Psalm 37 Part 1

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Introduction

Dr. Falwell’s favorite; read through Psalms and Proverbs each month.
Book 1 Category: Wisdom
Imprecatory: To imprecate means "to invoke evil upon or curse" one’s enemies. An imprecatory prayer is a calling down of judgment or curse against one’s enemies or those who are enemies of God.
Davidic: Verse 25
I have been young, and now am old;
Yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken,
Nor his seed begging bread.
Acrostic: A poetic form in which the initial letters or signs of each line, couplet, or stanza, when read in succession, spell out a name, sentence, alphabet, or some alphabetic pattern.
Chiastic: A chiasm is a literary device that presents a series of ideas, and then repeats them in opposite order. Chiastic structure is often expressed in letters. The goal of chiastic structure is to create emphasis, repetition, or clarification.
The Psalm compares the righteous and the evildoers or the wicked. These two groups are switched throughout the Psalm. Psalms are considered Israel's hymn book, hymns have a chorus or a recurring theme; this Psalm has a recurring theme: “inherit the land,” it is found in verses 3, 9, 11, 18, 22, 29, and 34.

The Righteous Part 1---Vs. 1-8

1  Fret not thyself because of evildoers,

Neither be thou envious against the workers of iniquity.

Notice the 2 injunctions: fret not and neither be envious directed to the righteous. Fret not in our language today is stop worrying! Why are we worrying? Envy. The state of mind is that where we are worried, or envious, because others are prosperous and successful, and we are not. It is the result of a comparison of ourselves with others who are more highly gifted or favoured, or who are more successful than we are ourselves. He is referring to the feeling which springs up in the mind when we see persons of corrupt or wicked character have prospered, while we, endeavouring to do right, are left to poverty, to disappointment, and to tears.
They are considered as the workers of inequity. Are we envious because (a) of the fact that there are evil men, or that God allows them to live; (b) at their numbers; (c) or at their success and prosperity?

2  For they shall soon be cut down like the grass,

And wither as the green herb.

Just as grass is cut down by a mower, and just as a herb when cut drys up, so will the evil doers or the wicked. What he is telling us is that their prosperity, prestige, and power is only temporary. The idea in the word rendered soon is that of haste or speed. The thought is not that it will be done immediately, but that when it occurs it will be a quick and rapid operation,—as the grass falls rapidly when cut by a mower.

3  Trust in the LORD, and do good;

So shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed.

Don’t worry, confide. Instead of dwelling on the evil doers, dwell on God. The instruction to do good refers to the best way to keep the mind from fretting or worrying, is to be always engaged in doing good; to have the mind always occupied in something valuable and useful.
Dwell in the land, dwell carries the thought of abiding or lodging in the land. And verily thou shall be fed.The literal meaning would be, “Feed on truth.” The word rendered fed is here in the imperative mood. It properly means to feed, as a flock; and then, to feed upon anything in the sense of delighting in, or taking pleasure in anything, as if we found our support or sustenance in it; and here it means, doubtless, Feed on truth; that is, seek after truth; find delight in it.
In these verses, four things prescribed as duty, in order to keep the mind calm in view of the fact that we live in a sin filled world: (1) to confide in God; (2) to be actively employed in doing good; (3) to abide calmly and gratefully in the land which God has given us; (4) to seek after truth, or a true view of God as the great Ruler. If we would do these things, there would be little murmuring and worrying in the world.

4  Delight thyself also in the LORD;

And he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.

Delight is better translated as take delight; delight means pleasure. The meaning is that we should seek our happiness in the Lord. And he shall give thee the desires of thine heart. Literally, the askings, or the requests of thy heart. What you really desire will be granted to you
Matthew 6:33 (KJV) 33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
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5 Commit thy way unto the LORD;
Trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass.
Commit presents us with a different meaning than we would expect. It is the The idea is of rolling a heavy burden from ourselves on another, or laying it upon him, so that he may bear it. The burden which we have not got strength to bear we may lay on God. The term way means properly the act of treading or going; then, a way or path; then, a course of life,
Matthew 11:30 KJV 1900
For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.
He will take care of your interest, vs. 6 explains the issue at stake is one’s character or reputation.

And he shall bring forth thy righteousness as the light,

And thy judgment as the noonday.

And he shall bring forth thy righteousness as the light. That is, if you are slandered; if your character is assailed, and seems for the time to be under a cloud; if reproach comes upon you from the devices of wicked men in such a way that you cannot meet it,—then, if you will commit the case to God, he will protect your character, and will cause the clouds to disperse, and all to be as clear in reference to your character and the motives of your conduct as the sun without a cloud

Judgment, God’s judgment on your character proves justice will be done. As the noonday, noonday is the brightest time of the day; God will make your character perfectly clear and bright. No clouds.
Verse 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.

Rest is not our word rest, it means to be dumb, silent, and still. Listen for God in silence or be silent to Yahweh. Wait for Him in silence and confidently. Do not allow yourself to worry just because the evil appear to be happy or prosperous because God is in charge of their direction.
Verse 8
Cease from anger, and forsake wrath:
Fret not thyself in any wise to do evil.
Cease from anger, other words do not allow your mind to be excited with envious, fretful, wrathful, or murmuring feelings against God because he bears patiently with them, and because they are allowed a temporary prosperity and triumph. Be calm, whatever may be the wickedness of the world. The supreme direction belongs to God, and he will dispose of it in the best way.

The Evildoers---Part 1 Vs. 8-9

9  For evildoers shall be cut off:

But those that wait upon the LORD, they shall inherit the earth.

