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Commentary on Psalms 37 verses 34–40
The psalmist's conclusion of this sermon (for that is the nature of this poem) is of the same purport with the whole, and inculcates the same things.
I. The duty here pressed upon us is still the same (Psa 37:34): Wait on the Lord and keep his way. Duty is ours, and we must mind it and make conscience of it, keep God's way and never turn out of it nor loiter in it, keep close, keep going; but events are God's and we must refer ourselves to him for the disposal of them; we must wait on the Lord, attend the motions of his providence, carefully observe them, and conscientiously accommodate ourselves to them. If we make conscience of keeping God's way, we may with cheerfulness wait on him and commit to him our way; and we shall find him a good Master both to his working servants and to his waiting servants.
II. The reasons to enforce this duty are much the same too, taken from the certain destruction of the wicked and the certain salvation of the righteous. This good man, being tempted to envy the prosperity of the wicked, that he might fortify himself against the temptation, goes into the sanctuary of God and leads us thither (Psa 73:17); there he understands their end, and thence gives us to understand it, and, by comparing that with the end of the righteous, baffles the temptation and puts it to silence. Observe,
1.The misery of the wicked at last, however they may prosper awhile: The end of the wicked shall be cut off (Psa 37:38); and that cannot be well that will undoubtedly end so ill. The wicked, in their end, will be cut off from all good and all hopes of it; a final period will be put to all their joys, and they will be for ever separated from the fountain of life to all evil. (1.) Some instances of the remarkable ruin of wicked people David had himself observed in this world - that the pomp and prosperity of sinners would not secure them from the judgments of God when their day should come to fall (Psa 37:36, Psa 37:35): I have seen a wicked man (the word is singular), suppose Saul or Ahithophel (for David was an old man when he penned this psalm), in great power, formidable (so some render it), the terror of the mighty in the land of the living, carrying all before him with a high hand, and seeming to be firmly fixed and finely flourishing, spreading himself like a green bay-tree, which produces all leaves and no fruit; like a native home-born Israelite (so Dr. Hammond), likely to take root. But what became of him? Eliphaz, long before, had learned, when he saw the foolish taking root, to curse his habitation, Job 5:3. And David saw cause for it; for this bay-tree withered away as soon as the fig-tree. Christ cursed: He passed away as a dream, as a shadow, such was he and all the pomp and power he was so proud of. He was gone in an instant: He was not; I sought him with wonder, but he could not be found. He had acted his part and then quitted the stage, and there was no miss of him. (2.) The total and final ruin of sinners, of all sinners, will shortly be made as much a spectacle to the saints as they are now sometimes made a spectacle to the world (Psa 37:34): When the wicked are cut off (and cut off they certainly will be) thou shalt see it, with awful adorations of the divine justice. The transgressors shall be destroyed together, Psa 37:38. In this world God singles out here one sinner and there another, out of many, to be made an example in terrorem - as a warning; but in the day of judgment there will be a general destruction of all the transgressors, and not one shall escape. Those that have sinned together shall be damned together. Bind them in bundles, to burn them.
2.The blessedness of the righteous, at last. Let us see what will be the end of God's poor despised people. (1.) Preferment. There have been times the iniquity of which has been such that men's piety has hindered their preferment in this world, and put them quite out of the way of raising estates; but those that keep God's way may be assured that in due time he will exalt them, to inherit the land (Psa 37:34); he will advance them to a place in the heavenly mansions, to dignity, and honour, and true wealth, in the New Jerusalem, to inherit that good land, that land of promise, of which Canaan was a type; he will exalt them above all contempt and danger. (2.) Peace, Psa 37:37. Let all people mark the perfect man, and behold the upright; take notice of him to admire him and imitate him, keep your eye upon him to observe what comes of him, and you will find that the end of that man is peace. Sometimes the latter end of his days proves more comfortable to him than the beginning was; the storms blow over, and he is comforted again, after the time that he was afflicted. However, if all his days continue dark and cloudy, perhaps his dying day may prove comfortable to him and his sun may set in brightness; or, if it should set under a cloud, yet his future state will be peace, everlasting peace. Those that walk in their uprightness while they live shall enter into peace when they die, Isa 57:2. A peaceful death has concluded the troublesome life of many a good man; and all is well that thus ends everlastingly well. Balaam himself wished that his death and his last end might be like that of the righteous Num 23:10. (3.) Salvation, Psa 37:39, Psa 37:40. The salvation of the righteous (which may be applied to the great salvation of which the prophets enquired and searched diligently, Pe1 1:10) is of the Lord; it will be the Lord's doing. The eternal salvation, that salvation of God which those shall see that order their conversation aright (Psa 50:23), is likewise of the Lord. And he that intends Christ and heaven for them will be a God all-sufficient to them: He is their strength in time of trouble, to support them under it and carry them through it. He shall help them and deliver them, help them to do their duties, to bear their burdens, and to maintain their spiritual conflicts, help them to bear their troubles well and get good by them, and, in due time, shall deliver them out of their troubles. He shall deliver them from the wicked that would overwhelm them and swallow them up, shall secure them there, where the wicked cease from troubling. He shall save them, not only keep them safe, but make them happy, because they trust in him, not because they have merited it from him, but because they have committed themselves to him and reposed a confidence in him, and have thereby honoured him.
