Psalms 37

Psalm 37

1

Of David.

1 Don't get upset over evildoers; don't be jealous of those who do wrong,

2 because they will fade fast, like grass; they will wither like green vegetables.

3 Trust the LORD and do good; live in the land, and farm faithfulness.

4 Enjoy the LORD, and he will give what your heart asks.

5 Commit your way to the LORD! Trust him! He will act

6 and will make your righteousness shine like the dawn, your justice like high noon.

7 Be still before the LORD, and wait for him. Don't get upset when someone gets ahead— someone who invents evil schemes.

8 Let go of anger and leave rage behind! Don't get upset—it will only lead to evil.

9 Because evildoers will be eliminated, but those who hope in the LORD— they will possess the land.

10 In just a little while the wicked won't exist! If you go looking around their place, they won't be there.

11 But the weak will inherit the land; they will enjoy a surplus of peace.

12 The wicked plot against the righteous, grinding their teeth at them.

13 But my Lord just laughs at them because he knows that their day is coming.

14 The wicked draw their swords and bend their bows to bring down the weak and the needy, to slaughter those whose way is right.

15 But the sword of the wicked will enter their own hearts! Their bows will be broken!

16 Better is the little that the righteous have than the overabundant wealth of the wicked.

17 The arms of the wicked will be broken, but the LORD supports the righteous.

18 The LORD is intimately acquainted with the lives of the blameless; their heritage will last forever.

19 They won't be ashamed in troubling times, and in a period of famine they will eat their fill.

20 But the wicked will die, the LORD's enemies will disappear— disappear like the beauty of a meadow—in smoke.

21 The wicked borrow and don't pay it back, but the righteous are generous and giving.

22 Those blessed by God will possess the land, but those cursed by God will be cut off.

23 A person's steps are made secure by the LORD when they delight in his way.

24 Though they trip up, they won't be thrown down, because the LORD holds their hand.

25 I was young and now I'm old, but I have never seen the righteous left all alone, have never seen their children begging for bread.

26 They are always gracious and generous. Their children are a blessing.

27 Turn away from evil! Do good! Then you will live in the land forever.

28 The LORD loves justice. He will never leave his faithful all alone. They are guarded forever, but the children of the wicked are eliminated.

29 The righteous will possess the land; they will live on it forever.

30 The mouths of the righteous recite wisdom; their tongues discuss justice.

31 The Instruction of their God is in their hearts; they don't miss a step.

32 The wicked, on the other hand, target the righteous, seeking to kill them.

33 But the LORD won't leave the righteous to the power of the wicked, and won't let the righteous be found guilty when they are judged.

34 Hope in the LORD and keep his way! He will lift you up so you can possess the land. When the wicked are eliminated, you will see it for yourself!

35 I myself have seen wicked powerful people, exalting themselves like a stately cedar.

36 But when I came back, they were gone! I looked all over for them, but they couldn't be found!

37 Observe those who have integrity and watch those whose heart is right because the future belongs to persons of peace.

38 But wrongdoers will be destroyed all together; the future of the wicked will be cut short.

39 The salvation of the righteous comes from the LORD; he is their refuge in times of trouble.

40 The LORD will help themand rescue them— rescue them from the wicked—and he will save them because they have taken refuge 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.

Footnotes

• [a]. Ps 37 is an alphabetic acrostic poem; see the note at Pss 9–10 or Ps 111.
• [b]. Correction with LXX, Vulg
• [c]. LXX, Vulg, Syr; MT abundant wealth of many wicked
• [d]. LXX
• [e]. LXX, Syr, Vulg

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.