Ten Steps to Spiritual Health in a Sick Society
Psalm 37:1-10
Do not fret because of evil men
or be envious of those who do wrong;
for like the grass they will soon wither,
like green plants they will soon die away.
Trust in the LORD and do good;
dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture.
Delight yourself in the LORD
and he will give you the desires of your heart.
Commit your way to the LORD;
trust in him and he will do this:
He will make your righteousness shine like the dawn,
the justice of your cause like the noonday sun.
Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for him;
do not fret when men succeed in their ways,
when they carry out their wicked schemes.
Refrain from anger and turn from wrath;
do not fret—it leads only to evil.
For evil men will be cut off,
but those who hope in the LORD will inherit the land.
A little while, and the wicked will be no more;
though you look for them, they will not be found.
The thirty-seventh Psalm is recognised as known as one of the acrostic Psalm. An acrostic Psalm is a peculiar form of Hebrew poetry in which each strophe or stanza begins with a successive letter of the alphabet. The acrostic Psalms are Psalms 9 and 10 (which may have originally been one Psalm), 25, 34, 37, 111, 112, 119 and 145. In the case of the thirty-seventh Psalm, each stanza of double verses begins with the succeeding letter of the Hebrew alphabet.
Some of the best-loved verses in the Old Testament come from this Psalm. Here are some examples of those verses.
Delight yourself in the LORD
and he will give you the desires of your heart.
Commit your way to the LORD;
trust in him and he will do this…
[verses 4, 5]
Better the little that the righteous have
than the wealth of many wicked…
[verse 16]
I was young and now I am old,
yet I have never seen the righteous forsaken
or their children begging bread…
[verse 25]
That last proverb seizes our attention since it establishes that the Psalm reflects mature wisdom. The title says the Psalm was written by David, so we would conclude that this Psalm was written by him in his old age after a lifetime of reflection on the ways of the righteous and the ways of the wicked and how their differing ways invite God’s dealings.
There is no question but that ours is a sick society. Though there are many good things which could be said concerning the condition of the world in which we live, we harbour the suspicion that ours is a neurotic society. The electors do not trust politicians. In fact, for the most part they are certain that politicians are incapable of telling the truth. At the same time, the electorate is convinced that we need politicians to direct the affairs of the nation. The facts tell us that we have greater security than any generation preceding and yet we feel more insecure than ever. We have more disposable wealth than ever and we have greater debts than any generation before.
We are disgusted at the antics of our sports heroes and film legends, and yet we spend hundreds of millions of dollars to be entertained by them. We know that our worldview is being shaped by their distorted views and yet we wait breathlessly for these pampered nouveau riche brats to tell us how we should think. Perhaps it is time that we sought out another source of answers on how to live in the midst of a world best described as an asylum run by the inmates. What is certain is that we dare not look to those who got us into this mess to get us out of it. The politicians, the social workers, the activists, the spoiled entertainers—none can obtain freedom for us.
David was a man after God’s own heart [cf. 1 Samuel 13:14]. In none of the Psalms which David wrote are we more likely to witness what caused God to consider him so highly than in this Psalm before us. The old man weighs the sickness of human society and prescribes the steps to spiritual health.
Do Not Fret and Do Not be Envious —
Do not fret because of evil men
or be envious of those who do wrong;
for like the grass they will soon wither,
like green plants they will soon die away.
It is distressingly easy for us to focus on the inhabitants of this dying world, thinking that they control us. I could wish that each child of God would learn to say with the Psalmist:
I trust in you, O LORD;
I say, “You are my God.”
My times are in your hands.
[Psalm 31:14, 15]
I am not a victim, nor am I subject to the whims of any man, for I serve the Lord God.
I am neither to fret because of what others do, nor am I to compare myself to others and thus grow envious. Another Psalmist, Asaph, wrote of the impact of envy, and especially envy of the wicked.
Surely God is good to Israel,
to those who are pure in heart.
But as for me, my feet had almost slipped;
I had nearly lost my foothold.
For I envied the arrogant
when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.
They have no struggles;
their bodies are healthy and strong.
They are free from the burdens common to man;
they are not plagued by human ills.
Therefore pride is their necklace;
they clothe themselves with violence.
From their callous hearts comes iniquity;
the evil conceits of their minds know no limits.
They scoff, and speak with malice;
in their arrogance they threaten oppression.
Their mouths lay claim to heaven,
and their tongues take possession of the earth.
Therefore their people turn to them
and drink up waters in abundance.
They say, “How can God know?
Does the Most High have knowledge?”
This is what the wicked are like—
always carefree, they increase in wealth.
