Psalm 37:1 ¶ «A Psalm of David.» Fret not thyself because of evildoers, neither be thou envious against the workers of iniquity. 2 For they shall soon be cut down like the grass, and wither as the green herb. 3 Trust in the LORD, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed. 4 Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart. 5 Commit thy way unto the LORD; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass. 6 And he shall bring forth thy righteousness as the light, and thy judgment as the noonday.
Here is advice from David based on his faith and trust in God
Almighty. We are not to worry about the end fate of the evildoers, the workers
of iniquity. Their end is foretold in many places in the Bible. Psalm 73 is a
good example of how a person of God realizes the fate of the wicked. Here also
are promises that the Holy Spirit gives us through David. Verses 3-5 give the
Israelites who follow God and obey Him rules to live by. Notice the temporal
context of these promises; dwelling in the land, being fed, the desires of
their hearts. These were temporal benefits in the land that God had given them.
The Christian is given spiritual assurances and promises ending in
their abode with Christ in the Heavenly realm. But life can be difficult for us
and we are called to rejoice in our sufferings as Christians.
Romans 5:1 ¶ Therefore
being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:
2 By whom also we have access by faith
into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. 3 And not only so, but we glory in tribulations
also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; 4 And patience, experience; and experience,
hope:
5 And hope maketh not
ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost
which is given unto us.
1 Peter 4:16 Yet if any man
suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this
behalf.
So be careful when you apply Old Testament verses to you as a
follower of Christ. They apply to you, all of them, but the question you must
ask yourself is how they apply to you considering the Israelites were promised
a kingdom on earth with armies and cities, foreign policy and an economy. The
Christian is promised an invisible kingdom within the believer until the
millennial reign of Christ in which the Christian will take part.
Luke 17:20 ¶ And when he
was demanded of the Pharisees, when the kingdom of God should come, he answered
them and said, The kingdom of God cometh not with observation: 21 Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo
there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you.
John 18:36 Jesus answered,
My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would
my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my
kingdom not from hence.
Revelation 20:6 Blessed and
holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death
hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign
with him a thousand years.
Psalm 37:7 ¶ 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.
8 Cease from anger, and forsake wrath:
fret not thyself in any wise to do evil. 9
For evildoers shall be cut off: but those that wait upon the LORD, they
shall inherit the earth. 10 For yet a
little while, and the wicked shall not be: yea, thou shalt
diligently consider his place, and it shall not be. 11 But the meek shall inherit the earth; and shall
delight themselves in the abundance of peace. 12 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. 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. 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. 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. 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.
Verse 7 reinforces verse 1 and gives the meaning of the entire
Psalm essentially. The idea of waiting on God to do His will is expressed
elsewhere in Psalms. Here are only two examples;
Psalm 27:14 Wait on the
LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on
the LORD.
Psalm 40:1 ¶ «To the chief
Musician, A Psalm of David.» I waited patiently for the LORD; and he inclined
unto me, and heard my cry.
Psalms 46:10 Be still, and
know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in
the earth.
And from the prophet Jeremiah as an example;
Lamentations 3:25 The LORD
is good unto them that wait for him, to the soul that seeketh him.
26 It is good that a man
should both hope and quietly wait for the salvation of the LORD.
This is teaching that God’s people should not worry that evildoers
seem to triumph in this world as we need to wait on the Lord to do His will and
His ways are sure. God’s people are not justified in doing evil, doing
violence, against the wicked because we must trust in God’s deliverance and
that He will stay their hand.
Romans 12:17 Recompense to
no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men. 18 If it be possible, as much as lieth in you,
live peaceably with all men. 19 Dearly
beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is
written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.
James 1:19 ¶ Wherefore, my
beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath:
20 For the wrath of man worketh not the
righteousness of God.
Those that wait on the Lord shall inherit the earth which gives us
another dimension of meekness, as the meek defined in this way shall inherit
the earth. This is one of those passages that make some like Dr. Ruckman think
that the faithful Jews will live on the earth in eternity.
Matthew 5:5 Blessed are the
meek: for they shall inherit the earth.
We’ve already discussed that gnashing on someone with your teeth
means to grind your teeth in fury and anger.
