righteous.—The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord, and He delighteth in his way: though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down, for the Lord upholdeth him with His hand.—I have seen the wicked in great power, and spreading himself like a green bay-tree: yet he passed away, and lo, he was not; yea, I sought him, but he could not be found.—Mark the perfect man, and behold the upright, for the end of that man is peace.—The salvation of the righteous is of the Lord: He is their strength in the time of trouble. And the Lord shall help them and dellver them: He shall deliver them from the wicked, and save them, because they trust in Him."[1]
Here are the promises: here are assurances, sufficient to set the good man's heart at rest; sufficient, too, to put the bad man into a state of fear and trembling. It is here shown, that, as we often see in the world, the unprincipled man may go on in a flourishing manner, for a time—may seem to be attaining all his ends, and accomplishing all his wishes: but "the Lord shall laugh at him; for He seeth that his day is coming." This strong language is used to express the powerlessness of those who think to carry on their wicked plans to success, and to thwart the Divine will: as well may a rush-light blaze up against the sun. Providence permits them to go on for a time,—all the while secretly, turning their evil plans into the very opposite of what they intend; and when they have been suffered long enough, and can no longer be made instruments of service—down they go into the very pit which they dug for others: "in the net which they hid is their own foot taken."[2]
