Trusting God in Troubling Times

Psalm 37 Verses 1 to 40 Don’t Worry Trust in God August 16, 2026 Lesson 7 Psalms the Believer’s Prayer Book Class Presentation Notes  AAAAA

Background Scriptures:

John 16:33 (NASB95)

33     “These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world.”

Matthew 6:33–34 (NASB95)

33     “But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.

34     “So do not worry about tomorrow; for tomorrow will care for itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

Main Idea:

· Believers are called to trust in God amid adversity, for He will bring justice and deliverance in His perfect timing.

Study Aim:

· To understand that Christians’ lives won’t be easy, and trusting God is the only way to endure tough times.

Create Interest:

· Psalm 37 encourages believers not to fret over evildoers but to trust the Lord and do good, highlighting the certainty of divine justice and the reward for faithfulness.

· This lesson can provide comfort and strength to Christians facing difficult situations by reinforcing the importance of trusting God over worrying about worldly affairs. It reminds believers that although life may be challenging, God is in control and will ultimately bring justice and peace.

· The lesson teaches that through faith and trust in God, we can navigate life's challenges with hope and assurance, knowing that He will uphold and protect those who are faithful to Him.

How this passage points to Christ:

· In the broader context of Scripture, the themes of divine justice and trust in God culminate in the person of Christ, who embodies perfect righteousness and fulfills God's promise of salvation and ultimate justice.

Lesson in Historical Context:

· Psalm 37 likely originated during a period when the psalmist and his community experienced social upheaval and injustice. Scholars typically associate it with either the exilic or post-exilic period of Israel’s history, though some suggest it could reflect circumstances from the monarchic period when righteous individuals faced oppression from corrupt rulers or powerful adversaries.

· The psalm’s central concern—the prosperity of the wicked alongside the suffering of the righteous—suggests a moment of acute spiritual crisis. The repeated warnings against fretting over evildoers and those who prosper through wickedness (Ps 37) indicate that believers were genuinely struggling with doubt about God’s justice. This wasn’t merely theoretical anxiety but lived experience: they watched wrongdoers flourish while the faithful, endured hardship.

· The historical setting likely involved either political instability (where corrupt leaders wielded unchecked power) or the disorientation of exile and return (when the community questioned whether God remained faithful to his promises). In such contexts, the repeated calls to trust in the LORD, commit one’s way to him, and wait patiently (Ps 37) would have carried particular weight—offering reassurance that God’s justice, though delayed from human perspective, remained certain.

· The psalm’s wisdom-teaching structure suggests it functioned as communal instruction, helping believers process their doubt and maintain faith during sustained injustice. Rather than offering immediate vindication, it reorients believers toward God’s character and ultimate purposes.

Bible Study:

Psalm 37:1–8 (NASB95) Trust, Don’t Tense Up

Security of Those Who Trust in the Lord, and Insecurity of the Wicked.

A Psalm of David.

   1          Do not fret because of evildoers,

Be not envious toward wrongdoers.

   2          For they will wither quickly like the grass

And fade like the green herb.

   3          Trust in the Lord and do good;

Dwell in the land and cultivate faithfulness.

   4          Delight yourself in the Lord;

And He will give you the desires of your heart.

   5          Commit your way to the Lord,

Trust also in Him, and He will do it.

   6          He will bring forth your righteousness as the light

And your judgment as the noonday.

   7          Rest in the Lord and wait patiently for Him;

Do not fret because of him who prospers in his way,

Because of the man who carries out wicked schemes.

   8          Cease from anger and forsake wrath;

Do not fret; it leads only to evildoing.

· Verse 1 is a call to guard our hearts. “Do not be agitated” is a great translation. It means not to burn hot with anger inside. It is not so much an outburst of anger but the kind of anger that dwells in our hearts unseen (Goldingay, Psalms 1–41, 519)—a kind of anger that stews in our hearts and causes us to sulk or get worked up. The command is mentioned three times in this psalm (vv. 1, 7, 8), and the reason for the anger is seen in verse 7. The internal anger is the result of watching the wicked prosper. Their prospering tends to affect our hearts if we stew on it.[1]

Let’s do a quick overview of Psalm 37 to set our minds on its focus:

· Psalm 37 addresses a situation where believers face anxiety about evildoers—their plans, prosperity, and very existence can seem perplexing in a world where God reigns.[1] The psalm employs two key Hebrew terms to anchor faith during this crisis of confidence.