Cut off means termination. They may be experiencing great success, but it is only temporary.
Psalm 55:23 KJV 1900
But thou, O God, shalt bring them down into the pit of destruction: Bloody and deceitful men shall not live out half their days; But I will trust in thee.
Proverbs 10:27 KJV 1900
The fear of the Lord prolongeth days: But the years of the wicked shall be shortened.
Again we have a comparison, the evil are cut off while the righteous inherit the earth, with all the security we saw in verse 3.

For yet a little while, and the wicked shall not be:

Yea, thou shalt diligently consider his place, and it shall not be

The wicked shall cease to exist on this earth. Diligently consider his place, that is check out his home, his work, all the places that you would expect to find him, but he is gone.
Job 14:10 KJV 1900
But man dieth, and wasteth away: Yea, man giveth up the ghost, and where is he?

The Righteous Part 2 Vs. 11

But the meek shall inherit the earth;

And shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace.

Meek may refer to the friends of God as opposed to the haughtiness of the evil doers. Though not rich and prospered in this world as the wicked often are, yet they will have their own sources of enjoyment, and will find happiness in that which they prefer. In the abundance of peace; In the tranquility and quietness in which they spend their lives, in contrast with the jealousies, the contentions, and the strifes which exist among the wicked even when prosperous. The righteous will have peace with God ; they will have peace in their own consciences; they will have peace in the calmness of a quiet and contented spirit.

The Evil doers Part 2 Vs 12-17

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.
Plotteth; The Hebrew word means to plot; to lie in wait; to plan; to purpose; to devise.The meaning is, that wicked men lay their plans against the righteous, but that they will not be able to carry them out, or accomplish them, for they will be cut off, and the Lord will protect the righteous.

And gnasheth upon him with his teeth.” The wicked show by their gestures what they would do if they could; if they cannot gnaw they will gnash: if they may not bite they will at least bark. This is precisely what the graceless world did with “that just One,” the Prince of Peace

The Lord shall laugh That is, he will regard all these attempts as vain—as not worthy of serious thought or care. The language is that which we use when there is no fear or apprehension felt. It is not that God is unfeeling, or that he is disposed to deride man, but that he regards all such efforts as vain or empty.
For he seeth that his day is coming. The day of his destruction or overthrow. He sees that the wicked man cannot be ultimately successful, but that destruction is coming upon him. T

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.

The wicked have drawn out the sword. That is, they have prepared themselves with a full purpose to destroy the righteous.
And have bent their bow. Literally, “have trodden the bow,” in allusion to the method by which the bow was bent: that is, by placing the foot on it, and drawing the string back.
To cast down the poor and needy. To cause them to fall.
And to slay such as be of upright conversation.That is, those who are upright in their manner of life, or in their conduct.
15. Their sword shall enter into their own heart. Their purposes will recoil on themselves; or they will themselves suffer what they had devised for others.
And their bows shall be broken. They will be defeated in their plans. God will cut them off, and not suffer them to execute their designs. Like Haman they shall be hanged upon the gallows built by themselves for Mordecai. Like Saul, who sought to slay David.

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.

The little that a righteous man has: there are two things implied here: (a) that it happens not often that the righteous have little of the wealth of this world; and (b) that this little is to them of more real value, accompanied with higher blessings, than the more abundant wealth which the wicked often possess.
Is better than the riches of many wicked. The small property of one truly good man, with his character and hopes, is of more value than would be better than all wealth of many rich wicked men with their character and prospects.
For the arms of the wicked shall be broken. The arm is the instrument by which we accomplish a purpose; and the meaning here is, that that will be broken on which the wicked rely, or, in other words, that their plans will fail, and that they will be disappointed,—as a man is rendered helpless whose arms are broken
The Lord will uphold the righteous, and enable them fully to carry out their plans. Their great scheme or purpose of life, the promotion of the glory of God, and the salvation of their own souls, will be fully accomplished,—for in that purpose God will be their helper and friend.

The righteous part 3 Vs. 18-19

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

We say God is omniscient or all knowing ; therefore He knows how long they will live, and all that will happen to them. He sees their whole course of life; he sees the end. It is implied here that his eyes are on all the allotted days of their life.
And their inheritance shall be forever, the language suggests a higher idea, and is applicable to the righteous in respect to the promise that they will be put in everlasting possession of that which they “inherit” from God; that is, that they will be literally blessed for ever.
They shall not be ashamed in the evil time. In times of calamity and trouble. The word ashamed here refers to disappointment; as when one goes to a fountain or stream for water and finds it dried up. The idea here is, that when times of trouble and calamity come, in seasons of famine or want, thee righteous will find their expectations, arising from confidence in God, fully met. Their wants will be supplied, and they will find him to be their friend.
And in the days of famine they shall be satisfied. Their wants shall be supplied. God will provide

The Evil doers Part 3 Vs 20-21a

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:

The word perish here would be applicable to any form of destruction,—death here, or death hereafter,—for it is equivalent to the idea that they shall be destroyed. Whether the psalmist means here to refer to the fact that they will be cut off from the earth, or will be punished in the hereafter, cannot be determined from the word itself. It is most probable, as appears from other parts of the psalm, that he refers particularly to the fact that they will be cut down in their sins; that their lives will be shortened by their crimes; that they will by their conduct expose themselves to the displeasure of God, and thus be cut off from God---the 2nd death.

And the enemies of the LORD shall be as the fat of lambs:

What was the purpose of the fat of the lambs in the Old Testament? Burned in the sacrificial offerings-actually burned up. And smoke rises and then vanishes.
James 4:14 KJV 1900
Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.
The wicked borroweth but doesn’t repay. That is he will have the need to borrow, but lack the means to repay.
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