What is important here is that God will avenge, and we must trust
that even if His ways take what seems as a long time.
Romans 12:19 Dearly
beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is
written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.
Our wrath and anger are puny compared to God’s judgment. We just
have trouble waiting on His judgment.
Psalm 37:21 ¶ The wicked
borroweth, and payeth not again: but the righteous sheweth mercy, and giveth.
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. 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. 26 He is ever merciful, and lendeth; and
his seed is blessed. 27 Depart
from evil, and do good; and dwell for evermore. 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. 30 The mouth of the righteous speaketh wisdom,
and his tongue talketh of judgment. 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. 33
The LORD will not leave him in his hand, nor condemn him when he is
judged.
Well, here’s a rip against people who don’t pay their debts. This
is contrasted with those who not only pay their debts presumably from the
context but who give to those in need.
Psalm 1:6 For the LORD
knoweth the way of the righteous: but the way of the ungodly shall perish.
The context compares the righteous man to the wicked and shows the
end of the latter person. Here also is underscored God’s protection of the
righteous in keeping them from sin.
Psalm 34:19 Many are the
afflictions of the righteous: but the LORD delivereth him out of them all.
Psalm 94:18 When I said, My
foot slippeth; thy mercy, O LORD, held me up.
Proverbs 24:16 For a just
man falleth seven times, and riseth up again: but the wicked shall fall into
mischief.
Verse 25 is not a condemnation of people who live in lands so poor
that it is not uncommon for Christians to go to bed hungry as famine is
mentioned in the previous passage. It is a hyperbole stating a principle. The
fact is if you live right your chances of being thrown into paupery and hunger are
smaller than if you choose to live wrong. Certainly, that is true in this
country.
All through this passage is a contrast between the behavior of the
righteous and the wicked as well as their fates.
For verse 26 see a similar thought.
Psalm 112:5 A good man
sheweth favour, and lendeth: he will guide his affairs with discretion.
Some commentators say that verse 27 is a reference to eternal
life. What is sure though is that this Psalm is a promise and a command to
God’s people to live right and wait on Him, not fearing the wicked, for God
will surely protect the righteous.
Another thing that is certain from this passage is that the wicked
hate the righteous as the world today hates the Christian who actually follows
God’s word and doesn’t compromise.
John 15:19 If ye were of
the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world,
but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.
Psalm 37:34 ¶ 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. 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. 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.
As David his admonition to wait on the LORD we are reminded of our
own impatience. David wants to assure us that although God’s ways can take time
they are must sure and certain. The wicked shall be recompensed for their evil.
This is a constant theme of this Psalm with the sentiments repeated more than
once as it is elsewhere;
Psalm 27:14 Wait on the
LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on
the LORD.
Proverbs 20:22 ¶ Say not
thou, I will recompense evil; but wait on the LORD, and he shall save thee.
The wicked seem to prosper for a time.
Psalm 73’s first part confirms this appearance of things before
the Psalmist acknowledges how precarious their situation is. He begins with;
Psalm 73:1 ¶ «A Psalm of
Asaph.» Truly God is good to Israel, even to such as are of a clean heart.
2 But as for me, my feet were almost
gone; my steps had well nigh slipped. 3
For I was envious at the foolish, when I saw the prosperity of the
wicked. 4 For there are no bands in
their death: but their strength is firm. 5
They are not in trouble as other men; neither are they plagued like other
men. 6 Therefore pride compasseth them
about as a chain; violence covereth them as a garment. 7 Their eyes stand out with fatness: they have
more than heart could wish. 8 They are
corrupt, and speak wickedly concerning oppression: they speak loftily. 9 They set their mouth against the heavens, and
their tongue walketh through the earth. 10
Therefore his people return hither: and waters of a full cup are wrung
out to them. 11 And they say, How doth
God know? and is there knowledge in the most High? 12 Behold, these are the ungodly, who prosper in
the world; they increase in riches. 13
Verily I have cleansed my heart in vain, and washed my hands in
innocency. 14 For all the day long have
I been plagued, and chastened every morning.
