“I have been young, and now am old, yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken or his children begging for bread. He is ever lending generously, and his children become a blessing.” -Psalm 37:25–26
In a rather touching testimony, David shares insight from his own experience. In the course of his life, from youth to old age, it has been his observation that the righteous have never been forsaken and their children have never had to beg bread because our God is generous. That the righteous man’s children become a blessing is the icing on the cake, as they say. Blessing, in ancient days, was often described as having a fruitful womb and fruitful fields.
There is a way in which children do not become a blessing, unfortunately. Solomon tells us, “There are those who curse their fathers and do not bless their mothers. There are those who are clean in their own eyes but are not washed of their filth. There are those—how lofty are their eyes, how high their eyelids lift! There are those whose teeth are swords, whose fangs are knives, to devour the poor from off the earth, the needy from among mankind.” -Proverbs 30:11–14
But these are not the children of the righteous.
“The righteous who walks in his integrity— blessed are his children after him!” -Proverbs 20:7
“His soul shall abide in well-being, and his offspring shall inherit the land.” -Psalm 25:13
For certain, this is not a promise there will never be lean times, hardships, or persecution, but in all those things, the righteous will continue to prosper in the Lord: “…as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, yet possessing everything.” -2 Corinthians 6:10
Paul testifies, “I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need.” -Philippians 4:12
This is the Lord’s doing.