Psalms 37

1 Do not be angry because of the wrongdoers, or have envy of the workers of evil.

2 For they will quickly be cut down like grass, and become dry like the green plants.

3 Have faith in the Lord, and do good; be at rest in the land, and go after righteousness.

4 So will your delight be in the Lord, and he will give you your heart's desires.

5 Put your life in the hands of the Lord; have faith in him and he will do it.

6 And he will make your righteousness be seen like the light, and your cause like the shining of the sun.

7 Take your rest in the Lord, waiting quietly for him; do not be angry because of the man who does well in his evil ways, and gives effect to his bad designs.

8 Put an end to your wrath and be no longer bitter; do not give way to angry feeling which is a cause of sin.

9 For the evil-doers will be cut off: but those who have faith in the Lord will have the earth for their heritage.

10 For in a short time the evil-doer will be gone: you will go searching for his place, and it will not be there.

11 But the gentle will have the earth for their heritage; they will take their delight in peace without measure.

12 The sinner has evil designs against the upright, lifting up the voice of wrath against him.

13 He will be laughed at by the Lord, who sees that his day is coming.

14 The evil-doers have taken out their swords, their bows are bent; for crushing the poor, and to put to death those who are upright in their ways.

15 But their swords will be turned into their hearts, and their bows will be broken.

16 The little which the good man has is better than the wealth of evil-doers.

17 For the arms of the evil-doers will be broken: but the Lord is the support of the good.

18 The days of the upright are numbered by the Lord, and their heritage will be for ever.

19 They will not be shamed in the evil time, and in the days when all are in need of food they will have enough.

20 But the wrongdoers will come to destruction, and the haters of the Lord will be like the fat of lambs, they will be burned up; they will go up in smoke, and never again be seen.

21 The sinner takes money and does not give it back; but the upright man has mercy, and gives to others.

22 Those who have his blessing will have the earth for their heritage; but those who are cursed by him will be cut off.

23 The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord, and he takes delight in his way.

24 Even if he has a fall he will not be without help: for the hand of the Lord is supporting him.

25 I have been young, and now am old, but I have not seen the good man without help, or his children looking for bread.

26 All the day he is ready to have mercy and to give; his children are a blessing.

27 Be turned from evil, and do good; and your place will be for ever.

28 For the Lord is a lover of righteousness, and takes care of his saints; they will be kept safe for ever; but the seed of the evil-doers will be cut off.

29 The upright will have the earth for their heritage, and will go on living there for ever.

30 The mouth of the good man says words of wisdom; the talk of his tongue is of righteousness.

31 The law of his God is in his heart; he will never make a false step.

32 The sinners are watching the upright man, desiring to put him to death.

33 The Lord will not give him into their hands, or be against him when he is judged.

34 Be waiting for the Lord, and keep his way; and you will be lifted up, and have the land for your heritage: when the evil-doers are cut off, you will see it.

35 I have seen the evil-doer in great power, covering the earth like a great tree.

36 But he came to an end, and there was no sign of him; I made a search for him and he was not there.

37 Give attention to the good man, and take note of the upright; because the end of that man is peace.

38 But as for the sinners, they will be cut off together; the end of the wrongdoers is destruction.

39 But the Lord is the saviour of the upright: he is their strength in the time of trouble.

40 And the Lord will be their help, and keep them safe: he will take them out of the hands of the evil-doers, and be their saviour, because they had faith 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.