Psalm 37:24 - Printer Friendly

ESV: though he fall, he shall not be cast headlong, for the LORD upholds his hand.

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

NASB: When he falls, he will not be hurled down, Because the Lord is the One who holds his hand.

CSB: Though he falls, he will not be overwhelmed, because the Lord supports him with his hand.

NLT: Though they stumble, they will never fall, for the Lord holds them by the hand.

KJV: Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down: for the LORD upholdeth him with his hand.

NKJV: Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down; For the Lord upholds him with His hand.

Every life has its setbacks, but the righteous will not stay down forever. Scripture never guarantees that followers of God will be free from earthly suffering (John 16:33; Psalm 34:19). What the Bible does promise is that any pain experienced by a believer is temporary (Romans 8:28; Revelation 21:4). God's people suffer occasional misfortunes but not utter ruin. They may suffer, but they will not perish like the wicked. The Lord holds the hand of the righteous person, and thereby protects him from disaster.

The phrase "cast headlong" comes from a Hebrew term meaning "throw, cast, hurl, or carry away." The imagery here is of someone tumbling out of control. David's words depict the difference between the "stumbles" of the godly, from which there will be recovery, versus those of the ungodly, which can lead to utter ruin. This is true both in an earthly and eternal sense (2 Corinthians 7:10; 1 John 5:16–18).

The believer's fall is seen, in context, as a material misfortune. Job, for example, experienced a material fall and personal loss. He lost 7,000 sheep, 3,000 camels, 500 yoke of oxen, and 500 female donkeys (Job 1:3, 14–17). He also lost his seven sons and three daughters (Job 1:2, 18–19). Further, he lost his health (Job 2:7–8). But after these trials, Job had a clearer picture of the Lord and himself, and "the LORD blessed the latter days of Job more than his beginning" (Job 42:12). The Lord blessed Job with twice as many sheep, camels, yoke of oxen, and female donkeys as he had before the trials (Job 42:12). He also gave Job more children. "After this Job lived 140 years, and saw his sons, and his sons' sons, four generations. And Job died, an old man, and full of days" (Job 42:16–17). Job's experience foreshadows the eternal promise given to all believers (John 6:40).

In this psalm, David contrasts the way God protects and saves His people, contrasted with the ruin which awaits the wicked. Much of this seems to be based on David's own experiences (Psalm 37:25, 35). As with many other passages in Psalms and Proverbs, this passage encourages godly wisdom. Those who reject God and His ways can expect uncertainty on earth and disaster in eternity.

Psalm 37 lies in the first division of Psalms and addresses mankind. Its tone resembles that of the book of Proverbs. The psalm dispenses wisdom about the security of the righteous man and the insecurity and fate of the wicked man. Psalms 36 and 39 also describe the insecurity and fate of the wicked. The covenant God made with Israel in Leviticus 26 and Deuteronomy 27—30 is the basis for David's assurance that the righteous are secure. The issue of the prosperity of the wicked is also featured in Psalms 49 and 73. David most likely wrote Psalm 37 in his old age.

The book of Psalms is composed of individual songs, hymns, or poems, each of which is a ''Psalm'' in and of itself. These works contain a wide variety of themes. Some Psalms focus on praising and worshipping God. Others cry out in anguish over the pain of life. Still other Psalms look forward to the coming of the Messiah. While some Psalms are related, each has its own historical and biblical context.