Psalms 37:24

Observe, God orders the steps of a good man; not only his way in general, by his written word, but his particular steps, by the whispers of conscience, saying, This is the way, walk in it. He does not always show him his way at a distance, but leads him step by step, as children are led, and so keeps him in a continual dependence upon his guidance; and this, (1.) Because he delights in his way, and is well pleased with the paths of righteousness wherein he walks. The Lord knows the way of the righteous (Ps. i. 6), knows it with favour, and therefore directs it. (2.) That he may delight in his way. Because God orders his way according to his own will, therefore he delights in it; for, as he loves his own image upon us, so he is well pleased with what we do under his guidance. 3. That God will keep us from being ruined by our falls either into sin or into trouble (v. 24): Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down. (1.) A good man may be overtaken in a fault, but the grace of God shall recover him to repentance, so that he shall not be utterly cast down. Though he may, for a time, lose the joys of God's salvation, yet they shall be restored to him; for God shall uphold him with his hand, uphold him with his free Spirit.

37:21-33 The Lord our God requires that we do justly, and render to all their due. It is a great sin for those that are able, to deny the payment of just debts; it is a great misery not to be able to pay them. He that is truly merciful, will be ever merciful. We must leave our sins; learn to do well, and cleave to it. This is true religion. The blessing of God is the spring, sweetness, and security of all earthly enjoyments. And if we are sure of this, we are sure not to want any thing good for us in this world. By his grace and Holy Spirit, he directs the thoughts, affections, and designs of good men. By his providence he overrules events, so as to make their way plain. He does not always show them his way for a distance, but leads them step by step, as children are led. God will keep them from being ruined by their falls, either into sin or into trouble, though such as fall into sin will be sorely hurt. Few, if any, have known the consistent believer, or his children, reduced to abject, friendless want. God forsakes not his saints in affliction; and in heaven only the righteous shall dwell for ever; that will be their everlasting habitation. A good man may fall into the hands of a messenger of Satan, and be sorely buffeted, but God will not leave him in his enemy's hands.

Though he fall,.... Into temptation, and by it into sins, and these very great ones; from a lively and comfortable exercise of grace, and a degree of steadfastness in the doctrine of grace: he shall not be utterly cast down; because he is in the arms of everlasting love, and in the hands of Christ Jesus; is on him as the sure foundation, and is kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation, and so shall not perish, but have everlasting life; for the Lord upholdeth him with his hand; with the right hand of his righteousness, and keeps him from falling finally and totally; see Isaiah 41:10; and See Gill on Psalm 37:17.

Verse 24. - Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down. "The difference," as Hengstenberg observes, "is that between misfortune or loss, and absolute ruin." The good man may be afflicted; he may even fall into some fault ( Galatians 6:1 ) or grievous sin ( 2 Samuel 11:4 ); but so long as "the root of the matter is in him" ( Job 19:28 ), God will not suffer him to be prostrated. For the Lord upholdeth him with his hand ; literally, the Lord supports his hand. If he falls, God (as Luther says) "catches him by the hand, and raises him up again." So David had himself experienced ( 2 Samuel 12:13 ). Psalm 37:24

Though he fall - That is, though he is sometimes disappointed; though he is not always successful; though he may be unfortunate - yet this will not be final ruin. The word here does not refer to his falling into "sin," but into misfortune, disappointment, reverses, calamities. The image is that of a man who is walking along on a journey, but who stumbles, or fails to the earth - a representation of one who is not always successful, but who finds disappointment spring up in his path. He shall not be utterly cast down - The word used here - טול ṭûl - means to "throw down at full length, to prostrate;" then, "to cast out, to throw away." Compare Isaiah 22:17; Jeremiah 16:13; Jeremiah 22:26; Jonah 1:5, Jonah 1:15. Here it means that he would not be "utterly" and "finally" prostrated; he would not fall so that he could not rise again. The calamity would be temporary, and there would be ultimate prosperity. For the Lord upholdeth him with his hand - It is by no power of his own that he is recovered, but it is because, even when he falls, he is held up by an invisible hand. God will not suffer him to sink to utter ruin.

