Psalm 37

Introduction

(VSS 1-11) Do not worry about the wicked.

Psalm 37:1–11 KJV (WS)

1 A Psalm of David. Fret not thyself because of evildoers, neither be thou envious against the workers of iniquity. 2 For they shall soon be cut down like the grass, and wither as the green herb. 3 Trust in the Lord, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed. 4 Delight thyself also in the Lord; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart. 5 Commit thy way unto the Lord; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass. 6 And he shall bring forth thy righteousness as the light, and thy judgment as the noonday. 7 Rest 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. 8 Cease from anger, and forsake wrath: fret not thyself in any wise to do evil. 9 For evildoers shall be cut off: but those that wait upon the Lord, they shall inherit the earth. 10 For yet a little while, and the wicked shall not be: yea, thou shalt diligently consider his place, and it shall not be. 11 But the meek shall inherit the earth; and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace.

Vss 1-2: Do not be angry over the lives of evil doers.

Fret: stay angry for a long time.

Any success of wicked people is only temporary.

Vss 3-6: Live a different life than they do.

Trust the Lord, rather than the typical things that people around us trust.

Do good.

Delight thyself in God.

When God becomes the desire of our hearts, God will give us what we desire.

Commit your path and the direction of your life to God.

Vss 7-8: Trust that God knows what He is doing.

Rest in him.

Be patient.

Vss 9-11: All people will be rewarded for the life they live.

The wicked will be cut off.

You will look around one day to find the place of the wicked and it will not be there.

The meek shall inherit the earth.

God’s people delight themselves in peace.

(VSS 12-15) The wicked and their fate.

Psalm 37:12–15 KJV (WS)

12 The wicked plotteth against the just, and gnasheth upon him with his teeth. 13 The Lord shall laugh at him: for he seeth that his day is coming. 14 The wicked have drawn out the sword, and have bent their bow, to cast down the poor and needy, and to slay such as be of upright conversation. 15 Their sword shall enter into their own heart, and their bows shall be broken.

Vs 12: Threat of the wicked

Plot

Threaten or cursing.

Vs 13: Confidence of God.

The threat of the wicked is not a serious concern for God.

He already knows how they will end.

So, while we fret over the wicked, God laughs at them.

Vs 14: Attack of the wicked.

Look at how the wicked move against the righteous.

Their sword is drawn, bow is bent, they going through with their plans.

It’s moved beyond threat.

They are putting their plan into action.

They will cast down the poor and needy.

They will kill the upright.

Vs 15: Deflection by God.

All of their attempts are thwarted by God.

He turns their weapons back on those that intended to use them.

(VSS 16-26) Better are the righteous.

Psalm 37:16–26 KJV (WS)

16 A little that a righteous man hath is better than the riches of many wicked. 17 For the arms of the wicked shall be broken: but the Lord upholdeth the righteous. 18 The Lord knoweth the days of the upright: and their inheritance shall be for ever. 19 They shall not be ashamed in the evil time: and in the days of famine they shall be satisfied. 20 But the wicked shall perish, and the enemies of the Lord shall be as the fat of lambs: they shall consume; into smoke shall they consume away. 21 The wicked borroweth, and payeth not again: but the righteous sheweth mercy, and giveth. 22 For such as be blessed of him shall inherit the earth; and they that be cursed of him shall be cut off. 23 The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord: and he delighteth in his way. 24 Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down: for the Lord upholdeth him with his hand. 25 I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread. 26 He is ever merciful, and lendeth; and his seed is blessed.

The righteous and the wicked are compared and contrasted.

It is better to have little and be righteous than to have wealth and be wicked.

The arms (strength) of the wicked will be broken, but the strength of the righteous will be upheld.

The righteous will live and enjoy their inheritance forever, but the wicked will perish and lose everything.

The wicked default on loans while the righteous give mercifully.

It is better to be the righteous man.

Guided by God along a good path.

Receive mercy and restoration when he falls.

Preserved and provided for by God.

Put in a position to serve others by God.

(VSS 27-33) Advice for the righteous.

Psalm 37:27–33 KJV (WS)

27 Depart from evil, and do good; and dwell for evermore. 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. 29 The righteous shall inherit the land, and dwell therein for ever. 30 The mouth of the righteous speaketh wisdom, and his tongue talketh of judgment. 31 The law of his God is in his heart; none of his steps shall slide. 32 The wicked watcheth the righteous, and seeketh to slay him. 33 The Lord will not leave him in his hand, nor condemn him when he is judged.

The Psalmist calls his readers to be among the righteous.

The Lord will not forsake his saints.

He preserves them, but he cuts off the seed of the wicked.

The righteous inherit the land.

The righteous are evidenced by their words.

In their hearts, they dwell on the law of God.

The wicked hate the righteous because of their righteousness.

They watch them.

They devise a scheme to kill him.

But God, who upholdeth and preserveth the righteous also protects them.

(VSS 34-40) God will help the righteous.

Psalm 37:34–40 KJV (WS)

34 Wait on the Lord, and keep his way, and he shall exalt thee to inherit the land: when the wicked are cut off, thou shalt see it. 35 I have seen the wicked in great power, and spreading himself like a green bay tree. 36 Yet he passed away, and, lo, he was not: yea, I sought him, but he could not be found. 37 Mark the perfect man, and behold the upright: for the end of that man is peace. 38 But the transgressors shall be destroyed together: the end of the wicked shall be cut off. 39 But the salvation of the righteous is of the Lord: he is their strength in the time of trouble. 40 And the Lord shall help them, and deliver them: he shall deliver them from the wicked, and save them, because they trust in him.

We just have to wait.

The righteous will be exalted.

The wicked will be cut of.

The psalmist has made some bold predictions and observations.

He’s never seen the righteous forsaken?

Here he makes a prediction about the wicked.

The wicked grew like a tree.

Despite his size and seeming strength, he passed away.

When the psalmist went looking for him, he was nowhere to be found.

He then makes a prediction about the righteous.

He says you can mark the perfect, upright man and know how he will end up.

His life will end in peace.

The psalm ends with a pretty clear comparison.

The wicked are cut off.

The righteous are upheld.

Application

Which would you rather be numbered among?

The righteous?

The wicked?

Why would you be jealous of the wicked?