God is faithful yesterday, today, and forever

God promises several times in the Bible that He will reward those who love Him and cast down those who practice evil.

Psalm 37 reassures us that God's timing often seems slow, yet He always fulfills His promises. David claims, "But the meek shall inherit the land, and delight themselves in abundant prosperity." The "meek" refer to the righteous; by choosing this word, the psalmist creates a foil between the righteous and the unrighteous. In the Bible, unrighteous people are almost always characterized by arrogance, the opposite of meekness.

Though arrogant people seem to prosper for awhile, there shall come a time when the tables turn, and those taken advantage of by the wicked will rule the world in peace. The theme of reversal from evil to good is found in Psalm 73 and many times elsewhere in the Bible. Though the psalmist may not see the results of God's promise yet, he remains faithful and transcends frustration by considering the situation from God's perspective. Life experience also contributes to his confidence in God's promise:

"I have been young, and now am old, yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken or their children begging bread."

The contrast between young and old suggests the wisdom of a long life; the psalmist has lived long enough to witness how events develop over time, and he has seen that God cares for the righteous. He assures those who seek to do good that God will take care of them and their children. Even if they are not as wealthy as the wicked, God will provide for their basic needs. For Christians, true wealth is spiritual rather than physical.