· The first, trust (Hebrew batach), appears repeatedly as an imperative command. Believers are instructed to “trust in the LORD” while doing good and committing their way to him (Ps 37:3–5), establishing trust as an active posture of reliance rather than passive resignation. This term emphasizes confidence in God’s character and competence, not merely intellectual assent. David’s exhortation is that believers maintain calm confidence while remaining faithfully obedient, trusting in God’s wisdom and power to deal with the wicked in his perfect timing and way.[1]

· The second term, delight(Hebrew sha’a), operates differently. When believers delight themselves in the LORD, he will give them the desires of their heart. (Ps 37:3–5) This language transforms emotional orientation—moving from fretting about injustice to finding joy in God’s presence. The righteous resilience depends on trusting God and making him their delight, while their way is committed to him and they wait for his justice.[2]

· Together, these terms reframe the problem of injustice.

o Trust addresses howbelievers should respond to present circumstances—with confidence in divine justice rather than anxiety.

o Delight addresses why—by finding their deepest satisfaction in God rather than in the temporary prosperity of the wicked. The psalm instructs believers to rest in the LORD and wait patiently, avoiding fretting over those who prosper through wickedness.

· (Ps 37:7) The emphasis on God’s timing—through waiting, patience, and future vindication—suggests that justice operates on God’s schedule, not the observer’s. Believers are led to expect that basic necessities will be supplied, not that trusting and obeying will lead to a cushy life.[2].[2]

[1] T. J. Betts, 40 Days in The Psalms, ed. William F. Cook III, 40 Days Series (Nashville, TN: B&H Publishing, 2021), 113. [2] Robert C. Girard, “Failure,” in The Complete Book of Everyday Christianity: An A to Z Guide to Following Christ in Every Aspect of Life(InterVarsity Press, 1997), 364.

Let’s dig a little deeper into “delight” in Verse 4 before moving on:

· To delight in the Lord means that your heart finds peace and fulfillment in Him[1]—a shift in where you locate your deepest satisfaction. When you encounter God’s beauty and glory, you recognize Him as the most attractive and beautiful being in the universe[2]. This isn’t mere intellectual assent; it’s a reorientation of desire itself.

· The promise in Psalm 37:4hinges on this reordering. The precept comes before the promises—responsibility before rewards, delight before desires[3].

o When you genuinely rejoice in the eternal things of God, your desires begin to align with His, and you will never go unfulfilled[1].

o This doesn’t guarantee material wealth; rather, if you truly delight in the Lord, what you want above all else becomes God Himself, and He gives you Himself—which is the best of all[2].

· The contrast is stark. When you envy the wicked, the problem isn’t wanting too much—it’s that your eyes wander from God, and you seek joy in cheap substitutes instead of delighting in the Lord[2]. Many delight in wealth, status, and material possessions, yet remain perpetually unsatisfied[1].

o We need to open our eyes and see the beauty and glory, the kindness and majesty of God. He is far and away the best and most satisfying thing we could desire. If the God of the universe gives us himself, the whole world is ours along with him.[3][2].

· Delighting in the Lord is ultimately about finding your greatest joy not in what God gives, but in God Himself.

[1] Got Questions Ministries, Got Questions? Bible Questions Answered (Bellingham, WA: Logos Bible Software, 2002–2013). [See here, here, here.] [2] James A. Johnston, Preaching the Word: The Psalms: Rejoice, the Lord Is King—Psalms 1 to 41, ed. R. Kent Hughes, Preaching the Word (Wheaton, IL: Crossway, 2015), 1:380–381. [3] John G. Butler, Sermon Starters (Clinton, IA: LBC Publications, 2014), 3:44.

Thoughts to Soak On:

· Note the importance of trusting God and refraining from anger or fretting over the prosperity of evildoers. These verses remind us of God’s promise that trusting Him leads to peace and the delight of His presence. You could reflect on how these instructions help believers focus on God's goodness rather than worldly injustice.

· “Be still and know that I am God”—appears in Psalm 46:10, where it calls readers to “cease striving” and recognize God’s sovereignty. This invitation to stillness runs through Scripture as a counter-intuitive path to strength and security.

· Psalm 37:7similarly encourages believers to “rest in the LORD and wait patiently for Him,” positioning patient trust as an antidote to anxiety about injustice.

· What makes this theme particularly striking is how Scripture reframes stillness as the foundation of genuine strength. Isaiah 30:15 declares that “in quietness and trust is your strength,” inverting the world’s equation that equates noise, activity, and assertion with power.

o The prophet presents repentance and rest not as weakness but as the conditions for salvation itself.

