"But the salvation of the righteous is of the LORD: he is their strength in the time of trouble."
Psalm 37:39
This beautiful verse is contrasting the Lord’s statement in the verse before it (v. 38). The difference between the “wicked” and the “righteous” is profound.
“But the transgressors shall be destroyed together: the end of the wicked shall be cut off,” (Psalm 37:38).
There is a time coming when lost sinners will perish in God’s judgment. Because of their refusal to trust in Him, He will send them to eternal punishment in Hell (Revelation 20:11-15). David describes this as “the end of the wicked” being “cut off.”
“But the salvation of the righteous is of the LORD:”
On the one hand the wicked will be destroyed while the righteous are saved by Jehovah. We need to understand that our salvation “is of the LORD,” and not something that a man can produce in himself. There are no works that I can do to make me worthy of God’s gift of salvation. A believer is “saved” only because of the gracious act of God to save him. “It is not owing to any power of their own that they are safe but is solely because they are kept by the Lord,”1 (Barnes). “The salvation of the righteous is of the LORD.” Amen!
“He is their strength in the time of trouble.”
Jehovah, the One who provides the “salvation of the righteous” is the one who also gives “strength in the time of trouble.”
“The LORD also will be a refuge for the oppressed, a refuge in times of trouble,” (Psalm 9:9).
“The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower,” (Psalm 18:2).
A Shelter in the Time of Storm2
By Veron J. Charlesworth
1 The Lord’s our Rock; in Him we hide,
A Shelter in the time of storm;
Secure whatever ill betide,
A Shelter in the time of storm.
Refrain:
O Jesus is a Rock in a weary land,
A weary land, a weary land;
O Jesus is a Rock in a weary land –
A Shelter in the time of storm.
2 A Shade by day, Defense by night,
A Shelter in the time of storm;
No fears alarm, no foes affright,
A Shelter in the time of storm. [Refrain]
3 The raging storms may round us beat,
A Shelter in the time of storm;
We’ll never leave our safe retreat,
A Shelter in the time of storm. [Refrain]
4 O Rock Divine, O Refuge dear,
A Shelter in the time of storm;
Be Thou our Helper ever near,
A Shelter in the time of storm. [Refrain]
1. Albert Barnes, Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible, the electronic version in eSword.
2. “A Shelter in the Time of Storm,” Text: Vernon J. Charlesworth (ca. 1880), Tune: Ira Sankey. Copyright, Public Domain.