(Verse 34.) Therefore, wait either for a helper or for the Lord as a reward: And keep His ways; that is, to wait and to keep the commandments of the one whom you think you need to wait for. Even if you are worn out, even if you are troubled, even if you lose strength due to sickness, still wait for the Lord, and your hope will not be in vain.
The Lord will come and exalt you, that you may possess the land as an inheritance. It is clear that the land is superior, not this earthly valley; but that which is the promise of eternity, in which whoever is established is exalted by the Lord.
But you will see when sinners perish; then indeed there will be a reward for the righteous, when judgment is made about the wicked's merits. However, sinners do not perish in the same way. They perish for you beforehand, if you do not marvel at their power and wealth: if it does not move you when you learn that they abound in honors, children, and friends. For these things are of the world, and the world is subject to worldly malice: and the prince of the world favors those who serve him, according to that: 'All these things I will give you, if you fall down and worship me' (Matth. IV, 9). What do you seek for those things to be given to you, when the very impious one who gives cannot himself abide in them for long? He himself also passes away, so how can the things he has conferred not also pass away? Just maintain a steady mind, hold on to justice, let no one sway you, and you will see that there is nothing impious.
Since, then, God does not allow the righteous, even if vulnerable to sinners, to be subject completely to their verdict, do not be despondent if ever you fall foul of disaster; instead, expect help from God by observing his decrees and commands, being attentive to his good pleasure and not withdrawing from virtue on account of the hardships besetting you. “And he will exalt you to inherit the land”: if you do this, he will shelter you, even if vulnerable to the sinner, and make you exalted by ensuring you secure occupancy of the land. “In the destruction of sinners you will see”: not only will you be freed from their scheming, but also you will see them destroyed.
"Wait on the Lord" [Psalm 37:34]. And while I am waiting upon Him, what am I to do?— "and keep His ways." And if I keep them, what am I to receive? "And He shall exalt you to inherit the land." "What land"? Once more let not any estate suggest itself to your mind:— the land of which it is said, "Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world." [Matthew 25:34] What of those who have troubled us, in the midst of whom we have groaned, whose scandals we have patiently endured, for whom, while they were raging against us, we have prayed in vain? What will become of them? What follows? "When the wicked are cut off, you shall see it."...
The law of God is in the heart [of the righteous person], and his step is not supplanted. The devil considers him and desires to humiliate him, but God does not abandon him or curse him when he is judged. Await the Lord and guard his ways so you may inherit the land; in time you will see sinners perish.
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SUMMARY
Psalms 37:34 delivers a profound exhortation to the righteous, calling them to cultivate patient reliance on the Lord and unwavering obedience to His divine commands. It assures believers of God's certain vindication and blessing, promising that the Lord Himself will elevate them to a state of secure spiritual inheritance. This divine promise is firmly grounded in the certainty of God's ultimate justice, where the temporary flourishing of the wicked will inevitably cease, and their ultimate downfall will be clearly evident to those who have faithfully waited upon the Lord.
CONTEXT
Literary Context: Psalm 37 is a wisdom psalm, structured as an acrostic (though imperfectly preserved in the Masoretic Text), meticulously crafted to instruct believers on how to navigate life righteously in a world where the prosperity of the wicked often seems to contradict divine justice. It belongs to a significant genre within Wisdom Literature, alongside books like Job and Ecclesiastes, that grapples with the problem of evil and the timing of God's justice. Throughout the psalm, David (traditionally attributed) presents a series of antithetical couplets or quatrains, starkly contrasting the fleeting success and inevitable demise of the wicked with the enduring blessedness and secure future of the righteous. Verse 34 serves as a powerful summation of the psalm's core message, reinforcing the imperative to trust and obey God amidst perceived injustices, culminating in the firm assurance of God's ultimate intervention and judgment. It reiterates and amplifies the central themes introduced in earlier verses, such as the call to trust in the Lord and do good, to commit one's way to the Lord, and to rest in the Lord and wait patiently.
