Psalms Chapter 37: Verses 1-10

Psalms Chapter 37: Verses 1-10 #FretNot #AnxietyFlees ##Confidence #Trust (Unless otherwise stated all Scriptures in this devotional are from the King James Version of the Bible located on www.Biblegateway.com.)

Context

Even though Psalm 37 is much longer than Psalm 36, both Psalms have things that are common.

The dangers of evil people are still present in Psalm 37.
David speaks to the reader about what happens to the wicked. The fact that they will not overcome the righteous is a crucial contextual clue.
The land that God promised to sustain the life of His righteous people appears to be in possession of the wicked.
However, the psalmist reassures the reader that wicked will not be the permanent residents on the land.
David wants to ensure that the people are confident in the ability of their God to sustain them and preserve their lives.
According to Longman, the genre of this Psalms is identified as an acrostic poem (Longman 2014, 178). Due to the length of the Psalm, it has been divided into several parts.

Do not Worry: God is with You.

1(A Psalm of David.) Fret not thyself because of evildoers, neither be thou envious against the workers of iniquity. 2For they shall soon be cut down like the grass, and wither as the green herb.

Do you remember the song “Don’t Worry. Be Happy?” David is saying just that here. We may be bothered by the behavior and attitudes of evil people, but we do not have to worry about them. Neither do we have to be envious of them. Why? They are like “the grass, and [they] wither as the green herb.

While it was raining my garden was lush and green, I loved the fact that it rains for a little bit almost every afternoon. Then it started to rain heavily every day! Guess what happened? I started to see brown edges on some of the plants. You see the soil was so wet and so hot that the grass was turning brown in some areas. Drought resistant plants were dying from the rain. That is what David is talking about in these verses.

Besides we are taught by God’s word “Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour’s house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbour’s wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor anything that is thy neighbour’s” (Exodus 20:17).

3Trust in the LORD, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed.

1 Corinthians 2:9 “But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.” God provides for His children today too.

Matthew 6:33 “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.

4Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.

The step that one should take is “Delight [myself] also in the LORD; [Trust God. Trust Him exclusively to be there for you. To provide the kind of peace of mind that lead to a healthy attitude!]”

Result: “and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.”

Clarification may be needed here. Do my desires line up with God’s will for my life? If the response is yes, then He will! I particularly love John 15:7 “If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.” because it makes this spiritual attitude of lining up my will with God’s will so clear.

5Commit thy way unto the LORD; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass.
6And he shall bring forth thy righteousness as the light, and thy judgment as the noonday.

The last Psalm devotional that I posted had the song “My life is in his hands” added to the devotional because it demonstrates an attitude of confidence in God. This verse is telling us to completely trust God with our thoughts, plans, hopes, and dreams. By ‘committing one’s life” into His hands, and trusting His will for us, “it shall bring [our desires] to pass.” Scripture supports this contention.

Proverbs 16:3 states “Commit thy works unto the Lord, and thy thoughts shall be established.” Peter confirmed the same thought process.

1 Peter 5:7 “Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.”

Christ said, “For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” Matthew 11:30

Our job is to believe it! Light does not come from darkness.

7Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for him: fret not thyself because of him who prospereth in his way, because of the man who bringeth wicked devices to pass.

Don’t worry about the evil doer who is prospering right now. Don’t even worry about the person who can make evil appear to be good. Or the person who operates in darkness. Lawson proposes “God would vindicate the righteous in the future in his perfect timing, unlike the wicked who sought honor now. The righteous should be still before the LORD without taking matters into their own hands, and wait patiently for him.

8Cease from anger, and forsake wrath: fret not thyself in any wise to do evil.

Sometimes we misunderstand what the words “anger/wrath” mean in our culture, today! Cayce 2018, defines the meaning in this verse.

The Hebrew word translated “fret” is charah, which speaks of “growing warm and blazing up.” To fret or worry is to be concerned with things over which one has no control or ability to change. That kind of worry, according to Scripture, is a sin.

Worry could lead to unnecessary stress, disbelief, and or even disobedience that culminates in sin. So could uncontrolled anger! It is possible for Christians to be angry without sinning. Ephesians 4:46 “Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath:

9For evildoers shall be cut off: but those that wait upon the LORD, they shall inherit the earth.

The psalmist has identified the source of their trouble as the evildoers, but their reign of terror is short-lived. They will be destroyed! God’s word tells us so. Prov. 2:22 “But the wicked shall be cut off from the earth, and the transgressors shall be rooted out of it.” David identifies “who inherits the earth.” In the Beatitudes, Matthew 5:5 reiterates this statement “Blessed [are] the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.”

10For yet a little while, and the wicked shall not be: yea, thou shalt diligently consider his place, and it shall not be.

Know your enemy saints. But also know the final destination of your enemy. “or yet a little while, and the wicked shall not be: yea, thou shalt diligently consider his place, and it shall not be.” This scripture indicates the divine intervention of The Almighty. The people who have cause the saints the most distress will be gone. Not just for a while, but forever!

Jeremiah 51:33 “For thus saith the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel; The daughter of Babylon is like a threshing floor, it is time to thresh her: yet a little while, and the time of her harvest shall come.”

Hosea 1:4 “And the Lord said unto him, Call his name Jezreel; for yet a little while, and I will avenge the blood of Jezreel upon the house of Jehu, and will cause to cease the kingdom of the house of Israel.” We are not living just for this lifetime. Trials and tribulations will come. WHY?

1 Peter 1:7 “That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:”

O’ Lord – Lauren Daigle via @YouTube

Psalm 37:11 (A Psalm of David.) Fret not thyself because of evildoers, neither be thou envious against the workers of iniquity. #Confidence #Trust

References

Cayce, Ken. 2017. “Books of the Bible.” http://www.bible-studys.org/About%20Me.html. Accessed October 3, 2018

Longman, Tremper, III. 2014. Psalms: An Introduction and Commentary. Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press. Accessed October 3, 2018. ProQuest Ebook Central.