.

2: Be Patient, Trust in the Lord

He comes through regardless of our own plans, schedules, and assumptions. As a matter of fact, it's when we begin to humble ourselves, release control, and place our full trust in Him that He begins to move in our lives:

"Commit your way to the Lord, trust in Him and He will act. (Psalm 37:5)

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make straight your paths. (Proverbs 3:5-6)

"The plans of the heart belong to man, but the answer of the tongue is from the Lord. All the ways of a man are pure in his own eyes, but the Lord weighs the spirit. Commit your work to the Lord and, your plans will be established." (Proverbs 16:1-3)

Many of us would say that we trust the Lord, and that we're patient, but our thoughts and actions might not line up with the words; many of us will allow moments of doubt to interrupt our seasons of faith. What those promises don't say is that we have any control over when or how things happen. We're called to fully give and commit ourselves and our plans to the Lord. This commitment is one of the heart, not the tongue; and though we may feel we've given our all to the Lord, some deep examination of our actions may reveal otherwise.

We see a beautiful juxtaposition of fear and faith play out in the reign of Saul, and the season before David's, in 1 Samuel. The initial moment of sin in this story comes at the hand of the people of Israel. Samuel was a prophet and a judge over Israel in his time—a faithful, respected one, at that—but as he grew old, and as his sons deviated from his ways, the people of Israel grew weary and afraid. This led them to demand that Samuel place a king over them, a request which the Lord called a rejection of His rule, but a request that He granted nonetheless (1 Samuel 8:7, 10:19). Enter Saul.

Saul was a tall, handsome man—the Word says that there were none taller or more handsome—and his father was a man of great wealth. On the outside he looked like a man fit to be king, and when he first encountered Samuel, he was a humble man, aware of his position and of the position of his tribe in the land of Israel (1 Samuel 9:21). His first impression among the people of Israel was also great, as the Lord blessed him to do great signs (1 Samuel 10: 6-7, 10-13)—He had even gone as far as to give Saul "a new heart" (1 Samuel 10:9).

Before he took the role of king, Saul had proven (in speech at least) to be a faithful man of God, giving Him credit for his victory over the Ammonites (1 Samuel 11:13). Before departing, however, Samuel warned the people of Israel that the wellbeing of Saul's reign rested on the nature of their faith (1 Samuel 12). It was very quick, unfortunately, that Saul turned to fear and impatience. Commanded to wait seven days for Samuel's appearance at Gilgal, Saul waited—Samuel's presence was needed for a sacrifice before the Lord. When Samuel didn't show, though, the people began to leave Saul; and at this sight, he lost faith and acted "foolishly," offering a sacrifice he was never meant to offer (1 Samuel 13:8-14). Saul lost his kingdom, in God's eyes, in a week. This act began a pattern of disobedience and fear for Saul which would carry over to his attitude towards his replacement, David.

Saul was a king who the Lord admitted He regretted making king (1 Samuel 15:11)—a strong statement. David, in contrast, is often known as "a man after God's own heart," and this was a pattern developed from his youth. When David steps onto the scene, he wastes no time showing the faith that he has in the Lord in word and action. He first shows up publicly on the battlefield where he famously defeated Goliath using nothing but some stones and a slingshot (1 Samuel 17). Before stepping out to fight the giant, David was offered Saul's battle armor, which he didn't accept "for [he] had not tested it" (1 Samuel 17:39). David went on with slingshot telling Goliath,

“You come to me with a sword and with a spear and with a javelin, but I come to you in the name of the LORD of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. This day the LORD will deliver you into my hand, and I will strike you down and cut off your head. And I will give the dead bodies of the host of the Philistines this day to the birds of the air and to the wild beasts of the earth, that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel, and that all this assembly may know that the LORD saves not with sword and spear. For the battle is the LORD’s, and he will give you into our hand.” (1 Samuel 17:45-47)

He proceeded to commit one of the greatest acts of bravery man could dream of and to be one of the most recognizable names in human history. As a result of David's faithfulness to God, in 2 Samuel 7, the Lord makes a covenant with David (to which he responds with praise and gratitude--more evidence of his heart for God).

Now, David, like the rest of us, was far from perfect, and he was punished as a result; but David never lost faith in God and the Lord never turned back on His promise to David. After losing the first child of an adulterous marriage, the Lord, in His kindness, continued David's line through the second, Solomon; this is the line which would lead to Jesus. We see through the Psalms that David was a man who placed his trust in the Lord, and though he messed up and saw "down days" he never gave up his faith—it's on account of this faith that he was rewarded and remembered.

Moral of the story: God rewards those who seek Him (Hebrews 11:6). The stories of Saul and David are great examples of this, and my prayer is that our own stories would be great examples of this truth as well. We serve a just God. He will not hesitate to discipline those who are in need of it, but He is always faithful (2 Timothy 2:13). We will all go through difficult times and trials, but these are opportunities for us to exercise our faith and patience. No matter what we go through, no matter the plans we make, no matter the apparent silence of the Lord, He's the God who comes through.

3: Don't Compare Yourself to the World

He comes through regardless of what's going on around us. Something I've learned in my years of following Christ is that God is always moving and working for the good of those who love Him (Romans 8:28). This might not always be evident when you look around at the world. One might look and see an assortment of the most deceitful, wicked, and selfish among the healthiest, wealthiest, and most fortunate, while others are found suffering. At the end of the day, though, the trap here is the emphasis on worldly standards. But the Lord and His Kingdom judge (and are judged) on different standards: things that aren't exactly visible or tangible.

"Every way of a man is right in his own sight, but the Lord weighs the heart." (Proverbs 21:2)

"Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God..." (Matthew 5:8)

"I the Lord search the heart and test the mind, to give every man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his deeds." (Jeremiah 17:10)

"[F]or the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart." (1 Samuel 16:7)

The Lord looks at the heart. A person whose heart is committed to God will outlast one whose isn't. It's as simple as that. I'm not sure what you're living through right now—it could be a season of blessings and opportunities or it could a season of lows and devastation—but the purpose of the season (whether seemingly good or bad) is to teach you and grow you. Whatever is happening on the outside is of no use for any of us to focus on, not so intently that it would draw our gaze from God. The temptation to look around is a real one, and its only aim is to distract us what is lasting and true: that Jesus Christ died and rose from death to wash us clean of our sins, and it's through faith in Him that we're granted eternal life. And now we're here with the sole purpose of living this truth out and sharing it with the world. A focus on anything or anyone that draws you further from God is one that isn't necessary to keep around. We have a greater example and a greater hope.

It's natural to fall into this temptation, unfortunately, it's "human." That's why I've written this entry, inspired by Psalm 37. It's a reminder to focus on what's really important when our gaze is turned to other things, and when that turning away creates doubt or distance. Regardless of what seems to be going on around us, there's a God whose sole desire is to be reconciled to His people—you and I, included. And as a way of reaching out to us, this God makes promises; promises that He's been making for thousands of years, and promises that He's kept for just as long—it's in His nature to keep promises (2 Timothy 2:13). So when things are difficult or when it seems that the world is moving on without you, remind yourself of the many promises that He's made, and cling to this one truth: He's the God who comes through.

Be blessed.

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Verses to Look Back On:

Psalm 37*

John 15:1-11*

2 Timothy 2*

Romans 12

Romans 15:1-13

Philippians 4:2-9