Psalms 37:28 – “For the LORD loveth judgment, and forsaketh not his saints; they are preserved for ever: but the seed of the wicked shall be cut off.”
“Preserved” – a Definition
Noah Webster, in his 1828 Dictionary of American English, defines the transitive verb “preserve” this way – “To save from decay; to keep or defend from corruption.” As long as a fruit is preserved, it cannot perish, spoil, decay, or corrupt.
A Look at the Text
The above text, Psalms 37:28, is not the only instance in scripture where the saints are described as being “preserved,” but it is one of the plainest. As stated previously, the word, “preserve” is a transitive verb. It is an “action word,” and because it is transitive, it has an object. Whenever the word “preserve” is used, there are two parties involved. Someone has to be doing the preserving, and someone or something has to be preserved.
Looking at our text, let us begin by asking the question, “Who or what is being preserved?” The text plainly states, “THEY are preserved for ever.” The word “they” is a pronoun. Can we find in the text the antecedent to which the word “they” refers? Sure we can. The word “they” is clearly defined by looking at the two words immediately preceding it – “His saints.” His saints – that is, the people of God – are preserved forever! The saints are the ones being preserved.
Now, who is doing the preserving? The answer is found in the first part of the verse – “THE LORD loveth judgment, and forsaketh not His saints!” It is the Lord that loves judgment, forsakes not His saints, and preserves those saints forever! It would be a blessing to many Christians if they would realize that it is God who does the preserving of one’s soul. How often the most pious Christians forget that salvation is of the Lord!
Psalms 3:8 – “Salvation belongeth unto the Lord.”
Psalms 37:39 – “But the salvation of the righteous is of the Lord.”
Jonah 2:9 – “Salvation is of the Lord.”
Salvation is the work of God! He does the saving; He does the keeping; He does the preserving! Dear reader, if you would realize that the God who is your salvation is also your keeper, then you would be able to rest in the promise of God. Peter calls upon us to commit the keeping of our souls to HIM (I Peter 4:19). Paul reminds us that whatever we commit to Him, He will most certainly keep it (II Timothy 1:12). Whether or not you believe it, it is true that if you have been kept saved, it has been God’s grip on your hand (not your grip on His) that has kept you. He is One that is doing the preserving; we are the ones being preserved.
Psalms 97:10 – “Ye that love the LORD, hate evil: He preserveth the souls of his saints; he delivereth them out of the hand of the wicked.”
As we continue to look at our text, Psalms 37:28, let us examine another question. How long will we, the saints of God, be preserved? The words of our text are plain. “They are preserved FOR EVER.” This may seem to contradict II Timothy 4:18:
II Timothy 4:18 – “And the Lord shall deliver me from every evil work, and will preserve me UNTO HIS HEAVENLY KINGDOM: to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.”
When Paul speaks here of the “heavenly kingdom” in mind, he no doubt has the millennial kingdom in mind. Paul is speaking of the time when Christ comes the second time to set up His kingdom on this present earth. So, which is it? Are we, the saints of God, preserved until the heavenly kingdom (as stated in II Timothy 4:18), or are we preserved forever (as stated in Psalms 37:28)?
The truth is simple. There is no contradiction. BOTH STATEMENTS ARE TRUE. One statement is no more true than the other. You see, it is a matter of fact that, if the Lord tarries, we will all die. “It is appointed unto men once to die.” It matters not HOW I die, or where I am buried, or the manner of my burial. When Jesus comes for His church, I WILL BE RESURRECTED. My present body will be preserved until that time. At that time, I will receive a new, glorified body; a body like Christ’s. Once I receive my new body, there will be no need to preserve this body any longer. There will be no need to preserve my soul and spirit, as I will be delivered from the presence of sin. So, the body I presently have will be preserved UNTO HIS HEAVENLY KINGDOM, just as Paul stated.
When I receive my new body, it will not be capable of sin, death, decay, or corruption! It will be incorruptible.
I Corinthians 15:53 – “For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.”
