HE SHALL DELIVER ME

The underlying problem in this psalm is the prosperity of evil men. Such prosperity is shortlived, and meanwhile the righteous are to “trust in the Lord”, v. 3, “delight in the Lord”, v. 4, commit their way to the Lord, v. 5, “rest in the Lord”, v. 7, “wait… for him”, v. 7. At the same time, to be fretful is unnecessary.

In verses 27-40, the whole psalm is summarized. The lots of the wicked and of the righteous are contrasted; righteousness and wickedness are irreconcilable. On the one hand the wicked succeed and prosper; on the other, the righteous are often in distress. The ends, however, are different—for the wicked, destruction; for the righteous, peace, vv. 36, 37. The reason for this is that the Lord is for the righteous and against the wicked, so in this life God manifests His righteousness.

The righteous are to “Depart from evil”, v. 27. As evil includes all that is morally wrong, so good includes all that is morally right, and to “do good” is to act rightly. The Lord loves the doing of justice, v. 28; as a natural result of this He will not forsake the objects of His grace, v. 28. Those whom He once favours, He will never forsake. So certain is this, that David appears to look back upon the future as already past, saying that the saints are preserved for ever. Secure is the realm wherein they dwell; eternity is the measure of their happiness, v. 29.

The righteous are distinguished by the test of character. Their words are wise and just, v. 30. The law of God is in their heart, and that is the foundation on which permanence is built. God’s law, treasured in the heart, regulates all their conduct. Without wavering or variation, they pursue the path of light. Men may condemn them, but God acquits, v. 33. Here, as in 1 Cor. 4. 3, the righteous judgment of God is opposed to the inadequacies of human judgment.

The second thing that the righteous are told to do is to “Wait on the Lord”, v. 34. Despite the prosperity of the wicked, salvation is possessed by the righteous, v. 39. It is a gift of grace; God wills it, He achieves it, and He bestows it. It is a gift without recall, for He calls His saints to heaven, and to heaven they attain.