Day 11: God Sustains the Righteous | Learning to Trust God More – 21-Day Firm Foundation Devotional from Psalm 37 - February 14
Day 11 — God Sustains the Righteous
Psalm 37:17 (NIV), “For the power of the wicked will be broken, but the Lord upholds the righteous.”
Key Thought: God upholds those who trust Him.
Prayer: Be my strength today.
This verse contrasts the outcome of the wicked with the outcome of the righteous.
“The wicked” are those who are bent on doing evil, at odds with God’s standards, rejecting the fear of the Lord, and actively hostile to the things of God. The word wicked can also carry the idea of self-reliance and pride, which frequently motivate their actions.
The wicked operate outside of the Kingdom of God. They are not sustained or rewarded by Him; rather, any strength they appear to have is ultimately broken. They attempt to operate, maneuver, and manipulate within a fallen system through their own hubris. Their strength is unsustainable.
An analogy would be that of unsupported software. Unsupported software no longer receives assistance or updates from its developer. This eventually results in instability and system failure. Similarly, the wicked operate in a fallen system that leads to brokenness. The wealth of the wicked (Psalm 37:16) and the power associated with it will not last because they are functioning in an unsupported system.
Those who have trusted God for salvation have been made righteous through what He has provided (1 Corinthians 1:30). The righteous have right standing with God and walk in integrity among people. In contrast to the wicked, the righteous lean into God and look to Him for sustaining strength.
The righteous operate in the Kingdom of God which is a system fully supported by God Himself. Their actions are motivated by trust and reliance on His strength and ability. As
Psalm 62:6 declares: “Truly He is my rock and my salvation; He is my fortress, I will not be shaken.”
The righteous are able to stand firmly on the Rock of their salvation and be supported – upheld– by the Lord.
Reflection question: In what area of your life do you need to rely on the sustaining power of the Lord?
The righteous are able to stand firmly on the Rock of their salvation and be supported – upheld– by the Lord.
Reflection question: In what area of your life do you need to rely on the sustaining power of the Lord?
Key insight I gained today:
Today’s action item based on insight:
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