But then a realization is made, an understanding is arrived at;
Psalm 73:15 ¶ If I say, I
will speak thus; behold, I should offend against the generation of thy children.
16 When I thought to know this, it was
too painful for me; 17 Until I went into
the sanctuary of God; then understood I their end. 18 Surely thou didst set them in slippery
places: thou castedst them down into destruction. 19 How are they brought into desolation, as in a
moment! they are utterly consumed with terrors. 20 As a dream when one awaketh; so, O Lord, when
thou awakest, thou shalt despise their image.
21 ¶ Thus my heart was grieved, and I was pricked
in my reins. 22 So foolish was I, and
ignorant: I was as a beast before thee. 23
Nevertheless I am continually with thee: thou hast holden me by my right
hand. 24 Thou shalt guide me with thy
counsel, and afterward receive me to glory. 25
Whom have I in heaven but thee? and there is none upon earth that I
desire beside thee. 26 My flesh and my
heart faileth: but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion for ever.
27 For, lo, they that are far from thee
shall perish: thou hast destroyed all them that go a whoring from thee. 28 But it is good for me to draw near to God: I
have put my trust in the Lord GOD, that I may declare all thy works.
He also says there is peace for the righteous. We know this to be
true when we do the right thing, set our expectations truthfully according to
God’s word, and wait patiently for God’s perfect will.
For verse 37 I am reminded of the peace those who belong to God
can have.
Proverbs14:32 ¶ The wicked
is driven away in his wickedness: but the righteous hath hope in his death.
Paul speaks of this peace with God in Ephesians, chapter 2;
Ephesians 2:1 ¶ And you hath
he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins; 2 Wherein in time past ye walked according to
the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the
spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: 3 Among whom also we all had our conversation
in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh
and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.
4 ¶ But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great
love wherewith he loved us, 5 Even when
we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are
saved;) 6 And hath raised us up
together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: 7 That in the ages to come he might shew the
exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.
8 For by grace are ye saved through
faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.
10 For we are his workmanship, created
in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should
walk in them.
11 ¶ Wherefore remember, that ye being in time
past Gentiles in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that which is
called the Circumcision in the flesh made by hands; 12 That at that time ye were without Christ, being
aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of
promise, having no hope, and without God in the world: 13 But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were
far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.
14 ¶ For he is our peace, who hath made both one,
and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us; 15 Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even
the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of
twain one new man, so making peace; 16
And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross,
having slain the enmity thereby: 17 And
came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh.
18 For through him we both have access
by one Spirit unto the Father. 19 Now
therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the
saints, and of the household of God; 20
And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus
Christ himself being the chief corner stone; 21
In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy
temple in the Lord: 22 In whom ye also
are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.
Verse 38 again repeats destruction of the evil.
Psalm 1:4 ¶ The ungodly are
not so: but are like the chaff which the wind driveth away. 5 Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the
judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous. 6 For the LORD knoweth the way of the
righteous: but the way of the ungodly shall perish.
The following Psalm speaks well to verse 39;
Psalm 46:1 ¶ «To the chief
Musician for the sons of Korah, A Song upon Alamoth.» God is our refuge and
strength, a very present help in trouble. 2
Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains
be carried into the midst of the sea; 3 Though
the waters thereof roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with the
swelling thereof. Selah. 4 There is a
river, the streams whereof shall make glad the city of God, the holy place of
the tabernacles of the most High. 5 God is
in the midst of her; she shall not be moved: God shall help her, and that right
early.
6 ¶ The heathen raged, the kingdoms were moved:
he uttered his voice, the earth melted. 7
The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah.
8 Come, behold the works of the LORD,
what desolations he hath made in the earth. 9
He maketh wars to cease unto the end of the earth; he breaketh the bow,
and cutteth the spear in sunder; he burneth the chariot in the fire. 10 Be still, and know that I am God: I will be
exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth. 11 The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of
Jacob is our refuge. Selah.
Of the many passages that verse 40 brings to mind I think of this
one;
Psalm 22:4 Our fathers trusted in thee: they trusted, and thou didst deliver them. 5 They cried unto thee, and were delivered: they trusted in thee, and were not confounded.
No comments:
Post a Comment