§ 1 Lettie B. Cowman, Streams in the Desert (Los Angeles, CA: The Oriental Missionary Society, 1925), 195–196.

Psalm 37:9–20 (NASB95) Trust in God’s Timing

   9          For evildoers will be cut off,

But those who wait for the Lord, they will inherit the land.

10          Yet a little while and the wicked man will be no more;

And you will look carefully for his place and he will not be there.

11          But the humble will inherit the land

And will delight themselves in abundant prosperity.

12          The wicked plots against the righteous

And gnashes at him with his teeth.

13          The Lord laughs at him,

For He sees his day is coming.

14          The wicked have drawn the sword and bent their bow

To cast down the afflicted and the needy,

To slay those who are upright in conduct.

15          Their sword will enter their own heart,

And their bows will be broken.

16          Better is the little of the righteous

Than the abundance of many wicked.

17          For the arms of the wicked will be broken,

But the Lordsustains the righteous.

18          The Lord knows the days of the blameless,

And their inheritance will be forever.

19          They will not be ashamed in the time of evil,

And in the days of famine they will have abundance.

20          But the wicked will perish;

And the enemies of the Lordwill be like the glory of the pastures,

They vanish—like smoke they vanish away.

What does Psalm 37 say about the wicked?

· Psalm 37 portrays the wicked as transient—they fade rapidly like grass and will vanish entirely in a short time. The psalm declares that evildoers will be cut off (Ps 37:9–10), while those who plot against the righteous gnash their teeth in hostility, yet the Lord dismisses their schemes as insignificant, knowing their judgment approaches. (Ps 37:12–13)

· The wicked’s strength will be broken (Ps 37:17), and they will perish, vanishing like smoke. (Ps 37:20) Their descendants will be cut off (Ps 37:28), and even when the wicked appear flourishing and well-established, they eventually pass away and cannot be found. (Ps 37:34–36) Transgressors will be completely destroyed, and the wicked’s offspring will be eliminated. (Ps 37:38)

· This vision rests on the conviction that God rules the world, most explicitly shown in the assertion that “the LORD laughs at the wicked.”[1] The psalm is eschatological in nature—while the wicked currently prosper, the future tenses of its refrains (“shall inherit” and “shall be cut off”) indicate that God’s judgment remains assured.[1] The psalm focuses on the ultimate fate of the wicked in comparison to their apparent success[2], teaching that though the wicked achieve temporary success and wealth, their prosperity is short-lived because they oppose the Lord.[2]

[1] J. Clinton Mccann Jr., “The Book of Psalms,” in New Interpreter’s Bible, ed. Leander E. Keck (Nashville: Abingdon Press, 1994–2004), 4:828. [2] John D. Barry et al., Faithlife Study Bible (Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2012, 2016). [See here, here.]

Thoughts to Soak On:

· You could consider how these verses offer reassurance that evildoers will be cut off, while those who wait on the Lord will inherit the land. Observe how God's patience in dealing with the wicked serves His larger plan, perhaps encouraging us to have patience in His timing as well.

· Reflect on the hope and security found in God's promise of ultimate justice.

Psalm 37:21–31 (NASB95) Trust Ensures Stability

21          The wicked borrows and does not pay back,

But the righteous is gracious and gives.

22          For those blessed by Him will inherit the land,

But those cursed by Him will be cut off.

23          The steps of a man are established by the Lord,

And He delights in his way.

24          When he falls, he will not be hurled headlong,

Because the Lordis the One who holds his hand.

25          I have been young and now I am old,

Yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken

Or his descendants begging bread.

26          All day long he is gracious and lends,

And his descendants are a blessing.

27          Depart from evil and do good,

So you will abide forever.

28          For the Lord loves justice

And does not forsake His godly ones;

They are preserved forever,

But the descendants of the wicked will be cut off.

29          The righteous will inherit the land

And dwell in it forever.

30          The mouth of the righteous utters wisdom,

And his tongue speaks justice.

31          The law of his God is in his heart;

His steps do not slip.

