IIT UBF - University Bible Fellowship at IIT

Daily Bread

Hope in the Lord

Date: May. 11, 2021

Passage

Psalm 37:23-40

23   The steps of a man are established by the LORD,
    when he delights in his way;
24   though he fall, he shall not be cast headlong,
    for the LORD upholds his hand.
25   I have been young, and now am old,
    yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken
    or his children begging for bread.
26   He is ever lending generously,
    and his children become a blessing.
27   Turn away from evil and do good;
    so shall you dwell forever.
28   For the LORD loves justice;
    he will not forsake his saints.
  They are preserved forever,
    but the children of the wicked shall be cut off.
29   The righteous shall inherit the land
    and dwell upon it forever.
30   The mouth of the righteous utters wisdom,
    and his tongue speaks justice.
31   The law of his God is in his heart;
    his steps do not slip.
32   The wicked watches for the righteous
    and seeks to put him to death.
33   The LORD will not abandon him to his power
    or let him be condemned when he is brought to trial.
34   Wait for the LORD and keep his way,
    and he will exalt you to inherit the land;
    you will look on when the wicked are cut off.
35   I have seen a wicked, ruthless man,
    spreading himself like a green laurel tree.
36   But he passed away, and behold, he was no more;
    though I sought him, he could not be found.
37   Mark the blameless and behold the upright,
    for there is a future for the man of peace.
38   But transgressors shall be altogether destroyed;
    the future of the wicked shall be cut off.
39   The salvation of the righteous is from the LORD;
    he is their stronghold in the time of trouble.
40   The LORD helps them and delivers them;
    he delivers them from the wicked and saves them,
    because they take refuge in him.

Daily Bread

Key Verse: Psalm 37:34

Wait for the LORD and keep his way,
and he will exalt you to inherit the land;
you will look on when the wicked are cut off.

1. I have never seen the righteous forsaken (23-33)

David was old when he wrote this Psalm. He saw that the LORD was faithful to his own. He provided everything for them materially and spiritually, including upholding those who stumbled. The LORD never forsakes the one who turns to him and seeks to be just and righteous. The wicked always seek to destroy the righteous, but the LORD does not leave his own or forsake his faithful ones.

2. Hope in the LORD and keep his way (34-40)

David proclaimed hope in the LORD. He knew the LORD would reward those who put their hope in him with eternal salvation; they would inherit the kingdom of God as their blessing. What we see in this world so often is the wicked prospering at the expense of God's people. We learn to see the LORD in the time of trouble. There he is revealed as our salvation and deliverance when we take refuge in him.

Prayer: LORD, thank you for your faithfulness to save and deliver me. Help me to put my hope in you and be a testimony of your power to save.

One Word: Have hope in the LORD's faithfulness

Daily Bread

We Are Your Sheep, Lord

Psalm 79:1-13

Key Verse: 79:13

But we your people, the sheep of your pasture,
will give thanks to you forever;
from generation to generation we will recount your praise.

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