Psalm Chapter 37

 

A Psalm of David.  

  • Psalm 37:1 Fret not thyself because of evildoers, neither be thou envious against the workers of iniquity.

This is plain and simple. Do not envy people who are wicked, do iniquity or those that we consider worldly minded. Do not envy their possessions, their esteem, or their standing in the community. Their days are numbered and time passes quickly. Unless they come to God, they perish and all they possess will perish with them or be left to others. In others words, we can't take anything with us except what we receive from the Lord so its a waste of time and energy being envious of it.

  • Psalm 37:2 For they shall soon be cut down like the grass, and wither as the green herb.

Here today, gone tomorrow. Only what is received from Christ and given for Christ will last throughout eternity.

  • Psalm 37:3 Trust in the LORD, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed.

Trust in the Lord and He will provide all necessary things for us.

  • Psalm 37:4 Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.

If our hearts are right with God we will not desire anything that we can't handle or that will endanger us to become worldly minded and forget God. If our hearts is where it should be, we will not desire things that belong to others. If our hearts are right with God, we will not desire to be rich with this world's goods to the point that it consumes our hearts.

This verse says that if we delight in the Lord, He will give us the desires of our hearts. This does not mean that if we desire to be rich, that we will get rich. Some have taken this verse to mean that we are to prosper financially if we trust the Lord.

Look closely at this verse. Delight thyself in the Lord.

If we delight in the Lord then we will desire spiritual things. We will desire to live close to God and be partaker of His righteousness. We will not desire to be rich in this life. So the verse says, if we delight in the Lord, He will give us the desires of our heart. Our heart will not desire this world's riches if we are busy delighting in the Lord. God may allow some of us to be rich so that we can use those riches for His glory but we are not to desire them. As Christians be should be serving the Lord with all our hearts.

  • Psalm 37:5 Commit thy way unto the LORD; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass.

If your prayers are not answered that doesn't mean that this verse is not true. He shall bring it to pass means that if we are committing all our ways to the Lord and trusting in Him, He will bring the desires of our heart to pass. If we are committing our ways to the Lord, we are following the Lord with all our hearts here. Committing means that our whole desire is in God.

Trusting means we are not concerned with worldly things. We trust Him. Our desires then will be good things not covetousness. Then is our prayers are answered because we are praying for the things that are spiritual and everlasting not things that are material unless they are necessary things we need to support our families and support the work of the Lord. He supplies our needs and we need to ask for financial things on occasion but that doesn't mean we pray for things we covet after to gain riches.

  • James 4:3 Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts. 
  • 4 Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.

Our main emphasis must be on things eternal, trusting God to take care of our needs here and not fretting and being anxious.

  • Psalm 37:6 And he shall bring forth thy righteousness as the light, and thy judgment as the noonday.
  • 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.

If financial prosperity was always the will of God for people who believe, then financial prosperity is for the wicked too for the wicked are also blessed financially. That doesn't mean that God is the one blessing them. Their riches will perish and come to nothing. The wicked though are not blessed spiritually. Only those that seek God and live for God are blessed spiritually.

Since the spiritual things from God are the only things that last, then that is the true riches and the riches we are to seek for. People who are believing in the wealth and prosperity gospel are in for a big fall when the economy crashes and there is a stock market crash. They will lose everything and be crushed. They will think God has abandoned them.

Those that have their treasure in heaven and are trusting only in the things of the spirit, will lose nothing. If you are well off financially be thankful and use it for the glory of God but don't let your heart be consumed with wealth for it may come crashing down at any moment.

I wonder why the big financially well off churches do not help the small struggling ones. Is it because of the wealth gospel that teaches that if God isn't blessing financially, then there must be something wrong with the little church? Is it because the little church is not growing so then God must not be among them? Where in the bible is this the case? We are looking at numbers and big things. Maybe God leaves the poor and small among us to see if we will help them.

