How to Respond to Evil People?

Psalm 37:1–39 (NLT)

1 Don’t worry about the wicked or envy those who do wrong.

2 For like grass, they soon fade away. Like spring flowers, they soon wither.

3 Trust in the Lord and do good. Then you will live safely in the land and prosper.

4 Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you your heart’s desires.

5 Commit everything you do to the Lord. Trust him, and he will help you.

6 He will make your innocence radiate like the dawn, and the justice of your cause will shine like the noonday sun.

7 Be still in the presence of the Lord, and wait patiently for him to act. Don’t worry about evil people who prosper or fret about their wicked schemes.

8 Stop being angry! Turn from your rage! Do not lose your temper— it only leads to harm.

9 For the wicked will be destroyed, but those who trust in the Lord will possess the land.

10 Soon the wicked will disappear. Though you look for them, they will be gone.

11 The lowly will possess the land and will live in peace and prosperity.

12 The wicked plot against the godly; they snarl at them in defiance.

13 But the Lord just laughs, for he sees their day of judgment coming.

14 The wicked draw their swords and string their bows to kill the poor and the oppressed, to slaughter those who do right.

15 But their swords will stab their own hearts, and their bows will be broken.

16 It is better to be godly and have little than to be evil and rich.

17 For the strength of the wicked will be shattered, but the Lord takes care of the godly.

18 Day by day the Lord takes care of the innocent, and they will receive an inheritance that lasts forever.

19 They will not be disgraced in hard times; even in famine they will have more than enough.

20 But the wicked will die. The Lord’s enemies are like flowers in a field— they will disappear like smoke.

21 The wicked borrow and never repay, but the godly are generous givers.

22 Those the Lord blesses will possess the land, but those he curses will die.

23 The Lord directs the steps of the godly. He delights in every detail of their lives.

24 Though they stumble, they will never fall, for the Lord holds them by the hand.

25 Once I was young, and now I am old. Yet I have never seen the godly abandoned or their children begging for bread.

26 The godly always give generous loans to others, and their children are a blessing.

27 Turn from evil and do good, and you will live in the land forever.

28 For the Lord loves justice, and he will never abandon the godly. He will keep them safe forever, but the children of the wicked will die.

29 The godly will possess the land and will live there forever.

30 The godly offer good counsel; they teach right from wrong.

31 They have made God’s law their own, so they will never slip from his path.

32 The wicked wait in ambush for the godly, looking for an excuse to kill them.

33 But the Lord will not let the wicked succeed or let the godly be condemned when they are put on trial.

34 Put your hope in the Lord. Travel steadily along his path. He will honor you by giving you the land. You will see the wicked destroyed.

35 I have seen wicked and ruthless people flourishing like a tree in its native soil.

36 But when I looked again, they were gone! Though I searched for them, I could not find them!

37 Look at those who are honest and good, for a wonderful future awaits those who love peace.

38 But the rebellious will be destroyed; they have no future.

39 The Lord rescues the godly; he is their fortress in times of trouble.

INTRODUCTION:

I- RECOGNIZE THE PERIL OF THE WICKED.

A- Destruction (Psalm 37:2, 9, 10, 38)

Psalm 37:2 (NLT)

2 For like grass, they soon fade away. Like spring flowers, they soon wither.

Psalm 37:9 (NLT)

9 For the wicked will be destroyed, but those who trust in the Lord will possess the land.

Psalm 37:10 (NLT)

10 Soon the wicked will disappear. Though you look for them, they will be gone.

Psalm 37:38 (NLT)

38 But the rebellious will be destroyed; they have no future.

B- Personal Pain (Psalm 37:15, 17)

Psalm 37:15 (NLT)

15 But their swords will stab their own hearts, and their bows will be broken.

Psalm 37:17 (NLT)

17 For the strength of the wicked will be shattered, but the Lord takes care of the godly.

C- Perish Forever (Psalm 37: 20, 36)

Psalm 37:20 (NLT)

20 But the wicked will die. The Lord’s enemies are like flowers in a field— they will disappear like smoke.

Psalm 37:36 (NLT)

36 But when I looked again, they were gone! Though I searched for them, I could not find them!

D- Plans Thwarted (Psalm 37: 32-33, 35)

Psalm 37:32–33 (NLT)

32 The wicked wait in ambush for the godly, looking for an excuse to kill them.

33 But the Lord will not let the wicked succeed or let the godly be condemned when they are put on trial.

Psalm 37:35 (NLT)

