PrayerBits for Monday

PrayerBits

A bite sized devotional program
produced by the West Side Presbyterian Church

Monday

Scripture lesson: Psalm 37:23-27 Oh yeah?

Time to reflect: I am old and I HAVE seen the righteous forsaken and their children begging bread (verse 25). Many people do a lot of fast talking to try to cover for this passage. The worst is saying that such people are really not righteous, but are secret scoundrels and getting what they deserve. Which is very harmful, judgmental and bad theology. My way of dealing with this passage is to recognize that the Psalms are prayers TO God by individuals. The writer of this Psalm may actually have been able to truthfully say these words, but this doesn't mean that these words work in every life and situation.

Moving Through The Day: Pray for some suffering people you are aware of – regardless of whether they seem to be righteous or not.

If the LORD delights in a man's way,
       he makes his steps firm;

  though he stumble, he will not fall,
       for the LORD upholds him with his hand.

  I was young and now I am old,
       yet I have never seen the righteous forsaken
       or their children begging bread.

  They are always generous and lend freely;
       their children will be blessed.

  Turn from evil and do good;
       then you will dwell in the land forever.