Psalm 37:1-11, 39-40

Psalm 37:1-11, 39-40

¹ Do not fret because of the wicked; 

do not be envious of wrongdoers,

 ² for they will soon fade like the grass, 

and wither like the green herb.

 ³ Trust in the LORD, and do good; 

so you will live in the land, and enjoy security.

 ⁴ Take delight in the LORD, 

and he will give you the desires of your heart.

 ⁵ Commit your way to the LORD; 

trust in him, and he will act.

 ⁶ He will make your vindication shine like the light, 

and the justice of your cause like the noonday.

 ⁷ Be still before the LORD, and wait patiently for him; 

do not fret over those who prosper in their way, 

over those who carry out evil devices.

 ⁸ Refrain from anger, and forsake wrath. 

Do not fret-- it leads only to evil.

 ⁹ For the wicked shall be cut off, 

but those who wait for the LORD shall inherit the land.

 ¹⁰ Yet a little while, and the wicked will be no more; 

though you look diligently for their place, they will not be there.

 ¹¹ But the meek shall inherit the land, 

and delight themselves in abundant prosperity.

³⁹ The salvation of the righteous is from the LORD; 

he is their refuge in the time of trouble.

 ⁴⁰ The LORD helps them and rescues them; 

he rescues them from the wicked, and saves them, 

because they take refuge in him.

Psalm 37 is a wisdom psalm. The psalm dates from the post-exilic period. The psalm is acrostic. Each set of two verses begins with the next letter of the alphabet. It is more a collection of proverbs than a psalm. The theme counters the indignation of those outraged by the success of the wicked with the teachings of the sages on earthly rewards and punishments. The priest is in a pastoral teaching situation. The psalm contains three principles. First, do not fret or be angry about not having prosperity. Second, the righteous should endure by trusting the Lord. The poet gives encouragement to the godly in the midst of temptations and the apparent success of the ungodly.   There is a calm assurance of faith, not naive optimism. Third, the Lord properly rewards people. ¹ Do not fret because of the wicked; do not be envious of wrongdoers, ² for they will soon fade like the grass, and wither like the green herb. ³ Trust in the Lord, and do good; so you will live in the land, and enjoy security. ⁴ Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart. Some forms of Christian spirituality seem suggest we suppress the desires of the heart. Yet, the desires of our hearts are part of what makes up the uniqueness of each of us. Of course, we can wrongly desire. Yet, part of spirituality is learning our true desires that help us become the person the Lord has summoned us to be. ⁵ Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him, and he will act. ⁶ He will make your vindication shine like the light, and the justice of your cause like the noonday.  ⁷ Be still before the Lord, and wait patiently for him; do not fret over those who prosper in their way, over those who carry out evil devices. ⁸ Refrain from anger, and forsake wrath. Do not fret—it leads only to evil. Again, the author offers some practical advice. Anger and anxiety is path toward evil. ⁹ For the wicked shall be cut off, but those who wait for the Lord shall inherit the land.  ¹⁰ Yet a little while, and the wicked will be no more; though you look diligently for their place, they will not be there. ¹¹ But the meek shall inherit the land, and delight themselves in abundant prosperity. Matthew 5:5 frames this notion of the meek inheriting the land in the form of a beatitude. ³⁹ The salvation of the righteous is from the LORD; he is their refuge in the time of trouble.  ⁴⁰ The LORD helps them and rescues them; he rescues them from the wicked, and saves them, because they take refuge in him.