Homilist Psalm 37:16-20 A little that a righteous man has is better than the riches of many wicked.… I. THE GOOD IN COMPARATIVE POVERTY ARE BETTER OFF THAN THE WICKED WITH PLENTY, "A little that a righteous man hath is better than the riches of many wicked." Better for two reasons. 1. His condition would be a more enjoyable one. He would have higher happiness, tits happiness would spring from within, that of the other from without. The happiness of the one selfish, the other generous; the one decreasing, the other heightening. 2. His condition would be a more honourable one. The one is honoured for what he has, the other for what he is. The one is honoured only here by the depraved, the other is honoured yonder by angels and by God. II. THE GOOD ARE DIVINELY SUPPORTED, BUT THE WICKED SHALL LOSE THEIR POWER, "The arms of the wicked shall be broken; but the Lord upholdeth the righteous." 1. The power of the wicked to execute their purpose is to be destroyed. They have often a great deal of power, the arm of literature, commerce, law, war, and with these they work out their iniquitous plans; but the "arms" are not imperishable. 2. The power of the good to prosecute their mission will he Divinely sustained. (1) The power to do good is Divine. (2) Divine power is indestructible. "If God be for us, who can be against us?" III. THE GOOD SHALL HAVE A PERMANENT INHERITANCE, BUT RUIN IS THE DOOM OF THE WICKED. "The Lord knoweth the days of the upright, and their inheritance shall be for ever." What is the "inheritance" of the righteous? The Lord Himself. "The Lord is my portion." 1. This "inheritance" will preclude all disappointment. "They shall not be ashamed in the evil time." Whatever comes, whatever the wrecks of life, and the riot of confusion, with this "inheritance" there will he calm courage. "I am persuaded that neither life nor death," etc. 2. This "inheritance" will yield satisfaction under the most unfavourable circumstances. (Homilist.) Parallel Verses KJV: A little that a righteous man hath is better than the riches of many wicked.WEB: Better is a little that the righteous has, than the abundance of many wicked. |
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