Psalms37

Psalm 37 counsels against fretting over the temporary prosperity of the wicked, for their success is fleeting and they shall soon wither away. Instead, it exhorts the righteous to trust in the Lord, delight in Him, and commit their ways to Him. The psalm assures that the meek and upright shall inherit the earth and be sustained, while evildoers will be cut off and perish.

Do Not Fret, But Trust the Lord

1
By David: Don't be upset by evildoers or envious of those who do wrong, ​
2
for soon they will wither like grass and fade like the green in the fields. ​
3
Trust in ADONAI, and do good; settle in the land, and feed on faithfulness. ​
4
Then you will delight yourself in ADONAI, and he will give you your heart's desire. ​
5
Commit your way to ADONAI; trust in him, and he will act. ​
6
He will make your vindication shine forth like light, the justice of your cause like the noonday sun. ​

Rest in the Lord and Wait Patiently

7
Be still before ADONAI; wait patiently till he comes. Don't be upset by those whose way succeeds because of their wicked plans. ​
8
Stop being angry, put aside rage, and don't be upset - it leads to evil.
9
For evildoers will be cut off, but those hoping in ADONAI will inherit the land. ​
10
Soon the wicked will be no more; you will look for his place, and he won't be there.
11
But the meek will inherit the land and delight themselves in abundant peace. ​

The Short-Lived Triumph of the Wicked

12
The wicked plots against the righteous and grinds his teeth at him;
13
but Adonai laughs at the wicked, knowing his day will come. ​
14
The wicked have unsheathed their swords, they have strung their bows to bring down the poor and needy, to slaughter those whose way is upright.
15
But their swords will pierce their own hearts, and their bows will be broken.
16
Better the little that the righteous has than the wealth of all the wicked. ​
17
For the arms of the wicked will be broken, but ADONAI upholds the righteous.
18
ADONAI knows what the wholehearted suffer, but their inheritance lasts forever. ​
19
They will not be distressed when times are hard; when famine comes, they will have plenty.
20
For the wicked will perish; ADONAI's enemies will be like sheep fat, ending up as smoke, finished. ​

The Security and Provision of the Righteous

21
The wicked borrows and doesn't repay, but the righteous is generous and gives. ​
22
For those blessed by [ADONAI] will inherit the land, but those cursed by him will be cut off.
23
ADONAI directs a person's steps, and he delights in his way. ​
24
He may stumble, but he won't fall headlong, for ADONAI holds him by the hand.
25
I have been young; now I am old; yet not once have I seen the righteous abandoned or his descendants begging for bread. ​
26
All day long he is generous and lends, and his descendants are blessed.
27
If you turn from evil and do good, you will live safely forever.
28
For ADONAI loves justice and will not abandon his faithful; they are preserved forever. But the descendants of the wicked will be cut off. ​
29
The righteous will inherit the land and live in it forever.
30
The mouth of the righteous articulates wisdom, his tongue speaks justice. ​
31
The Torah of his God is in his heart; his footsteps do not falter. ​
32
The wicked keeps his eye on the righteous, seeking a chance to kill him.
33
But ADONAI will not leave him in his power or let him be condemned when judged.

Wait on the Lord and Observe His Justice

34
Put your hope in ADONAI, keep to his way, and he will raise you up to inherit the land. When the wicked are cut off, you will see it. ​
35
I have seen a wicked man wielding great power, flourishing like a shade tree in its native soil.
36
But I passed by again, and he was no longer there; I looked for him, but he could not be found.
37
Observe the pure person, consider the upright; for the peaceful person will have posterity. ​
38
But transgressors will all be destroyed; the posterity of the wicked will be cut off.
39
ADONAI is the one who saves the righteous; he is their stronghold in time of trouble. ​
40
ADONAI helps them and rescues them, rescues them from the wicked and saves them; because they take refuge in him.

Study Notes for Psalms 37

Verse 1

This psalm, structured acrostically, addresses the ancient problem of theodicy: why the wicked prosper. David’s central instruction is to avoid envy or anxiety concerning evildoers, as these emotions tempt the believer toward sin.

Verse 2

The prosperity of the wicked is temporary, likened here to grass that quickly grows but soon withers. This metaphor emphasizes the fleeting nature of their success compared to eternity.

Verse 3

The remedy for anxiety is active faith: trust (internal dependence) and doing good (external action). The promise of dwelling in the land and provision reflects covenant blessings.

Verse 4

To 'delight thyself also in the LORD' means finding one’s deepest satisfaction in God alone. This alignment of the heart ensures that the resulting 'desires' are congruent with God's will.

Verse 5

The phrase 'Commit thy way' (Hebrew: *gōl*) literally means 'roll your burden upon' the LORD. It demands complete surrender and reliance on God’s sovereign plan.

Verse 6

Vindication is promised. God will make the righteousness of the afflicted believer shine forth clearly, like the brightness of the midday sun, assuring public justice.

Verse 7

The word 'Rest' (Hebrew: *dûm*) implies silence, submission, and quiet expectation before God. It is a command to stop striving and worrying about the immediate success of evil men.

Verse 9

This verse introduces the theme of inheritance, which is a major focus of the psalm. Those who wait on the LORD, remaining faithful, will receive the lasting covenant blessing.

Verse 11

The meek (*anawim*) are the humble, afflicted, and dependent upon God. Jesus quotes this verse in the Beatitudes (Matt 5:5), extending the promise of inheriting the earth to all future believers.

Verse 13

God’s reaction to the plotting of the wicked is derision. He laughs because, from His eternal perspective, the wicked’s day of judgment is already fixed and imminent.

Verse 16

This proverb contrasts the instability of great wicked wealth with the security and moral superiority of even a small amount possessed by a righteous person.

Verse 18

God intimately knows and watches over the entire lifespan of the upright. Their 'inheritance shall be for ever,' emphasizing the eternal security of the believer.

Verse 20

The fate of the wicked is consumption, likened to the smoke of sacrificial fat, signifying complete disappearance and destruction.

Verse 21

This verse illustrates the ethical contrast: the wicked are often morally bankrupt and exploitative, while the righteous are characterized by mercy and generosity.

Verse 23

The steps of the righteous are divinely guided (*ordered*). This assurance means that even when the path is difficult, it is ultimately pleasing to God.

Verse 25

David offers his personal, lifelong testimony to confirm the covenant promises of God regarding provision for the righteous and their descendants.

Verse 28

God loves judgment (justice) and faithfully preserves His saints. The contrast between the preservation of the righteous and the cutting off of the wicked underscores divine moral order.

Verse 30

The righteous person’s speech is a reflection of his inner life, characterized by wisdom and moral guidance (judgment).

Verse 31

This verse describes deep commitment: the law is internalized (*in his heart*), ensuring stability and obedience in his actions.

Verse 34

This final exhortation summarizes the psalm's theme: persevere in patience and obedience, and the believer will witness God’s final act of justice in exalting the faithful and destroying the wicked.

Verse 37

The reader is instructed to observe the final outcome (*end*) of the upright man. Despite temporary trials, his destiny is peace (*shalom*), wholeness, and security.

Verse 39

The psalm concludes with a declaration of theological dependence: salvation (deliverance from trouble) is ultimately a sovereign act of the LORD, rooted in the believer’s trust.

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