Psalm 37 Bible Study

Introduction

It is believed that David penned this Psalm in his old age.

There has never been a time in the history of Christians living among which men when there has not been the puzzling thought, “Why are the lawless seemingly prosperous and the godly often facing hardships?”

It is reasonable to believe that David had the book of Job for council as he pondered this problem for himself. In Job’s life it is evident that beyond Job’s understanding, there were unseen factors in God’s plan, but everything came out right in the end.

Quote: “The end is sometimes so long in coming—sometimes it doesn’t seem to come at all in this life.” [Phillips, J. (2009). Exploring Psalms 1–88: An Expository Commentary (Vol. 1, Ps 37). Kregel Publications; WORDsearch Corp.]

Here is this Psalm, we find David tackling this sometimes mysterious reality. David will be honest, while at the same time provide sound God led council to all believers who face this same dilemma in their own heart.

VERSES 1-2

As David surely spoke to his own heart first, let us do the same as we consider this Psalm.

Question: When you look out into the world (watch the news) what are you probably going to be faced with?

Ans = There is much evil in the world.

We may also find ourselves with the tendency to begin to FRET and maybe even become envious.

Fret = to be agitated or irritated

Many times this feeling can be directed toward God Himself.

Some may consider Him unkind to His people and the church to allow such people to continue living.

While at the same time, because of God allowing a world that has evil in it, we have the gospel scattered across the globe.

We can also FRET over their success in the evil that they perform.

Their seemingly wealthy status

This has led people to develop the thought of wishing they could somehow shake off their morality that they too could enjoy such pleasures.

You may have begun to think that they are living happily while you are not.

David says, “Fret not....neither be thou envious”

Quote: “Fretfulness and envy are sins that are their own punishments” (Matthew Henry)

For the believer, the only lens of which to view this scenario with is the lens of faith.

We no good and well that their RUIN is quickly approaching!!! (v2)

Psalm 1:3-4 “3 And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, That bringeth forth his fruit in his season; His leaf also shall not wither; And whatsoever he doeth shall prosper. 4 The ungodly are not so: But are like the chaff which the wind driveth away.”

VERSE 3

Not only is God the author of these words, but the one penning them knows the proof of them in his own life!

He lived for years as a hunted fugitive, yet never missing a meal.

His enemy now dead and He now sits on his enemy’s throne.

So, the question we must ask ourselves is this, “By what should should our heart be guided by in order that our hearts don’t fall into sin when facing this seeming reality in everyday life?”

FIRST — (v3) “Trust in the Lord, and do good”

Notice the combination of this verse!

This means both to “confide” and “conform” to God.

Quote: The life of religion lies much in a believing reliance on God, his favour, his providence, his promise, his grace, and a diligent care to serve him and our generation, according to his will.

Henry, M. (1994). Matthew Henry’s commentary on the whole Bible: complete and unabridged in one volume (p. 793). Peabody: Hendrickson.

NOT “trusting God” and then “living” opposite to His will.

NOT thinking to do good and then just trusting our own selves.

“thou shalt be fed”

This makes me think of Elijah in the famine being fed by the ravens.

This name “Lord” (Yahweh) speaks to his relationship to his people and His covenant with them.

VERSE 4

The believer is to DELIGHT in God’s very existence.

Psalm 97:1 “1 The Lord reigneth; let the earth rejoice; Let the multitude of isles be glad thereof.”

1Chron. 16:31 “31 Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice: And let men say among the nations, The Lord reigneth.”

Rev. 19:6 “6 And I heard as it were the voice of a great multitude, and as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of mighty thunderings, saying, Alleluia: for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth.”

Quote: That there is a God is enough to make the most wretched man happy if he believeth. The nations crash, dynasties fall, kingdoms reel, what mattereth it,—for there is a God. The father has gone to the tomb, the mother sleeps in the dust, the wife has fallen from our side, the children are removed,—but there is a God.

Spurgeon, C. H. (1862). Sunshine in the Heart. In The Metropolitan Tabernacle Pulpit Sermons (Vol. 8, p. 329). London: Passmore & Alabaster.

Quote: Every attribute of God should become a fresh ray in this sunlight of delight. That he is wise should make us glad who know our folly. That he is mighty should cause us to rejoice who tremble at our own weakness. That he is everlasting should always be a theme for our music, when we know that we are grass and wither as the green herb. That he is unchanging should always give us a song, since we change every hour and are never long the same. That he is full of grace, that he is overflowing with it, and that this grace in the covenant he has given to us, that it is ours, ours to cleanse us, ours to keep us, ours to sanctify us, ours to perfect us, ours to bring us to glory—all this should tend to make us delight ourselves in him.

Spurgeon, C. H. (1862). Sunshine in the Heart. In The Metropolitan Tabernacle Pulpit Sermons (Vol. 8, pp. 329–330). London: Passmore & Alabaster.

We must also delight in all things God has done for us in the past!!!

Food, clothing, health, family, job, victory over sin, repentance, promise of hope beyond this life, etc...

How about all the things God has yet to do?

How about the work of the Holy Spirit in you?

Strength, wisdom, faithfully serves you, will ultimately perfect you...

How about the work and ministry of Jesus Christ?

Prophet, priest, king, intercessor, brother, friend, savior, the very one who has connected you to the brethren...........

Notice the circumstance David is instructing us to perform this delighting in God.

When everything is NOT GOING WELL.

Some might say, “It would be far easier to delight in God when everything is going well.” ARE YOU SURE???

You might be delighting in HIS MERCY and not HIM.

Illustration: A missionary said to a supporting pastor, “I pray for you due to you being tempted more in idolatry than we.”

Job 13:15 “15 Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him: But I will maintain mine own ways before him.”

Why is this delighting so often times seen as a RARE things among so called believers?

Illustration: You have seen sometimes a man with a dog of a breed that does not like the water, and he throws it in; how quickly it gets out again. But there are some of a different breed, that will swim by the hour, and delight in it. So, now, there are some professors who are known to be hypocrites by the fact that their religion is against their will. You have put them into it, and they soon get out again. But the true Christian takes to his religion by grace with ardour and delight. He loves it, he delights therein. This is one of the best tests to discern between a hypocrite and a true Christian.

Spurgeon, C. H. (1862). Sunshine in the Heart. In The Metropolitan Tabernacle Pulpit Sermons (Vol. 8, p. 333). London: Passmore & Alabaster.

Why is delighting in the Lord so benificial?

Psalm 21:1 “1 The king shall joy in thy strength, O Lord; And in thy salvation how greatly shall he rejoice!”

This is exactly what the “unbelievers” need to see!

Whatever is going on in your life today, is the platform by which your are to “delight in the Lord.”

VERSE 4

Quote: There is many a man that has gone to heaven through not having had his desires who would have gone to hell if he had had them.

Spurgeon, C. H. (1862). Sunshine in the Heart. In The Metropolitan Tabernacle Pulpit Sermons (Vol. 8, p. 333). London: Passmore & Alabaster.

When one delights in God, they then qualify themselves to purpose their heart to desire rightly.

Sometimes the desire may be good, but God’s know well that you will not use it well.

Quote: the range of their desires will be found in a very short compass.

Spurgeon, C. H. (1862). Sunshine in the Heart. In The Metropolitan Tabernacle Pulpit Sermons (Vol. 8, p. 334). London: Passmore & Alabaster.

Many desire money, fame and fortune. After getting it, they eventually find themselves either trying to get rid of it or fleeing from it.

You may desire those things, but you will not get the satisfaction you desire from them!

Illustration: It is like chasing a rainbow