  • Matthew 25:41 Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels: 
  • 42 For I was an hungred, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink:

Have you ever seen a struggling pastor and not cared if he or his family had enough to eat?  Do you assume that if he is right with God, God will take care of him? That is true but don't you know that God uses ordinary people to do this. In other words, God uses us. If we withdraw our giving because we think in our hearts that God will provide for them, then He may choose someone else to do just that and we will miss God's blessing if we ourselves choose not to give. I can say this as one who does not receive tithes or offerings. We also should not forget the poor. If we see someone who hasn't enough to eat and we have plenty, what does that make us? 

  • Matthew 25:43 I was a stranger, and ye took me not in: naked, and ye clothed me not: sick, and in prison, and ye visited me not. 
  • 44 Then shall they also answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee? 
  • 45 Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me. 
  • 46 And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.

Perhaps our attitude should be to make do with what we have and do our best at what we are given. If we find ourselves in a large church that has everything, find something to do for the glory of God. If we find ourselves among the small and poor, do all we can to be faithful and help. Don't look at numbers and think God has forsaken the small and weak. 

Before going further, I want to add that the scriptures I referred to in Matthew are basically for the time when God judges the nations and how they treated His people both the natural Israel and those that are followers of Jesus Christ. Nevertheless, we can see that it can apply to individuals on certain occasions because Jesus did address an individual on this topic and that was the rich young ruler.

  • Psalm 37:8 Cease from anger, and forsake wrath: fret not thyself in any wise to do evil.

Cleave to God, trust in Him and do not give place to anger, wrath and evil.

  • Psalm 37:9 For evildoers shall be cut off: but those that wait upon the LORD, they shall inherit the earth.

No matter how they seem to be triumphing, the evil workers will be cut off and God's people will inherit the earth. God's people are those that love Him, love His word, have respect to His commandments and seek Him with a whole heart.

  • Psalm 37:10 For yet a little while, and the wicked shall not be: yea, thou shalt diligently consider his place, and it shall not be.

This is an eternal truth. The wicked will surely perish. That is why the gospel must be preached fervently to as many as can be reached before the time of the end. 

  • Psalm 37:11 But the meek shall inherit the earth; and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace.

Peace is not the peace that we hear about today. It is not peace that compromises and allows evil. It is not the false peace that goes along to get along. This is a false peace that actually fights against true peace. True peace is the peace of being right with God, being obedient to His word and and is a result of walking in the true love of God. True peace is compassion on the weak, sick, and hurting. True peace loves righteousness and loves who God is and what God stands for.

  • Psalm 37:12 The wicked plotteth against the just, and gnasheth upon him with his teeth.

This will be true until the Second Coming of the Lord Jesus Christ back to the earth. We see that now in today's world. Those that sin and refuse to repent will hate those that preach holy living.

  • Psalm 37:13 The Lord shall laugh at him: for he seeth that his day is coming.
  • 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.

You see here the proof of God's concern for the poor and needy. Those that oppress the poor are in big trouble with God. 

  • Psalm 37:15 Their sword shall enter into their own heart, and their bows shall be broken.
    16 A little that a righteous man hath is better than the riches of many wicked.

This is the opposite of the prosperity doctrine. Jesus did say, give and it shall be given unto you but this is not the modern day prosperity doctrine that encourages people to seek riches and give for the purpose of increasing in riches. We are to give out of a heart of compassion, not to gain materially. God sees our motives. A little that we have when we are faithful to God is better than the riches of those that do not regard the Lord in their hearts.

  • Psalm 37:17 For the arms of the wicked shall be broken: but the LORD upholdeth the righteous.
  • 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.

God will take care of those that trust in Him. These are the only ones that are safe in times of famine. During the depression of the 30's after the 1929 stock market crash, only those who had their lives wrapped up in their riches were the ones who were in despair. Some even committed suicide. They thought they were finished. Those that trusted the Lord in that time were protected. They helped each other and they grew closer to the Lord.

  • Psalm 37:20 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: but the righteous sheweth mercy, and giveth.