· Vs. 23:  The occupations of every day seem often trifling; we may do them without thinking as ordinary things, yet they are the scenes of our appointed lot—appointed by God for you and me. The ordering, the application of these ordinary occupations, is the appointing of the Diving purpose; it is for us to carry them out. And secretly our character forms according as we handle them. Give thy heart to God Eternal, since thou art thyself eternal. Join thy heart to what He has given thee to do. Join thy heart to His teaching, and thou becomest of a will like to His own will. Nothing comes by pure accident, not even the interruptions in our busy day! And such as follow on to know God’s will see in all events what may lead to good, and so trust grows into a habit, as habit grows by perpetual use, till every circumstance may be seen to be but a fresh manifestation of the will of God working itself out in us.  (Romans 8:28)

T. T. Carter.1

1 Mary Tileston, Joy and Strength for the Pilgrim’s Day (Wordsearch Corp., 1901), 194–195.

How does Psalm 37 encourage the righteous?

· Psalm 37 presents wisdom teachings about how the righteous should view those who do evil[1]. The psalm encourages through several interconnected themes that address both the believer’s internal posture and God’s external faithfulness.

· The foundation of encouragement rests on a shift in perspective. Rather than fixating on the wicked’s apparent prosperity, the righteous are invited to recognize that such success is temporary[1], while evil lacks staying power and will not endure despite its short-term gains[2]. This reframing allows believers to move beyond envy toward confidence.

· The psalm then directs the righteous toward active trust—trusting in the Lord and doing good, delighting in Him to receive the desires of their hearts, and committing their ways to Him (Ps 37:3–6). This emphasis on finding delight in God rather than circumstances reshapes desires themselves, as closeness to Him transforms selfish wants into alignment with His purposes[2].

· The encouragement extends to God’s protective care. The Lord establishes the righteous person’s steps and holds their hand when they fall (Ps 37:23–25). While the wicked’s strength breaks, the Lord sustains the righteous, knowing the days of the blameless and securing their eternal inheritance (Ps 37:16–19). David’s personal testimony—that he has never seen the righteous abandoned or their descendants begging for bread—grounds these promises in lived experience (Ps 37:23–25).

· Finally, the psalm repeatedly emphasizes that those who hope in the Lord, the humble, the righteous, and those who wait for Him will inherit the land[1]—a promise of both present provision and ultimate vindication. The Lord becomes the righteous person’s strength in trouble, delivering them from the wicked because they take refuge in Him (Ps 37:39–40).

[1] Tamra Hernandez, ed., “Psalms,” in The Study Bible for Women, Holman Christian Standard Bible (Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers, 2014). [See here, here, here, here.] [2] Got Questions Ministries, Got Questions? Bible Questions Answered (Bellingham, WA: Faithlife, 2014–2021). [See here, here.]

Thoughts to Soak On:

· Consider the benefits of living a righteous life as characterized by generosity and wisdom. These verses illustrate God's enduring protection for the righteous, suggesting that faithfulness ensures His support. Think of your life and about stories that demonstrate how trust in God yields wisdom and stability, helping us navigate life's instability with grace.

· Vs. 31:  Are you constantly hiding the Word of God in your heart and living it out in your life? If not, begin today! Many believers remain weak because they fail to store up in their minds helpful passages from the Word of God. Apparently, they do not realize that in times of stress, sorrow, or temptation, the Holy Spirit can bring those portions to their remembrance to comfort, warn, and direct them. Let me challenge you to get into the Word and let it get into you! It will help you to resist temptation and keep your life clean. This is one of the challenges of Scripture.

* Colossians 3:16—Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.

* Jeremiah 15:16—Thy words were found, and I did eat them; and thy word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of mine heart: for I am called by thy name, O Lord God of hosts.

* Psalm 37:31—The law of his God is in his heart; none of his steps shall slide.1

1 Rod Mattoon, Treasures from Treasured Psalms, Psalm 119, vol. 3, Treasures from Scripture Series (Springfield, IL: Rod Mattoon, 2010), 40.

Psalm 37:32–40 (NASB95) Trust in God’s Salvation

  32          The wicked spies upon the righteous

And seeks to kill him.

33          The Lord will not leave him in his hand

Or let him be condemned when he is judged.

34          Wait for the Lord and keep His way,

And He will exalt you to inherit the land;

When the wicked are cut off, you will see it.

35          I have seen a wicked, violent man

Spreading himself like a luxuriant tree in its native soil.

36          Then he passed away, and lo, he was no more;

I sought for him, but he could not be found.

37          Mark the blameless man, and behold the upright;

For the man of peace will have a posterity.

38          But transgressors will be altogether destroyed;

The posterity of the wicked will be cut off.

39          But the salvation of the righteous is from the Lord;

He is their strength in time of trouble.

40          The Lord helps them and delivers them;

He delivers them from the wicked and saves them,

Because they take refuge in Him.