By Jahve (מן, ἀπό, almost equivalent to ὑπό with the passive, as in Job 24:1 ; Ecclesiastes 12:11 , and in a few other passages) are a man's steps made firm, established; not: ordered or directed (lxx, Jerome, κατευθύνεται), which, according to the extant usage of the language, would be הוּכנוּ (passive of הכין, Proverbs 16:9 ; Jeremiah 10:23 ; 2 Chronicles 27:6 ), whereas כּוננוּ, the Pulal of כּונן, is to be understood according to Psalm 40:3 . By גּבר is meant man in an emphatic sense ( Job 38:3 ), and in fact in an ethical sense; compare, on the other hand, the expression of the more general saying, "Man proposes, and God disposes," Proverbs 16:9 ; Proverbs 20:24 ; Jeremiah 10:23 . Psalm 37:23 shows that it is the upright man that is meant in Psalm 37:23 : to the way, i.e., course of life, of such an one God turns with pleasure (יחפּץ pausal change of vowel for יחפּץ): supposing he should fall, whether it be a fall arising from misfortune or from error, or both together, he is not prostrated, but Jahve upholds his hand, affords it a firm point of support or fulcrum (cf. תּמך בּ, Psalm 63:9 , and frequently), so that he can raise himself again, rise up again.

And this he mentions, both as the foundation, and as the proof of the certainty of their future happiness. ## Psalms 37:23 Of a good man, or, of that man , to wit, the righteous or blessed man, expressed Psa_37:21 ,22 . ## Ordered, or directed , or disposed , i.e. so governed as to attain the end and happy issue at which he aims. Or, strengthened , or established , so as he shall not stumble nor fall into mischief; for still he seems to be describing, not their virtue, but their felicity. ## And he delighteth in his way; or, and he favoureth his way , i.e. succeeds and prospers his counsels and enterprises. ## Psalms 37:24 Fall; either, 1. Into sin, as this word is used, Jer_8:4 1Co_10:12; or rather, 2. Into distress or trouble, as Mic_7:8. ## Not be utterly cast down, i.e. not totally nor irrecoverably ruined. Psalms 37:25 This assertion seems to be contradicted by many experiences; nor can it be denied, that both good men and their children have sometimes been reduced to great want. ## Quest. How then is this true? Answ. 1. Some render the last clause thus, nor (did I ever see) ## his seed, ( to wit, forsaken, as was now said,) though ## begging bread. So the sense is, I have seen him brought to beggary, yet even then God did not forsake him. But this sense agrees not with the context nor scope, which is to show the plenty and prosperity where with God blesseth him. 2.

But, 3. The third proposition is this, That a sincere Christian may enjoy the presence of the Lord in great troubles, deep distresses, and most deadly dangers, supporting and upholding of him—when he has not the presence of God quickening, comforting, and joying of him. Psalms 119:117: Psalms 37:24, "Though he falls, he shall not be utterly cast down; for the Lord upholds him with his hand," "upholding with his hand." There is not one moment wherein the Lord does not uphold his people by the hand. The root word signifies to sustain and bear up, as the tender mother does the little child, the weak child, the sick child. God's hand is still under his people, so that they can never fall below supporting grace. Psalms 63:8, "Your right hand upholds me;" or, "Your right hand underprops me." God never did, nor never will, lack a hand to uphold, a hand to underprop his poor people in their greatest troubles and deepest distresses. Though the saints have not always the comforting presence of God in their afflictions—yet they have always the supporting presence of God in their afflictions. Christ in his bitter and bloody agony had much of the supporting presence of his Father, when he had none of the comforting presence of his Father with him. Matthew 27:46, "My God, my God," etc. Just so, the saints in their deep distresses have many times much of the supporting presence of God