Psalms 37:26

"I have been young, and now am old, yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his children begging for bread."

Key Reflection

In Psalms 37:26, David reflects on a long life, observing that the righteous are consistently blessed and their descendants fare well. This verse underscores the idea that those who maintain righteousness do not suffer dire consequences in this life; rather, they experience God's provision for themselves and their families. The cultural context of first-century Palestine highlights how such divine provision was often seen as a mark of divine favor, making David’s statement particularly compelling to his audience.

From the Scholars: Barnes' Notes

He is ever merciful -Margin, as in Hebrew, “all the day.” That is, it is his character; he is constantly in the habit of showing kindness. He does not do it at intervals, or only occasionally, but it is this that marks the character of the man. He is known by this. The word “merciful” here means kind, compassionate, benignant - and particularly in this respect, that he is willing to “lend” to others when he has the means. And lendeth -The wicked man “borrows,” but does not pay againPsalms 37:21; the righteous man “lends” to his neighbor. And his seed is blessed -His children; his posterity, as the result of this conduct on his part.

More from Psalms 37

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