May 23 Daily Devotional

Bible Reading

Psalm 37:23-40:

²³The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD: and he delighteth in his way.
²⁴Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down: for the LORD upholdeth him with his hand.
²⁵I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread.
²⁶He is ever merciful, and lendeth; and his seed is blessed.
²⁷Depart from evil, and do good; and dwell for evermore.
²⁸For the LORD loveth judgment, and forsaketh not his saints; they are preserved for ever: but the seed of the wicked shall be cut off.
²⁹The righteous shall inherit the land, and dwell therein for ever.
³⁰The mouth of the righteous speaketh wisdom, and his tongue talketh of judgment.
³¹The law of his God is in his heart; none of his steps shall slide.
³²The wicked watcheth the righteous, and seeketh to slay him.
³³The LORD will not leave him in his hand, nor condemn him when he is judged.
³⁴Wait on the LORD, and keep his way, and he shall exalt thee to inherit the land: when the wicked are cut off, thou shalt see it.
³⁵I have seen the wicked in great power, and spreading himself like a green bay tree.
³⁶Yet he passed away, and, lo, he was not: yea, I sought him, but he could not be found.
³⁷Mark the perfect man, and behold the upright: for the end of that man is peace.
³⁸But the transgressors shall be destroyed together: the end of the wicked shall be cut off.
³⁹But the salvation of the righteous is of the LORD: he is their strength in the time of trouble.
⁴⁰And the LORD shall help them, and deliver them: he shall deliver them from the wicked, and save them, because they trust in him.

Devotional

"We are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags." "Who can bring a clean thing out of an unclean? not one." There is no perfect man in the sense of being free from sin, or perfectly holy. Yet, the Bible calls men perfect. Thus we read, "Noah was a just man and perfect in his generations, Noah walked with God." We read of Job, that he was a man "per­fect . . . one that feareth God." Of Zacharias and Elisabeth it was said. "And they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless." These God-fearing people were not sinless but confessed their sins. They were sincere and upright before God. The psalmist prays, "Let integrity and uprightness preserve me; for I wait on Thee." Now mark the perfect man, and behold the upright. The man that is perfectly sincere, honest and upright, does not play the hypocrite. He presents himself as he is. He does not try to hide or deny his sin, but confesses it, and receives forgiveness. He does not trust in his own righteousnes, but believes in Christ, who is made unto him "wisdom, righteousness, sanctification and re­demption." "And the work of righteousness shall be peace; and the effect of righteousness quietness and assurance for ever." A man that has this assurance does not have to fear death, though his way leads him through conflict and strife; the end of that man shall be peace.

Prayer

O God, help us to realize that our salvation is of Thee; that Thou art our strength in time of trouble; that Thou art our Helper and Deliverer, and that Thou wilt save us. May we put our whole trust in Thee. O God, we pray remember in mercy those who do not know Thee, the only true God; who are afar off; bring them near, give them a place and a name in Thine house, an everlasting name, that shall not be cut off. May they serve Thee in righteousness and true holiness. For Jesus' sake. Amen.

---

Scripture in Devotional: Isa. 64:6; Job 14:4; Gen. 6:9; Job 1:1; Luke 1:6; Ps. 25:21; 1 Cor. 1:30; Isa. 32:17.

Click here for background on Light and Comfort and the author.