How does Psalm 37 describe the end of the wicked?

· Psalm 37 presents the wicked’s end through a series of vivid contrasts, emphasizing their inevitable and complete removal. The psalm opens by comparing the wicked to grass that withers quickly and fades like green herbs—a metaphor establishing their fundamental transience. This imagery recurs throughout: the wicked will perish, vanishing like smoke (Ps 37:20), and though one searches for the wicked person’s place, he will not be there (Ps 37:9–10).

· Beyond mere disappearance, the psalm describes active destruction. Transgressors will be altogether destroyed, with the posterity of the wicked cut off (Ps 37:38). The mechanisms of their downfall are particularly striking: their own sword will enter their own heart, and their bows will be broken (Ps 37). This principle of self-inflicted ruin—where the weapons wielded against the righteous become instruments of the wicked’s own undoing—appears throughout the psalm.

· The divine response to wickedness carries a tone of certainty and even mockery. The Lord laughs at the wicked, seeing that his day of judgment is coming (Ps 37:13). This laughter reflects God’s sovereign knowledge that despite the wicked’s temporary prosperity and schemes, their doom is assured. Evildoers will be cut off (Ps 37), and the descendants of the wicked will be cut off (Ps 37:28), ensuring that wickedness leaves no lasting legacy.

· The psalm’s repeated emphasis on the wicked’s removal—appearing in verses 2, 9, 10, 20, 28, 36, and 38—underscores that this is not incidental but the central theological message. The wicked’s apparent success is temporary; their end is both inevitable and complete.

What promises are given to those who trust in the Lord?

· Scripture offers multiple assurances to those who place their confidence in God.

o When you acknowledge the Lord in all your ways, He directs your paths (Prov 3:5–6)—a promise of divine guidance through life’s decisions.

o Those who trust receive stability comparable to a tree planted by water, with deep roots that enable it to thrive even during drought and heat, continuing to produce fruit (Jer 17:7–8).

· Emotional and spiritual security emerge as central promises.

o God maintains perfect peace in the minds of those whose thoughts remain steadfast in Him (Isa 26:3–4),

o Lovingkindness surrounds those who trust in the Lord (Ps 32:10).

o In God, whose word is praiseworthy, fear disappears (Ps 56:3–4).

o When you cast your burdens on the Lord, He sustains you and prevents the righteous from being shaken (Ps 55:22).

o Beyond emotional support, God promises practical provision and exaltation. God supplies all your needs according to His riches in glory through Christ Jesus (Phil 4:19), while those who trust in the Lord will be exalted, escaping the snare of human fear (Prov 29:25).

o When you delight yourself in the Lord and commit your way to Him, He grants the desires of your heart and accomplishes what you entrust to Him (Ps 37:3–5).

· Permanence and strength characterize God’s promises as well.

o Those who trust in the Lord remain as immovable as Mount Zion, abiding forever (Ps 125:1).

o Those who wait for the Lord gain renewed strength, mounting up with eagle’s wings, running without tiring, and walking without becoming weary (Isa 40:31).

o The Lord does not forsake those who seek Him and know His name (Ps 9:10).

o The Lord serves as a stronghold for the oppressed during troubled times (Ps 9:9),

o God functions as a rock, fortress, deliverer, shield, and horn of salvation—a stronghold in whom believers take refuge (Ps 18:2).

o These military and architectural images—fortresses, shields, rocks—communicate both stability and active defense against threats.

Thoughts to Soak On:

· Soak on the assurance of God's salvation for the righteous and His strength in times of trouble. Consider the power of trust in dispelling fear and providing assurance of deliverance. These verses reinforce the theme that God uplifts those who turn to Him consistently, perhaps inviting listeners to a deeper commitment to seeking God's help.

Grace and peace to you, this day and always!

[1]J. Josh Smith and Daniel L. Akin, Exalting Jesus in Psalms 1–50, ed. David Platt, Daniel L. Akin, and Tony Merida, Christ-Centered Exposition Commentary (Nashville, TN: Holman Reference, 2022), 272.

[2]Robert C. Girard, “Failure,”in The Complete Book of Everyday Christianity: An A to Z Guide to Following Christ in Every Aspect of Life(InterVarsity Press, 1997), 364.

[3]James A. Johnston, Preaching the Word: The Psalms: Rejoice, the Lord Is King—Psalms 1 to 41, ed. R. Kent Hughes, vol. 1, Preaching the Word (Wheaton, IL: Crossway, 2015), 381.