THE STEPS OF A GOOD MAN- - PSALM 37:3-9, 23-31

THE STEPS OF A GOOD MAN

PSALM 37:3-9, 23-31

Introduction:

What the Psalmist means by “a good man” is one that has trusted Christ as his personal Saviour. The Scriptures declare the outside of Christ, man is not “good.” Psalm 14:3 declares: “They are all gone aside, they are all together become filthy: there is none that doeth good, no, not one.”

Here we find some of the promises made to the “good man” who would serve the Lord faithfully in this life.

I. TRUST IN THE LORD

A. Faith in the Lord brings spiritual life, Acts 16:30-31, “And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved? 31- And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.”

B. Faith in the Lord brings God’s promise, Psalm 37:3, “Trust in the LORD, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed.”

1. The promise land to the Hebrew meant Caanan.

2. To the Gentile believer it means Heaven, John 14:2, “In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.”

II. DELIGHT THYSELF ALSO IN THE LORD

A. The Conditions: Be happy in the Lord, Psalm 37:4, “Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.”

1. In your thoughts, Psalm 94:19, “In the multitude of my thoughts within me thy comforts delight my soul.”

2. In your labor, Psalms 128:2, “For thou shalt eat the labour of thine hands: happy shalt thou be, and it shall be well with thee.”

B. The Promise: “He shall give thee the desires of thine heart.”

1. “Desires” = petitions or request, Philippians 4:9, “But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.”

2. “Of thine heart,”

a. Physical needs are included.

b. Spiritual needs such as love, peace, joy, etc. are the principal consideration here, Galatians 5:22, “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith.”

(1) Love, without love we are just noise, 1 Corinthians 13:1, “Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.”

(2) Love covers a multitude of sin, your and theirs, 1 Peter 4:8, “And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude of sins.”

III. COMMIT THY WAY UNTO THE LORD

A. “Commit thy way,” Hebrew = “Roll thy way upon,” The Portuguese translation says “surrender” or “deliver.” Proverbs 16:3, “Commit by works unto the Lord, and thy thoughts shall be established.”

B. “Way” = direction, path, or journey, 1 Peter 5:7, “Casting all you care upon him; for he careth for you.”

IV. REST IN THE LORD

Psalm 37:7, “Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for him: fret not thyself because of him who prospereth in his way, because of the man who bringeth wicked devices to pass.”

A. “To be silent” = Ecclesiastics 3:7, “A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silent, and a time to speak.” Many times we are talking when we should be listening.

B. “To be still,” Psalm 46:10, “Be still and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth.”

C. “Wait patiently for him,” Isaiah 40:31, “But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.”

1. The STEPS of a good man, Psalm 37:23-25.

b. “Are ordered,” established by the Lord, Psalm 37:31, “The law of his God is in his heart; none of his steps shall slide.” Psalm 44:18, “Our heart is not turned back, neither have our steps declined from thy way.”

c. “He delighteth in his way,” The faithful believer is happy in his service to the Lord. Psalms 112:1, “Praise ye the LORD. Blessed is the man that feareth the LORD, that delighteth greatly in his commandments.”

d. “Though he fall…” Psalm 145:14, “The Lord upholdeth all that fall, and raiseth up all those that be bowed down.”

e. “He shall not be utterly cast down…” (cast off or out). “For the LORD upholdeth him with his hand.”

CONCLUSION

The Lord does not forsake his children. Psalm 37:25, “I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread.”

Psalm 37:28, “For the Lord loveth judgment, and forsaketh not his saints; they are preserved for ever: but the seed of the wicked shall be cut off.”