“A little while, and the wicked will be no more;
    though you look for them, they will not be found.
But the meek will inherit the land
    and enjoy peace and prosperity” — Psalm 37:10-11

In honour of my father, Rabbi Yechiel Eckstein, and his lifework helping Christians understand the Jewish roots of their faith, I offer you one of his devotional teachings from the beloved Psalms.

While Psalm 37 is on the lengthy side, it has one simple message: Evil doesn’t pay. Sin doesn’t pay, but righteousness does. Over and over, in different forms, the verses in this psalm let us know that while we may be tempted to believe that the wicked prosper, we must hold on to the truth that only the righteous will ultimately enjoy true reward. While the world is filled with images and stories that suggest the opposite, David warned us not to be fooled. In the long run, yes, the good guy wins.

Our Jewish sages explain that the reason this psalm is so long for just one concept is because we need constant reinforcement of this idea. It’s so easy to lose clarity, so tough at times to cling to the truth. It’s a test of faith, trust, and endurance. It may take time, but justice will be served.

I love how David expressed this idea in verses 10-11. He wrote, “A little while, and the wicked will be no more… But the meek will inherit the land and enjoy peace and prosperity.” The key phrase here is, “A little while…” We can all grasp God’s truth for a moment, but the true test is to hold onto it throughout our lives. We need to hold on a little while longer and then a little bit more until we see God’s promises fulfilled.

Sometimes, we feel like giving up and giving in. What good is faithfulness? What good is being meek? Evil seems to prosper, and for all of our good deeds, we might have little to show. But David comes along and encourages us, “Hold on just a little bit longer; peace, joy, and prosperity are on their way!”

I once came across the following observation. Water boils at 212 degrees Fahrenheit. At 211 degrees, water is just hot; it takes that one degree extra to cause it to boil. When water boils, it creates steam, and enough steam can power a train!

What’s the lesson? That extra bit of perseverance can be the difference between victory and defeat. So don’t give up and don’t give in. Our God is a good God, an almighty God, Who will make good on His promises.

Today, see if you can muster an extra bit of faith. See if you can find an extra bit of energy to help someone out. Keep walking in the path of righteousness, and before long, “a little while” will have passed, and salvation will be ours.

Your turn:  Surrender to God through prayer by telling Him your worries and trusting Him to take care of them as only He can.