Giving can actually be fun. Giving will bring the joy that we are part of helping someone else or part of supporting God's work. I'm not advocating giving to make one person rich and increased with goods above all others. A Pastor should not be expected to live high above those in his congregation but at the same time, we shouldn't expect the pastors to do without if we have plenty.

  • Malachi 3:10 Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.

What we miss in this verse is the part that says, "that there may be meat in my house." This meat is not just for priests and ministers. I believe a good local church is one that have people regularly tithe and give to provide for the pastor, pay the church bills and then have plenty of benevolence funds available to help the poor.  If a church is struggling financially it is because someone is not obeying the Lord.  If we complain that they don't help the poor then we should remember that it is our giving that makes them able to do this. 

Paul speaks of this:

  • Galatians 2:10 Only they would that we should remember the poor; the same which I also was forward to do.

A church can't do this unless the congregation opens their heart and give first. Again I say this as one who does not receive any tithes or offerings from my local church. I'm not the pastor in other words.

  • Psalm 37:22 For such as be blessed of him shall inherit the earth; and they that be cursed of him shall be cut off.
  • 23 The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD: and he delighteth in his way.

When we delight in the ways of God and the word of God, God delights in us.

  • Psalm 37:24 Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down: for the LORD upholdeth him with his hand.
  • 25 I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread.

This is true but it does not mean that the righteous should be rich or else he is not in favor of God. It means that God will take care of those that trust in Him.

  • Psalm 37:26 He is ever merciful, and lendeth; and his seed is blessed.
    Another proof of giving and helping the poor.
  • 27 Depart from evil, and do good; and dwell for evermore.

Through faith in Jesus Christ we can have the power to depart from evil and do good. The Holy Spirit coming within us is what gives us this power to live righteous lives. The Holy Spirit is only given to those who come to Jesus Christ forsaking sins and trusting in Him for salvation.

  • Psalm 37:28 For the LORD loveth judgment, and forsaketh not his saints; they are preserved for ever: but the seed of the wicked shall be cut off.
  • 29 The righteous shall inherit the land, and dwell therein for ever.

This is the hope of all believers. Those that trust in the Lord will have eternal life and abide forever. The wicked will be cut off forever.

  • Psalm 37:30 The mouth of the righteous speaketh wisdom, and his tongue talketh of judgment.

  • Colossians 4:6 Let your speech be alway with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man.

  • Psalm 37:31 The law of his God is in his heart; none of his steps shall slide.
  • 32 The wicked watcheth the righteous, and seeketh to slay him.

Those that resist the word of God persecutes those that live by the same word. The word offends those of the world. The two never mix. If we are accepted by the world, then it may mean that we are not accepted by God. Just because a church may have high esteem in the community does not necessarily mean that they have high esteem in the sight of God. Usually the world will despise a church that preaches truth.

  • Psalm 37:33 The LORD will not leave him in his hand, nor condemn him when he is judged.
  • 34 Wait on the LORD, and keep his way, and he shall exalt thee to inherit the land: when the wicked are cut off, thou shalt see it.

How can we keep His way? My finding out what His way is. That is why God provided us with the written word.

  • 2Timothy 2:15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

  • Psalm 37:35 I have seen the wicked in great power, and spreading himself like a green bay tree.
  • 36 Yet he passed away, and, lo, he was not: yea, I sought him, but he could not be found.

Ah, where is Hitler today? Where is Herod? Where is Stalin?

  • Psalm 37:37 Mark the perfect man, and behold the upright: for the end of that man is peace.
  • 38 But the transgressors shall be destroyed together: the end of the wicked shall be cut off.
  • 39 But the salvation of the righteous is of the LORD: he is their strength in the time of trouble.
  • 40 And the LORD shall help them, and deliver them: he shall deliver them from the wicked, and save them, because they trust in him. 

Look at the back of the book of Revelation and we shall see that the righteous win in the end no matter how things look now. This is living by faith. We look forward to the Coming of the Lord and our gathering together to Him. -Dorna

  • Revelation 22:14 Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city. 
  • 15 For without are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie. 
  • 16 I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star. 
  • 17 And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.

Psalm 38

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