Because my new body will not be capable of corruption, it is by definition PRESERVED! Whatever is preserved is incapable of decay or corruption. How long will my new body be preserved? David answers the question clearly – “They are preserved FOR EVER!” So, it is clear. My body, soul, and spirit will be preserved until the coming of the Lord (I Thessalonians 5:23-24). Then, my new body will be preserved FOREVER, as it will be incorruptible (I Corinthians 15:53).
Pictures of Preservation
Concerning the saints, our text declares, “They are preserved for ever.” Having made a feeble attempt to define the word “preserved,” I wish I could paint a picture that illustrates this word. In the scriptures, we have several pictures given to us to describe this tremendous doctrine.
GOD’S WORD IS PRESERVED
Note carefully with me a passage in the book of Psalms, regarding the pure words of God:
Psalms 12:6-7 – “The words of the LORD are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times. Thou shalt keep them, O LORD, thou shalt preserve them from this generation for ever.”
Concerning the words of God, the Psalmist sings to the Lord, “Thou shalt preserve them from this generation for ever.” Every word of God is preserved. Heaven and earth will pass away, but not one word shall perish that proceeds from the mouth of God! Every word of God is for ever settled in heaven! You may refuse to believe it; you may shred its pages from its binding; you may fight its authenticity; you may hate its teaching; you may abhor its truths. But one thing is certain – you’ll never destroy one word of God’s precious book – those words are preserved by God Himself. You will meet the words of God in the Day of Judgment!
Governments have banned the Bible, burned the Bible, banished the Bible, and barred the Bible – but all to no avail. The words of God are not capable of perishing, decaying, or corrupting – “Every word of God is pure!”
Now, I must the reader a question. Do you believe that the words of God are preserved? Or do you believe that it is possible that perhaps God’s word will not last until the Day of Judgment? Do you believe that God Almighty has kept His word from decay or corruption? Yes or no, dear reader – Are God’s word preserved so that they are unable to perish, as Psalms 12:7 clearly states? Every sincere, born-again believer has no choice but to answer with an affirmative.
To every reader that has answered with a resounding “YES” – you should be informed that the Bible uses the same word – “preserved” – to describe those who have been saved by the grace of God. “They are preserved for ever!”
Furthermore, if you have been born again, then you have been born of an INCORRUPTIBLE SEED, according to I Peter 1:23. What is that incorruptible seed that is sown in the heart of every believer? It is none other than the word of God! Listen, dear reader. If you are saved by God’s grace, then you have been born again by a seed that is preserved; by a seed that is not capable of dying. Read it for yourself:
I Peter 1:23 – “Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.”
What rejoicing there should be in the fact that we who are saved are preserved, just as the words of God are preserved. Those very words of God – those preserved words – are the very words that have been planted in our inner man, resulting in our new birth.
THE JEW
Have you ever read about a man named Goliath? Goliath was a Philistine. Who are Philistines? The Philistines, in the Old Testament, were enemies of Israel, God’s chosen people. Today, however, there is no Philistine nation. It is extinct. Gone. Vanished.
The Jews, on the other hand, suffered far more than the Philistines ever dreamed of suffering. Yet, the Jews cannot be destroyed. I’ve got news for Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad – Israel will never be wiped off the map. Never. It is an absolute impossibility. How can I be so sure of this? The nation of Israel is preserved by God Almighty Himself:
Isaiah 31:5 – “As birds flying, so will the LORD of hosts defend Jerusalem; defending also he will deliver it; and passing over he will preserve it.”
There are three facts in this verse regarding Jerusalem – 1) God will defend it; 2) God will deliver it; and 3) God will preserve it. And there is no argument about the preservation of Israel! Israel has been preserved from the time God spoke to Abraham (about 2,700 years ago) until now! They have been the object of persecution, murder, genocide, imprisonment, and death many times over. But they cannot and will not be destroyed, for they are preserved!
Every Bible-believing reader believes that Jerusalem is preserved by God. The same word used to describe the scriptures and the nation of Israel – “preserved” – is the same word used to describe those of us who have been made holy by the blood of Christ – “They are preserved for ever!”
My soul is as “preserved” as the nation of Israel. I am as preserved as the incorruptible word of God. There is no question as to whether or not the Bible teaches this; the only question is whether or not you believe it.