Historical & Cultural Context: The psalm is deeply embedded in the ancient Near Eastern wisdom tradition, which frequently observed the moral order of the cosmos and anticipated the eventual triumph of justice. For ancient Israel, the concept of "inheriting the land" ('erets) carried immense significance, intricately tied to the Abrahamic and Mosaic covenants. This inheritance was far more than mere physical territory; it represented a comprehensive state of covenantal blessing, encompassing security, prosperity, peace, and flourishing within God's promised domain, free from enemies and famine. This inheritance was understood to be conditional upon faithfulness and obedience to God's commands, as meticulously outlined in foundational texts like Deuteronomy 28. The "cutting off" of the wicked (kârath) was a prevalent biblical idiom for divine judgment, signifying their utter destruction, removal from the community, or cessation of their perceived prosperity. This rich cultural understanding of land, blessing, and divine retribution provides the essential backdrop for the psalmist's enduring encouragement to the faithful.
Key Themes: Psalms 37:34 encapsulates several major theological and narrative themes woven throughout Psalm 37 and the broader biblical narrative. Firstly, it underscores the critical importance of active, patient endurance and unwavering trust in God's perfect timing and sovereign control, urging believers not to "fret" or be envious of evildoers, as stated in Psalm 37:1. Secondly, it highlights the indispensable role of steadfast obedience and righteous living as the necessary complement to patient waiting, emphasizing that authentic faith is active and expressed through diligent adherence to God's "way." Thirdly, the verse promises divine vindication and exaltation, assuring that God will ultimately honor, elevate, and secure His faithful ones, granting them a lasting "inheritance" that stands in stark contrast to the fleeting gains of the wicked. Finally, it powerfully affirms the certainty of ultimate divine justice, where the righteous will witness the inevitable downfall and "cutting off" of those who defy God, offering profound comfort and hope amidst present inequities. This echoes the sentiment found in Romans 12:19, and the promise of inheritance also resonates with the New Testament teaching that the meek shall inherit the earth.
EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
Key Word Analysis
Verse Breakdown
Literary Devices
Psalms 37:34 masterfully employs several literary devices to convey its powerful and didactic message. Parallelism is prominently featured in the verse's structure, where the commands ("Wait on the LORD, and keep his way") are directly and emphatically juxtaposed with their divinely promised outcomes ("he shall exalt thee to inherit the land: when the wicked are cut off, thou shalt see [it]"). This creates a clear cause-and-effect relationship, reinforcing the psalmist's didactic purpose and the certainty of God's response to faithfulness. Contrast is a central theme throughout the entire Psalm 37 and is powerfully highlighted here, setting the enduring destiny of the righteous against the fleeting prosperity and ultimate demise of the wicked. The lasting "inheritance" of the faithful stands in stark opposition to the definitive "cutting off" of the ungodly, emphasizing the divergent paths and their inevitable, distinct ends. Furthermore, the phrase "inherit the land" functions as rich Symbolism, extending beyond a mere physical territory to represent a profound state of secure blessing, covenantal fulfillment, and spiritual flourishing under God's sovereign and benevolent rule. Through these carefully chosen devices, the psalmist crafts a memorable, persuasive, and spiritually nourishing exhortation to steadfast faith and obedience.
THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Psalms 37:34 is profoundly theological, anchoring the believer's hope in the immutable character of God. It speaks directly to God's unwavering justice, His covenant faithfulness, and His ultimate sovereignty over all human affairs. The verse challenges a superficial understanding of prosperity, asserting that true blessing and security are found not in temporal gains or fleeting success but in a deep relationship of trust and obedience to the Lord. It underscores the foundational biblical principle that while God's justice may not always be immediate or apparent to human eyes, it is always certain and perfectly timed. This patience required of the righteous is not a passive resignation but an active, faith-filled endurance, rooted in the confident knowledge that God sees, God remembers, and God will act decisively. The "inheritance of the land" points forward to the ultimate eschatological hope of a renewed creation and the secure dwelling of God's people in His presence, where righteousness finally prevails and all injustices are rectified. This verse, therefore, serves as a timeless reminder that God's timeline and methods are perfect, even when they diverge from human expectations and desires.
REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Psalms 37:34 offers a powerful and timeless antidote to the common human tendency to fret, envy, or despair when confronted with apparent injustices or the seemingly unhindered prosperity of the wicked. It calls us to an active, spiritual discipline: to anchor our souls firmly in God's unchanging promises and His perfect character, rather than allowing ourselves to be swayed by fleeting circumstances or external appearances. For believers today, this means cultivating a deep, abiding trust in God's sovereignty, understanding that His timing is perfect and His justice is absolute. It demands that our waiting be accompanied by diligent obedience to His "way"—living righteously, loving mercy, and walking humbly with our God, even when it seems unrewarded or proves difficult in the short term. This posture of patient obedience not only honors God but also profoundly transforms our own hearts, freeing us from the corrosive effects of envy, bitterness, and anxiety. Ultimately, the verse encourages us to look beyond the immediate horizon to God's ultimate vindication, finding our security and hope in His eternal inheritance, knowing with certainty that our faithful endurance will never be in vain.
Questions for Reflection
FAQ
What does "wait on the LORD" truly mean in a practical sense?
Answer: "Waiting on the LORD" (Hebrew: qâvâh) is not passive idleness or mere inactivity but an active, hopeful, and patient endurance. Practically, it means consciously surrendering your timeline, control, and anxieties to God, trusting implicitly in His perfect wisdom and timing. It involves consistent prayer, diligent study of His Word, earnestly seeking His will, and persevering in obedience even when circumstances are challenging or when answers seem delayed. It's about anchoring your soul to God's promises, like a ship securely moored in a storm, rather than being tossed about by anxieties or the apparent success of the ungodly. It implies a deep, confident reliance on God's power and faithfulness to act on your behalf, as beautifully articulated in Psalm 27:14.
Is "inherit the land" a literal or spiritual promise for believers today?
Answer: For ancient Israel, "inheriting the land" (ʼerets) was indeed a literal promise of dwelling securely in the Promised Land, a place of covenant blessing and prosperity. However, for New Testament believers, this promise is understood both literally and spiritually, and ultimately finds its comprehensive fulfillment in Christ. Spiritually, it signifies the secure possession of all spiritual blessings in Christ, including peace, joy, righteousness, and eternal life. Eschatologically, it points to the future inheritance of the new heavens and new earth, where God's redeemed people will dwell eternally in perfect righteousness and peace, as described in Revelation 21:1. Jesus Himself reinterprets and expands this promise in the Beatitudes, stating that the meek will inherit the earth, extending the concept beyond a physical territory to a universal, spiritual dominion and comprehensive blessing for God's humble children.
How can I avoid being discouraged when the wicked seem to prosper?
Answer: The psalmist directly addresses this very human temptation throughout Psalm 37. To effectively avoid discouragement, it is crucial to consciously shift your focus to God's sovereignty and His eternal, long-term perspective. Remember that the prosperity of the wicked is inherently temporary and fleeting, likened to grass that quickly withers and fades away, as noted in Psalm 37:2. Their ultimate end is certain destruction or removal from God's favor, while the righteous have an enduring, eternal inheritance. Cultivate a deep and abiding trust in God's perfect justice, knowing with certainty that He will ultimately vindicate His faithful ones and bring all things into account. Meditate on passages like Psalm 73, where the psalmist honestly confesses his own struggle with envy but finds profound peace and understanding when he enters God's sanctuary and perceives the ultimate, inevitable end of the wicked. Your steadfast focus should remain on God's unwavering faithfulness and His eternal plan, not on the fleeting circumstances or apparent inequities of the world.
CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Psalms 37:34 finds its ultimate, most profound, and perfect fulfillment in the person and work of Jesus Christ. He is the preeminent example of one who perfectly "waited on the LORD" and flawlessly "kept His way." Throughout His earthly ministry, Jesus consistently demonstrated absolute reliance on His Father, submitting His will to God's perfect plan, even unto the agony of the cross, as He Himself declared, "I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me". His life was the epitome of "keeping His way," marked by perfect obedience, righteousness, and unwavering faithfulness, even when faced with immense opposition, temptation, and the apparent triumph of evil, for "He was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin". Consequently, it is Jesus whom God has supremely "exalted," granting Him all authority in heaven and on earth, so that "every knee should bow... and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord". He is the true heir of the "land"—not merely a physical territory, but the entire cosmos, the new creation, and the eternal Kingdom of God, for "through whom also He made the worlds". Furthermore, He is the one who will ultimately "cut off the wicked" at His glorious return, bringing final judgment and establishing His righteous, eternal reign, as depicted in Revelation 19:11-16. Believers, by virtue of their spiritual union with Christ, participate in His waiting, His obedience, His exaltation, and His glorious inheritance. We are co-heirs with Him, as Romans 8:17 declares, inheriting the promises through His perfect fulfillment, and we too will witness the ultimate triumph of righteousness when He returns in glory.