Psalms 37

1 By David. Do not fret because of evil doers, Be not envious against doers of iniquity,

2 For as grass speedily they are cut off, And as the greenness of the tender grass do fade.

3 Trust in Jehovah, and do good, Dwell [in] the land, and enjoy faithfulness,

4 And delight thyself on Jehovah, And He giveth to thee the petitions of thy heart.

5 Roll on Jehovah thy way, And trust upon Him, and He worketh,

6 And hath brought out as light thy righteousness, And thy judgment as noon-day.

7 Be silent for Jehovah, and stay thyself for Him, Do not fret because of him Who is making prosperous his way, Because of a man doing wicked devices.

8 Desist from anger, and forsake fury, Fret not thyself only to do evil.

9 For evil doers are cut off, As to those waiting on Jehovah, they possess the land.

10 And yet a little, and the wicked is not, And thou hast considered his place, and it is not.

11 And the humble do possess the land, And they have delighted themselves In the abundance of peace.

12 The wicked is devising against the righteous, And gnashing against him his teeth.

13 The Lord doth laugh at him, For He hath seen that his day cometh.

14 A sword have the wicked opened, And they have trodden their bow, To cause to fall the poor and needy, To slaughter the upright of the way.

15 Their sword doth enter into their own heart, And their bows are shivered.

16 Better [is] the little of the righteous, Than the store of many wicked.

17 For the arms of the wicked are shivered, And Jehovah is sustaining the righteous.

18 Jehovah knoweth the days of the perfect, And their inheritance is -- to the age.

19 They are not ashamed in a time of evil, And in days of famine they are satisfied.

20 But the wicked perish, and the enemies of Jehovah, As the preciousness of lambs, Have been consumed, In smoke they have been consumed.

21 The wicked is borrowing and repayeth not, And the righteous is gracious and giving.

22 For His blessed ones do possess the land, And His reviled ones are cut off.

23 From Jehovah [are] the steps of a man, They have been prepared, And his way he desireth.

24 When he falleth, he is not cast down, For Jehovah is sustaining his hand.

25 Young I have been, I have also become old, And I have not seen the righteous forsaken, And his seed seeking bread.

26 All the day he is gracious and lending, And his seed [is] for a blessing.

27 Turn aside from evil, and do good, and dwell to the age.

28 For Jehovah is loving judgment, And He doth not forsake His saintly ones, To the age they have been kept, And the seed of the wicked is cut off.

29 The righteous possess the land, And they dwell for ever on it.

30 The mouth of the righteous uttereth wisdom, And his tongue speaketh judgment.

31 The law of his God [is] his heart, His steps do not slide.

32 The wicked is watching for the righteous, And is seeking to put him to death.

33 Jehovah doth not leave him in his hand, Nor condemn him in his being judged.

34 Look unto Jehovah, and keep His way, And He doth exalt thee to possess the land, In the wicked being cut off -- thou seest!

35 I have seen the wicked terrible, And spreading as a green native plant,

36 And he passeth away, and lo, he is not, And I seek him, and he is not found!

37 Observe the perfect, and see the upright, For the latter end of each [is] peace.

38 And transgressors were destroyed together, The latter end of the wicked was cut off.

39 And the salvation of the righteous [is] from Jehovah, Their strong place in a time of adversity.

40 And Jehovah doth help them and deliver them, He delivereth them from the wicked, And saveth them, Because they trusted in Him!

Psalms 37 Commentary

Chapter 37

David persuades to patience and confidence in God, by the state of the godly and of the wicked.

