The Psalmist is led by the
Spirit of God to speak concerning the Lord's people in every age. What a
wonderful word he gives. In Psalm 37:19 he says of them, "They shall not be
ashamed in the evil time: and in the days of famine they shall be satisfied."
Surely he is speaking concerning the end and judgment of all things which in
many ways might be called the "evil time." But the promise here has to do with
the many evil times which come among me as judgments from the righteous God of
heaven. Famines are surely such and God is said to "break the staff of bread" In
Jeremiah 29 we read, "Thus saith the LORD of hosts; Behold, I will send upon
them the sword, the famine, and the pestilence…" Famine is a lack of bread. But
let us not imagine that the land in which we live has earned God's favor because
we live in a land of bread and plenty. No, a greater famine has been sent upon
us! God spoke of it through the prophet Amos, "Behold, the days come, saith the
Lord GOD, that I will send a famine in the land, not a famine of bread, nor a
thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the LORD: 12And they shall wander
from sea to sea, and from the north even to the east, they shall run to and fro
to seek the word of the LORD, and shall not find it." Most in our land have
plenty of bread and water but they know nothing of that "bread from heaven" who
is Christ the "Bread of Life." They know nothing of His Word which is likened to
bread, bread for the soul. But the Lord God has promised that even in the midst
of such famine of hearing the word of the Lord, His beloved and chosen people
shall be "satisfied." He will give them "shepherds" to feed them the Gospel
bread of Christ crucified. They shall hear His words, be given faith to believe
Him, find peace through the blood of Christ's cross, be satisfied with His
righteousness imputed to them, be comforted in His sovereign purpose and wise
providence and rest in the strength of His hand. They "SHALL" be satisfied. They
will always have enough for any evil time because He has given them Christ and
Christ is ALL! In Him they are freely given all things! The Lord is their
Shepherd and they shall not want! All our satisfaction is in Christ because God
is satisfied in Him. There is a famine all around us and yet God bids us, "Come
and dine" on Christ the Bread.