[Psalm 73:1-12]
I need not envy those who do wrong nor should I get heartburn over those who are evil, for they are destined for dust. The Hitler’s and the Stalin’s, just like the Clinton’s and the Chretien’s, will soon fade away and be forgotten. The godless man dies and like the beauty of the herb dried before the sun, so his glory shrivels at the hour of death. The wicked die and his name rots.
Do we fret about insects who are born and die within a day? They live so briefly that we barely take notice of them. Is it worth our while to fret over such trivial creatures as these transient ephemera? We who are believers in the Living Christ are destined for eternal glory and we shall live forever. Let us lift our eyes to Him who gives us life and cease to permit the wicked to disturb our rest for another moment. Why should we envy mere flesh, and the momentary glory which belongs to that flesh. That glory is as grass which though it exists bright and green for a day dies so quickly and is never seen again. How can we permit such transience to disturb us any longer?
Trust in the Lord and Do Good —
Trust in the LORD and do good;
dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture.
Faith cures fretting. Those who walk by sight and not by faith can only see things as they seem, and thus they are compelled to live in envy. We who walk by faith are possessed of clearer optics and we are able to see things as they are. Knowing the reality lying behind all that appears in this world, we who walk by faith are able to be at peace. We know both Him who calls all things into being and we know that His intention for us is good. Therefore, we trust in the Lord.
Trust in the Lord and do good… It is imperative that I remind you of the fact that faith is active. Permit me to state this vital truth once more so that you thoroughly grasp it. Faith is active. The faith which pleases God is never passive. Faith is not a feeling; faith is a life. This concept forms the foundation for James’ stunning challenge to those who promote passive faith. Faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead… Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by what I do [James 2:17, 18]. He continues from this point to challenge readers to realise that faith that there is a God is meaningless since even the demons believe that. Their faith fails to transform them.
Unfortunately, too many professed Christians are unchanged. They profess, but they do not possess. It seems that far too many fellow church members know part of the language of the Bible, but they are ignorant of the impact which that same Word should have in their lives. What I mean is that far too many professed evangelicals cite Ephesians 2:8, 9. You will no doubt recall the passage. It is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast. Here is the tragedy, however. Salvation is free and it is freely bestowed on all who believe, but faith transforms. That verse continues by stating that we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do [Ephesians 2:10].
The faith that saves is never dependent upon works, but it always results in works. This is what is meant by a transformed life, and this is what David meant when he tied the two concepts of trusting and doing together in the same verse. Trust produces and doing proves. The life I possess is secured through faith, but that same life is revealed to those who watch through what I do.
Delight Yourself in the Lord —
Delight yourself in the LORD
and he will give you the desires of your heart.
Note that man’s part is to delight himself and God’s part is to give. We think that we must take and that with the taking we obtain delight. Nothing could be further from truth. We who have trusted in the Lord and who now do good because of our faith in Him, know that we must delight ourselves in Him.
Perhaps you will recall the words of the Master which He spoke during the Sermon on the Mount.
I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?
And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labour or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendour was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? So do not worry, saying, “What shall we eat?” or “What shall we drink?” or “What shall we wear?” For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own
[Matthew 6:25-34].
If only we could discover the truth of this instruction! If only we dared believe the truth which the Master spoke. His words are intended for our benefit, for as we seek His kingdom and His righteousness, all that we need is given us. Of course, as I delight myself in the Lord He gives me the desires of my heart, for my heart desires only what the Lord gives since He can give nothing but that which is for my benefit. Indeed, give me God and I need nothing else.
This is the essence of the apostolic instruction found in 1 John 3:19-22. This then is how we know that we belong to the truth, and how we set our hearts at rest in his presence whenever our hearts condemn us. For God is greater than our hearts, and he knows everything.
Dear friends, if our hearts do not condemn us, we have confidence before God and receive from him anything we ask, because we obey his commands and do what pleases him.
Commit Your Way to the Lord —
Commit your way to the LORD;
trust in him and he will do this:
He will make your righteousness shine like the dawn,
the justice of your cause like the noonday sun.
Leave the whole burden of life with the Lord. Roll your every care onto Him. As I put into practise the command of this verse, I discover a wonderful benefit. As I permit the Lord to direct my steps and to plan my life, He exalts me. Peter spoke to this subject when we wrote the words, Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you [1 Peter 5:7].