Verses 1-6 When we look abroad we see the world full of evil-doers, that flourish and live in ease. So it was seen of old, therefore let us not marvel at the matter. We are tempted to fret at this, to think them the only happy people, and so we are prone to do like them: but this we are warned against. Outward prosperity is fading. When we look forward, with an eye of faith, we shall see no reason to envy the wicked. Their weeping and wailing will be everlasting. The life of religion is a believing trust in the Lord, and diligent care to serve him according to his will. It is not trusting God, but tempting him, if we do not make conscience of our duty to him. A man's life consists not in abundance, but, Thou shalt have food convenient for thee. This is more than we deserve, and it is enough for one that is going to heaven. To delight in God is as much a privilege as a duty. He has not promised to gratify the appetites of the body, and the humours of the fancy, but the desires of the renewed, sanctified soul. What is the desire of the heart of a good man? It is this, to know, and love, and serve God. Commit thy way unto the Lord; roll thy way upon the Lord, so the margin reads it. Cast thy burden upon the Lord, the burden of thy care. We must roll it off ourselves, not afflict and perplex ourselves with thoughts about future events, but refer them to God. By prayer spread thy case and all thy cares before the Lord, and trust in him. We must do our duty, and then leave the event with God. The promise is very sweet: He shall bring that to pass, whatever it is, which thou has committed to him.

Verses 7-20 Let us be satisfied that God will make all to work for good to us. Let us not discompose ourselves at what we see in this world. A fretful, discontented spirit is open to many temptations. For, in all respects, the little which is allotted to the righteous, is more comfortable and more profitable than the ill-gotten and abused riches of ungodly men. It comes from a hand of special love. God provides plentifully and well, not only for his working servants, but for his waiting servants. They have that which is better than wealth, peace of mind, peace with God, and then peace in God; that peace which the world cannot give, and which the world cannot have. God knows the believer's days. Not one day's work shall go unrewarded. Their time on earth is reckoned by days, which will soon be numbered; but heavenly happiness shall be for ever. This will be a real support to believers in evil times. Those that rest on the Rock of ages, have no reason to envy the wicked the support of their broken reeds.

Verses 21-33 The Lord our God requires that we do justly, and render to all their due. It is a great sin for those that are able, to deny the payment of just debts; it is a great misery not to be able to pay them. He that is truly merciful, will be ever merciful. We must leave our sins; learn to do well, and cleave to it. This is true religion. The blessing of God is the spring, sweetness, and security of all earthly enjoyments. And if we are sure of this, we are sure not to want any thing good for us in this world. By his grace and Holy Spirit, he directs the thoughts, affections, and designs of good men. By his providence he overrules events, so as to make their way plain. He does not always show them his way for a distance, but leads them step by step, as children are led. God will keep them from being ruined by their falls, either into sin or into trouble, though such as fall into sin will be sorely hurt. Few, if any, have known the consistent believer, or his children, reduced to abject, friendless want. God forsakes not his saints in affliction; and in heaven only the righteous shall dwell for ever; that will be their everlasting habitation. A good man may fall into the hands of a messenger of Satan, and be sorely buffeted, but God will not leave him in his enemy's hands.

Verses 34-40 Duty is ours, and we must mind it; but events are God's, we must refer the disposal of them to him. What a striking ( psalms 37:35-36 ) But God remarkably blights the projects of the prosperous wicked, especially persecutors. None are perfect in themselves, but believers are so in Christ Jesus. If all the saint's days continue dark and cloudy, his dying day may prove comfortable, and his sun set bright; or, if it should set under a cloud, yet his future state will be everlasting peace. The salvation of the righteous will be the Lord's doing. He will help them to do their duties, to bear their burdens; help them to bear their troubles well, and get good by them, and, in due time, will deliver them out of their troubles. Let sinners then depart from evil, and do good; repent of and forsake sin, and trust in the mercy of God through Jesus Christ. Let them take his yoke upon them, and learn of him, that they may dwell for evermore in heaven. Let us mark the closing scenes of different characters, and always depend on God's mercy.

Chapter Summary

INTRODUCTION TO PSALM 37

\\<<[A Psalm] of David>>\\. This psalm, it is very probable, was written at the same time, and upon the same occasion, with the former; and describes the different states of good and bad men; and is full of exhortations, instructions, and advice to the people of God; intermixed with various encouraging promises. A late learned writer {h} thinks it was written for Mephibosheth's consolation under Ziba's calumny. {h} Delaney's Life of King David, vol. 2. p. 219.