Psalm 37

There is a reason why this Psalm is one of the most loved in the Hymnbook of Scripture.  Its words are most encouraging in the face of one of life’s most constant realities.  And the words in stanza after stanza are extremely rich, repeating in a myriad of ways the need of the righteous to put their confidence in God.

The issue at hand is the seeming “prosperity” or success of the wicked.  What are the righteous to do when they regularly seem to have the “short end of the stick” in society?  Often these days, in the democratic nation in which I live, the powerful in the nation’s capital continue to push and pass and reaffirm ungodly positions that are not held by the majority of the electorate.  It can be very frustrating for God’s people.  It seems unjust and unfair but it seems nothing can be done to stop it or them.

And usually one need not go all the way to the capital to see these things.  The wicked in our own communities and neighborhoods seem to have the say-so in the schools our children attend, the slant in the news sources we access, the connections that result in greater opportunities to multiply wealth, and the platform th(at allows them to attract followings of people who should know better.  I’m not complaining.  I’m not saying it happens all the time.  But I am saying, with the Psalmists (David here; Asaph in Ps. 73), that it happens with significant regularity.  And one suspects that if the righteous took strong stands in their communities more often they would see this “prosperity of the wicked” more often as well.

So that are we to do?  First, don’t get frustrated!  Don’t fret (literally, get all hot and bothered) and certainly don’t be envious of them (v1).  Rather, have faith in God.  And when we say, “have faith” we mean …

·        Trust (v3), put your confidence in the LORD.

·        Delight (v4), make merry or feel pampered in your relationship with the LORD.

·        Commit (v5), roll your plans down to the LORD.

·        Rest (v7), be silent, still before the LORD.

·        Wait (v9,34), look or hope for the LORD with expectation.

·        Trust (v40), make the LORD your refuge.

For those with such patient faith two promises in essence are made.

·        First, the wicked will disappear.  This will be the result of an opposing act of some sort (e.g. they will be cut down, v2a) or they will simply fade away (e.g. they will wither, v2b).  As you study the Psalm look at how many different ways God says this.  And the reason He says it is because He Himself laughs at the wicked (v13). 

·        Second, the righteous will endure.  They will be the ones who inherit ha eretz (the land; can you find the 5 times this is promised?).  Look at the string of forevers in vs. 27-29.  Even if he falls, the righteous will get back up (v24).  Because the word is in the heart of the righteous none of his steps will slide (v31).  The reason for this is because God satisfies the righteous; He knows their way (v18-19).  No wonder Jesus quotes this Psalm (v11) in the Beatitudes (Matt. 5:5).  It is emphatic in God’s blessing on the righteous.  The future of that man is peace ((v37).

So many things in our lives are out of our control.  And so often they seem to be in the control of the wicked.  But that simply is not the case!  Control is never, never wrested from the hands of the LORD.  Let us not fail to take a stand for righteousness, especially in the defense of the weak.  If you fail to win the day try again in His strength.  But let us not fret over it.  Trust in the LORD.  Let your faith be faithful.  Wait quietly.  Hope expectantly.  And by all means, do not be one of those at whom God laughs.  There is no future in that!  Be of those who trust in the LORD.