What others think of me is less dependent upon what I do than it is upon who I am. As I walk humbly before the Lord, having committed my way to Him, others will be compelled to acknowledge that His way is right. My reputation shall be enhanced through demonstration of confidence in the leadership which God alone can provide. When we have learned to endure slander with composure, filth shall no longer defile us. It is as we struggle to fight against the wicked words of small minds that we seemingly lend credence to the wicked words. However, as we walk in confidence with the Lord we put all the words of wicked hearts to the test and they are exposed as lies.
Be Still Before the Lord and Wait Patiently for Him —
Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for him;
do not fret when men succeed in their ways,
when they carry out their wicked schemes.
Can we dare trust that God will vindicate us? Isn’t it rather that we seem to struggle to prove that we are worthy of trust? So often the blows which come into our life leave us breathless and we by nature react with choler. Would that we were able to believe as did our spiritual forefathers in Providence. We serve a God too good to ever hurt us needlessly, and too wise to make a mistake. That which comes into my life comes from the hand of a loving father who designs only my welfare. A silent tongue often shows not only a wise head, but a holy heart.
In the thirty-ninth Psalm, David cries out to God. Note that he cries to God and does not complain before man.
Now, Lord, what do I look for?
My hope is in you.
Save me from all my transgressions;
do not make me the scorn of fools.
I was silent; I would not open my mouth,
for you are the one who has done this.
[Psalm 39:7-9]
David acknowledges that it was God who laid His hand on him. Therefore, he could not complain. Silence before the Lord comes during those times when He permits trials to come and not when we have created trouble. There is a difference between burdens which arise from duty and those which come because we have wandered from the way.
Do you wish you were a patient individual? Be careful how you pray! James says to consider it pure joy … whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Furthermore, perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything [James 1:2-4].
Solomon was right in saying:
The end of a matter is better than its beginning,
and patience is better than pride.
Do not be quickly provoked in your spirit,
for anger resides in the lap of fools.
As an aside of no small importance in these nostalgic times, I invite you to note that Solomon also said,
Do not say, “Why were the old days better than these?”
For it is not wise to ask such questions.
[Ecclesiastes 7:8-10]
Wait patiently for the Lord. God is worth waiting for. I remember how often as a young Christian I fretted and worried because things didn’t happen fast enough. I still remember when I heard a black preacher in Dallas state emphatically, “My God moves in slow motion.” God is never early in acting in my behalf, and He is never too late. What if wicked plans succeed and your own plans are defeated? May I say that there is more of the love of God in your defeats than in the successes of the wicked. Let the wicked succeed, but you determine that you shall treat the matter with indifference and never allow a question to be raised as to the righteousness and goodness of God.
Refrain from Anger and Turn from Wrath —
Refrain from anger and turn from wrath;
do not fret—it leads only to evil.
Judgement does not lie within our purview. God is the righteous judge, and we must therefore keep our anger in check and turn from wrath. We are incapable of handling such terrible emotions in a godly fashion. How awesome the warning of the Hebrews letter. We know him who said, “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” and again, “The Lord will judge his people.” It is a dreadful thing to fall into the hands of the living God [Hebrews 10:30, 31]. Though we know this, we are tempted to exercise judgement ourselves.
To permit our anger to rule over us, and to permit wrath to dictate our actions, is to surrender to the same spirit which motivates the wicked of this world. As children of the True and Living God we cannot thus live. Here is why we dare not surrender to anger or permit wrath to reign over us: we know that evil men will be cut off and we also know that those who hope in the Lord will inherit the land.
I read the end of the Book. I know how it all ends. We are on the winning team. The angel showed me the river of the water of life, as clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb down the middle of the great street of the city. On each side of the river stood the tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, yielding its fruit every month. And the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations. No longer will there be any curse. The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in the city, and his servants will serve him. They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads. There will be no more night. They will not need the light of a lamp or the light of the sun, for the Lord God will give them light. And they will reign forever and ever.
Do not seal up the words of the prophecy of this book, because the time is near. Let him who does wrong continue to do wrong; let him who is vile continue to be vile; let him who does right continue to do right; and let him who is holy continue to be holy.
Blessed are those who wash their robes, that they may have the right to the tree of life and may go through the gates into the city. Outside are the dogs, those who practice magic arts, the sexually immoral, the murderers, the idolaters and everyone who loves and practices falsehood [Revelation 22:1-5, 10, 11, 14, 15].
There are ten steps here, and they build on each other in successive fashion. Review them in your mind and discover that God is greater than the world. Cease fretting because of evil men and cease envying those who do wrong. Instead, trust in the Lord and do good. Delight yourself in the Lord and commit your way to Him. Be still before Him and wait patiently for Him. Refrain from anger and turn from wrath. Amen.