Psalm 37

Overview

    Again we are reminded not to be concerned with those who do evil, God will take care of them. He will take care of us, too. This Psalm shares in many ways that God watches over those who love Him and follow Him. Even if the wicked single you out to destroy, they can’t. Now, before you give me a, “But…”. I could give you plenty of Buts. God is in charge. Even when two of our friends were mugged and much of their stuff stolen in Africa a few months ago, God still has a plan for them, a purpose, a calling. And their souls were preserved. Their bodies were injured, their faith may have even been jarred, but both of those wonderful ladies fell back on God, clung to His deliverance. And in the end, God preserves our lives eternally. Those men who robbed my friends may not end up in Heaven with us, and that is the real justice, damnation. And we have escaped it by accepting our need for a Savior and then pursuing Him as He fills our hearts. Throughout the Psalm are also sprinkled advice on how to act in righteousness.

Characters

David—the Psalmist, evildoers, wrongdoers, the Lord, those who wait for the Lord, wicked, righteous, blameless, those blessed by the Lord, those cursed by the Lord, his saints, the upright, man of peace, transgressors

Key Verse

Verses 25-26 “I have been young, and now am old, yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken or his children begging for bread. He is ever lending generously, and his children become a blessing.”

Cross References

Psalm 109:10 “May his children wander about and beg, seeking food far from the ruins they inhabit!” [David again praying for justice against those who plot against him]

Job 15:20, 23 “The wicked man writhes in pain all his days, through all the years that are laid up for the ruthless…He wanders abroad for bread saying, ‘Where is it?’ He knows that a day of darkness is ready at his hand”

Psalm 112:5-9 “It is well with the man who deals generously and lends; who conducts his affairs with justice. For the righteous will never be moved; he will be remembered forever. He is not afraid of bad news; his heart is firm, trusting in the Lord. His hear is steady; he will not be afraid, until he looks in triumph on his adversaries. He has distributed freely; he has given to the poor; his righteousness endures forever; his horn is exalted in honor.”

Deuteronomy 15:7-11 “”If among you, one of your brothers should become poor, in any of your towns within your land that the Lord your God is giving you, you shall not harden your heart or shut your hand against your poor brother, but you shall open your hand to him and lend him sufficient for his need, whatever it may be. Take care lest there be an unworthy thought in your heart and you say, ‘The seventh year, the year of release is near,’ and your eye look grudgingly on your poor brother, and you give him nothing, and he cry to the Lord against you, and you be guilty of sin. You shall give to him freely, and your heart shall not be grudging when you give to him, because for this the Lord your God will bless you in all your work and in all that you undertake. For there will never cease to be poor in the land. Therefore I command you, ‘You shall open wide your hand to your brother, to the needy and to the poor, in your land.'”

Matthew 5:42 “Give to the one who begs from you, and do not refuse the one who would borrow from you.”

Luke 6:35-36 “But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return, and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, for he is kind to the ungrateful and the evil. Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful.”

Conclusion

    Guard your hearts from pride and greed that may keep us from showing how very different God desires us to be from the rest of the world. Some who claim to follow God are really out for violence and destruction. Yet, our Lord says in the face of all that, to wait on Him. Hard as it may seem, and to live out the life He called us to. Lives of service for Him, sharing about Him at all times and circumstances.

Jesus in the Psalm

“Despite the temporary success of “evildoers,” dependence on God will bring eternal reward (vv. 1-2, 7-11). Rather than “fretting,” David prescribes meekness just as Jesus did in the third beatitude (v. 22; Matt. 5:5; James 1:20; Rom. 12:21). While the New Testament speaks only occasionally of meekness (e.g., Gal. 5:22-23; Col. 3:12; 1 Pet. 3:15; James 1:21), this psalm is nearly encyclopedic. Meekness is strength from trust in a sovereign God, and David imagines the first step to be rolling his burdens onto the Lord (Ps. 37:5).”*

Matthew 5:5 “”Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.”

James 1:19-21 “Know this, my beloved brothers: let everyone be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God. Therefore put away all filthiness and rampant wickedness and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.”

Romans 12:21 “Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”

Galatians 5:22-23 “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control; against such things there is no law.”

Colossians 3:12-13 “Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive.”

1 Peter 3:15 “but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect,”

Tomorrow: Psalm 38

*Note: I am using the ESV Gospel Transformation Bible for the Jesus in the Psalm section, so these are paraphrases and quotes from the commentary with my own ideas sprinkled in.

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