35 I have seen wicked and ruthless people flourishing like a tree in its native soil.

E- Become God’s Enemies (Psalm 37: 13)

Psalm 37:13 (NLT)

13 But the Lord just laughs, for he sees their day of judgment coming.

II- RESPOND IN RIGHTEOUSNESS

A- Do not fret (Psalm 37:1, 7-8)

Psalm 37:1 (NLT)

1 Don’t worry about the wicked or envy those who do wrong.

Psalm 37:7–8 NLT

7 Be still in the presence of the Lord, and wait patiently for him to act. Don’t worry about evil people who prosper or fret about their wicked schemes. 8 Stop being angry! Turn from your rage! Do not lose your temper— it only leads to harm.

B- Trust in the Lord (Psalm 37:3)

Psalm 37:3 (NLT)

3 Trust in the Lord and do good. Then you will live safely in the land and prosper.

C- Commit your way to the Lord (Psalm 37:5)

Psalm 37:5 (NLT)

5 Commit everything you do to the Lord. Trust him, and he will help you.

D- Rest in the Lord (Psalm 37:7)

Psalm 37:7 (NLT)

7 Be still in the presence of the Lord, and wait patiently for him to act. Don’t worry about evil people who prosper or fret about their wicked schemes.

E- Forsake Wrath (Psalm 37:8)

Psalm 37:8 (NLT)

8 Stop being angry! Turn from your rage! Do not lose your temper— it only leads to harm.

F- Follow God’s Way (Psalm 37:23-24)

Psalm 37:23–24 (NLT)

23 The Lord directs the steps of the godly. He delights in every detail of their lives.

24 Though they stumble, they will never fall, for the Lord holds them by the hand.

G- Speak God’s Wisdom (Psalm 37:30-31)

Psalm 37:30–31 (NLT)

30 The godly offer good counsel; they teach right from wrong.

31 They have made God’s law their own, so they will never slip from his path.

H- Wait on the Lord (Psalm 37:34)

Psalm 37:34 (NLT)

34 Put your hope in the Lord. Travel steadily along his path. He will honor you by giving you the land. You will see the wicked destroyed.

I- Draw your strength from the Lord. (Psalm 37:39-40)

Psalm 37:39–40 (NLT)

39 The Lord rescues the godly; he is their fortress in times of trouble.

40 The Lord helps them, rescuing them from the wicked. He saves them, and they find shelter in him.

III- RELY ON GOD’S PROMISES

A- The promise of provision (Psalm 37:4, 25)

Psalm 37:4 (NLT)

4 Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you your heart’s desires.

Psalm 37:25 (NLT)

25 Once I was young, and now I am old. Yet I have never seen the godly abandoned or their children begging for bread.

B- The promise of vindication (Psalm 37:6, 19)

Psalm 37:6 (NLT)

6 He will make your innocence radiate like the dawn, and the justice of your cause will shine like the noonday sun.

Psalm 37:19 (NLT)

19 They will not be disgraced in hard times; even in famine they will have more than enough.

C- The promise of inheritance (Psalm 37:9)

Psalm 37:9 (NLT)

9 For the wicked will be destroyed, but those who trust in the Lord will possess the land.

D- The promise of peace (Psalm 37:11, 37)

Psalm 37:11 (NLT)

11 The lowly will possess the land and will live in peace and prosperity.

Psalm 37:37 (NLT)

37 Look at those who are honest and good, for a wonderful future awaits those who love peace.

E- The promise of God’s keeping (Psalm 37:24, 28, 31)

Psalm 37:24 (NLT)

24 Though they stumble, they will never fall, for the Lord holds them by the hand.

Psalm 37:28 (NLT)

28 For the Lord loves justice, and he will never abandon the godly. He will keep them safe forever, but the children of the wicked will die.

Psalm 37:31 (NLT)

31 They have made God’s law their own, so they will never slip from his path.

F- The promise of deliverance (Psalm 37:33)

Psalm 37:33 (NLT)

33 But the Lord will not let the wicked succeed or let the godly be condemned when they are put on trial.

G- The promise of honor (Psalm 37:34)

Psalm 37:34 (NLT)

34 Put your hope in the Lord. Travel steadily along his path. He will honor you by giving you the land. You will see the wicked destroyed.

H- The promise of strength (Psalm 37:39)

Psalm 37:39 (NLT)

39 The Lord rescues the godly; he is their fortress in times of trouble.

CONCLUSION: