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Psalms 37:7
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Jim Cymbala
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Carl Friedrich Keil and Franz Delitzsch Old Testament Commentary
The verb דּמם, with its derivatives (Psa 62:2, Psa 62:6; Lam 3:28), denotes resignation, i.e., a quiet of mind which rests on God, renounces all self-help, and submits to the will of God. התחולל (from הוּל, to be in a state of tension, to wait) of the inward gathering of one's self together in hope intently directed towards God, as in B. Berachoth 30b is a synonym of התחונן, and as it were reflexive of חלּה of the collecting one's self to importunate prayer. With Psa 37:7 the primary tone of the whole Psalm is struck anew. On Psa 37:7 compare the definition of the mischief-maker in Pro 24:8.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
Rest in--literally, "Be silent to the Lord." and wait--Be submissive--avoid petulance and murmurings, anger and rash doing.
John Gill Bible Commentary
Cease from anger,.... Either at these wicked men who are so prosperous, or at God, who for the present suffers it; see Jon 4:9, Pro 19:3; and forsake wrath; which is anger wrought up to a greater degree; and the rather to be shunned and avoided, as being very disagreeable to the character of a good man; fret not thyself in any wise to do evil; evil may be done by fretting at the prosperity of wicked men, or by imitating them, doing as they do, in hope of being prosperous as they are; from which the psalmist dissuades by reasons following.
Matthew Henry Bible Commentary
In these verses we have, I. The foregoing precepts inculcated; for we are so apt to disquiet ourselves with needless fruitless discontents and distrusts that it is necessary there should be precept upon precept, and line upon line, to suppress them and arm us against them. 1. Let us compose ourselves by believing in God: "Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for him (Psa 37:7), that is, be well reconciled to all he does and acquiesce in it, for that is best that is, because it is what God has appointed; and be well satisfied that he will still make all to work for good to us, though we know not how or which way." Be silent to the Lord (so the word is), not with a sullen, but a submissive silence. A patient bearing of what is laid upon us, with a patient expectation of what is further appointed for us, is as much our interest as it is our duty, for it will make us always easy; and there is a great deal of reason for it, for it is making a virtue of necessity. 2. Let us not discompose ourselves at what we see in this world: "Fret not thyself because of him who prospers in his wicked way, who, though he is a bad man, yet thrives and grows rich and great in the world; no, nor because of him who does mischief with his power and wealth, and brings wicked devices to pass against those that are virtuous and good, who seems to have gained his point and to have run them down. If thy heart begins to rise at it, stroke down thy folly, and cease from anger (Psa 37:8), check the first stirrings of discontent and envy, and do not harbour any hard thoughts of God and his providence upon this account. Be not angry at any thing that God does, but forsake that wrath; it is the worst kind of wrath that can be. Fret not thyself in any wise to do evil; do not envy them their prosperity, lest thou be tempted to fall in with them and to take the same evil course that they take to enrich and advance themselves or some desperate course to avoid them and their power." Note, A fretful discontented spirit lies open to many temptations; and those that indulge it are in danger of doing evil. II. The foregoing reasons, taken from the approaching ruin of the wicked notwithstanding their prosperity, and the real happiness of the righteous notwithstanding their troubles, are here much enlarged upon and the same things repeated in a pleasing variety of expression. We were cautioned (Psa 37:7) not to envy the wicked either worldly prosperity or the success of their plots against the righteous, and the reasons here given respect these two temptations severally: - 1. Good people have no reason to envy the worldly prosperity of wicked people, nor to grieve or be uneasy at it, (1.) Because the prosperity of the wicked will soon be at an end (Psa 37:9): Evil-doers shall be cut off by some sudden stroke of divine justice in the midst of their prosperity; what they have got by sin will not only flow away from them (Job 20:28), but they shall be carried away with it. See the end of these men (Psa 73:17), how dear their ill-got gain will cost them, and you will be far from envying them or from being willing to espouse their lot, for better, for worse. Their ruin is sure, and it is very near (Psa 37:10): Yet a little while, and the wicked shall not be what they now are; they are brought into desolation in a moment, Psa 73:19. Have a little patience, for the Judge stands before the door, Jam 5:8, Jam 5:9. Moderate your passion, for the Lord is at hand, Phi 4:5. And when their ruin comes it will be an utter ruin; he and his shall be extirpated; the day that comes shall leave him neither root nor branch (Mal 4:1): Thou shalt diligently consider his place, where but the other day he made a mighty figure, but it shall not be, you will not find it; he shall leave nothing valuable, nothing honourable, behind. him. To the same purport (Psa 37:20), The wicked shall perish; their death is their perdition, because it is the termination of all their joy and a passage to endless misery. Blessed are the dead that die in the Lord; but undone, for ever undone, are the dead that die in their sins. The wicked are the enemies of the Lord; such those make themselves who will not have him to reign over them, and as such he will reckon with them: They shall consume as the fat of lambs, they shall consume into smoke. Their prosperity, which gratifies their sensuality, is like the fat of lambs, not solid or substantial, but loose and washy; and, when their ruin comes, they shall fall as sacrifices to the justice of God and be consumed as the fat of the sacrifices was upon the altar, whence it ascended in smoke. The day of God's vengeance on the wicked is represented as a sacrifice of the fat of the kidneys of rams (Isa 34:6); for he will be honoured by the ruin of his enemies, as he was by the sacrifices. Damned sinners are sacrifices, Mar 9:49. This is a good reason why we should not envy them their prosperity; while they are fed to the full, they are but in the fattening for the day of sacrifice, like a lamb in a large place (Hos 4:16), and the more they prosper the more will God be glorified in their ruin. (2.) Because the condition of the righteous, even in this life, is every way better and more desirable than that of the wicked, Psa 37:16. In general, a little that a righteous man has of the honour, wealth, and pleasure of this world, is better than the riches of many wicked. Observe, [1.] The wealth of the world is so dispensed by the divine Providence that it is often the lot of good people to have but a little of it, and of wicked people to have abundance of it; for thus God would show us that the things of this world are not the best things, for, if they were, those would have most that are best and dearest to God. [2.] That a godly man's little is really better than a wicked man's estate, though ever so much; for it comes from a better hand, from a hand of special love and not merely from a hand of common providence, - it is enjoyed by a better title (God gives it to them by promise, Gal 3:18), - it is theirs by virtue of their relation to Christ, who is the heir of all things, - and it is put to better use; it is sanctified to them by the blessing of God. Unto the pure all things are pure, Tit 1:15. A little wherewith God is served and honoured is better than a great deal prepared for Baal or for a base lust. The promises here made to the righteous secure them such a happiness that they need not envy the prosperity of evil-doers. Let them know to their comfort, First, That they shall inherit the earth, as much of it as Infinite Wisdom sees good for them; they have the promise of the life that now is, Ti1 4:8. If all the earth were necessary to make them happy, they should have it. All is theirs, even the world, and things present, as well as things to come, Co1 3:21, Co1 3:22. They have it by inheritance, a safe and honourable title, not by permission only and connivance. When evil-doers are cut off the righteous sometimes inherit what they gathered. The wealth of the sinner is laid up for the just, Job 27:17; Pro 13:22. This promise is here made, 1. To those that live a life of faith (Psa 37:9); Those that wait upon the Lord, as dependents on him, expectants from him, and suppliants to him, shall inherit the earth, as a token of his present favour to them and an earnest of better things intended for them in the other world. God is a good Master, that provides plentifully and well, not only for his working servants, but for his waiting servants. 2. To those that live a quiet and peaceable life (Psa 37:11): The meek shall inherit the earth. They are in least danger of being injured and disturbed in the possession of what they have and they have most satisfaction in themselves and consequently the sweetest relish of their creature-comforts. Our Saviour has made this a gospel promise, and a confirmation of the blessings he pronounced on the meek, Mat 5:5. Secondly, That they shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace, Psa 37:11. Perhaps they have not abundance of wealth to delight in; but they have that which is better, abundance of peace, inward peace and tranquility of mind, peace with God, and then peace in God, that great peace which those have that love God's law, whom nothing shall offend (Psa 119:165), that abundance of peace which is in the kingdom of Christ (Psa 72:7), that peace which the world cannot give (Joh 14:27), and which the wicked cannot have, Isa 57:21. This they shall delight themselves in, and in it they shall have a continual feast; while those that have abundance of wealth do but cumber and perplex themselves with it and have little delight in it. Thirdly, That God knows their days, Psa 37:18. He takes particular notice of them, of all they do and of all that happens to them. He keeps account of the days of their service, and not one day's work shall go unrewarded, and of the days of their suffering, that for those also they may receive a recompence. He knows their bright days, and has pleasure in their prosperity; he knows their cloudy and dark days, the days of their affliction, and as the day is so shall the strength be. Fourthly, That their inheritance shall be for ever; not their inheritance in the earth, but that incorruptible indefeasible one which is laid up for them in heaven. Those that are sure of an everlasting inheritance in the other world have no reason to envy the wicked their transitory possessions and pleasures in this world. Fifthly, That in the worst of times it shall go well with them (Psa 37:19): They shall not be ashamed of their hope and confidence in God, nor of the profession they have made of religion; for the comfort of that will stand them in stead, and be a real support to them, in evil times. When others droop they shall lift up their heads with joy and confidence: Even in the days of famine, when others are dying for hunger round about them, they shall be satisfied, as Elijah was; in some way or other God will provide food convenient for them, or give them hearts to be satisfied and content without it, so that, if they should be hardly bestead and hungry, they shall not (as the wicked do) fret themselves and curse their king and their God (Isa 7:21), but rejoice in God as the God of their salvation even when the fig-tree does not blossom, Hab 3:17, Hab 3:18. 2. Good people have no reason to fret at the occasional success of the designs of the wicked against the just. Though they do bring some of their wicked devices to pass, which makes us fear they will gain their point and bring them all to pass, yet let us cease from anger, and not fret ourselves so as to think of giving up the cause. For, (1.) Their plots will be their shame, Psa 37:12, Psa 37:13. It is true the wicked plotteth against the just; there is a rooted enmity in the seed of the wicked one against the righteous seed; their aim is, if they can, to destroy their righteousness, or, if that fail, then to destroy them. With this end in view they have acted with a great deal both of cursed policy and contrivance (they plot, they practice, against the just), and of cursed zeal and fury - they gnash upon them with their teeth, so desirous are they, if they could get it into their power, to eat them up, and so full of rage and indignation are they because it is not in their power; but by all this they do but make themselves ridiculous. The Lord shall laugh at them, Psa 2:4, Psa 2:5. They are proud and insolent, but God shall pour contempt upon them. he is not only displeased with them, but he despises them and all their attempts as vain and ineffectual, and their malice as impotent and in a chain; for he sees that his day is coming, that is, [1.] The day of God's reckoning, the day of the revelation of his righteousness, which now seems clouded and eclipsed. Men have their day now. This is your hour, Luk 22:53. But God will have his day shortly, a day of recompences, a day which will set all to rights, and render that ridiculous which now passes for glorious. It is a small thing to be judged of man's judgment, Co1 4:3. God's day will give a decisive judgment. [2.] The day of their ruin. The wicked man's day, the day set for his fall, that day is coming, which denotes delay; it has not yet come, but certainly it will come. The believing prospect of that day will enable the virgin, the daughter of Zion, to despise the rage of her enemies and laugh them to scorn, Isa 37:22. (2.) Their attempts will be their destruction, Psa 37:14, Psa 37:15. See here, [1.] How cruel they are in their designs against good people. They prepare instruments of death, the sword and the bow, no less will serve; they hunt for the precious life. That which they design is to cast down and slay; it is the blood of the saints they thirst after. They carry on the design very far, and it is near to be put in execution: They have drawn the sword, and bent the bow; and all these military preparations are made against the helpless, the poor and needy (which proves them to be very cowardly), and against the guiltless, such as are of upright conversation, that never gave them any provocation, nor offered injury to them or any other person, which proves them to be very wicked. Uprightness itself will be no fence against their malice. But, [2.] How justly their malice recoils upon themselves: Their sword shall turn into their own heart, which implies the preservation of the righteous from their malice and the filling up of the measure of their own iniquity by it. Sometimes that very thing proves to be their own destruction which they projected against their harmless neighbours; however, God's sword, which their provocations have drawn against them, will give them their death's wound. (3.) Those that are not suddenly cut off shall yet be so disabled for doing any further mischief that the interests of the church shall be effectually secured: Their bows shall be broken (Psa 37:15); the instruments of their cruelty shall fail them and they shall lose those whom they had made tools of to serve their bloody purposes with; nay, their arms shall be broken, so that they shall not be able to go on with their enterprises, Psa 37:17. But the Lord upholds the righteous, so that they neither sink under the weight of their afflictions nor are crushed by the violence of their enemies. He upholds them both in their integrity and in their prosperity; and those that are so upheld by the rock of ages have no reason to envy the wicked the support of their broken reeds.
Tyndale Open Study Notes
37:7 Be still: We should let the Lord be God rather than taking matters into our own hands.
Psalms 37:7
Delight Yourself in the LORD
6He will bring forth your righteousness like the dawn, your justice like the noonday sun. 7Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for Him; do not fret when men prosper in their ways, when they carry out wicked schemes.
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An Old Doctor's Spiritual Prescription
By Jim Cymbala15K41:09HealingPSA 37:1PSA 37:7PSA 37:25PRO 3:5MAT 6:33In this sermon, the speaker addresses the fear and worry that people experience in a world filled with tension and uncertainty. He emphasizes the importance of trusting in God's protection and guidance, highlighting that it is only by God's grace that we are alive and able to gather in church. The speaker encourages the audience to hold on to God's promises and to have faith in His ultimate plan, even when we don't understand His timing. He also warns against the temporary satisfaction of sin and urges believers to focus on the eternal rewards of living a righteous life. The sermon is based on Psalm 37, which advises against fretting over evil and encourages trust in the Lord.
Mounting Up With Eagles Wings - Part 1
By Leonard Ravenhill7.7K44:20OvercomingWaiting On GodStrength in GodEXO 19:4DEU 32:11JOB 39:27PSA 37:7PSA 103:5ISA 40:13ISA 40:22ISA 40:29MAT 11:28JHN 6:53Leonard Ravenhill emphasizes the power and majesty of God as depicted in Isaiah 40, particularly focusing on the promise that those who wait upon the Lord will renew their strength and soar like eagles. He contrasts the fleeting strength of youth with the enduring power of God, urging believers to embrace patience and trust in God's timing. Ravenhill illustrates how God, like an eagle, provides security and comfort to His people, encouraging them to rise above the challenges of a restless and impatient world. He calls for a deeper understanding of God's majesty and the importance of waiting on Him to experience true renewal and strength.
Home Before Dark
By Vance Havner5.4K30:55PSA 37:7PSA 66:16PRO 3:5ISA 41:10MAT 11:6MAT 11:11JHN 10:28In this sermon, the speaker begins by sharing a personal testimony about the importance of giving testimonies and sharing one's individual experiences. He references Psalm 66:16-20, where the psalmist declares what God has done for his soul. The speaker then shares a story about Mr. Sanky, who despite having a cracked voice, played a piece on the organ titled "There'll be no dark valley when Jesus comes." The sermon also touches on the current state of the world and the need for serious thinking. The speaker concludes by reflecting on his own journey of coming to Jesus at a young age and his calling to preach the gospel.
Life of David
By Alan Redpath4.8K44:26David1SA 24:12PSA 37:7MAT 6:33ROM 8:282CO 12:9EPH 6:12In this sermon, the preacher begins by referencing the story of Peter in the 12th chapter of Acts, where he was imprisoned and about to be beheaded. The preacher then transitions to the story of David and his men hiding in a cave while their enemy approaches. David's men urge him to take advantage of the opportunity to kill their enemy and end their troubles, but David refuses, saying it would be wrong to harm his master. The sermon emphasizes the importance of seeking God's guidance and following His will, even in difficult situations.
Feeding Christ (Time for Renewal Conference)
By David Wilkerson4.7K55:59Jesus ChristPSA 27:14PSA 37:7ISA 40:31MAT 6:33MAT 18:20LUK 17:7JHN 4:4In this sermon, the preacher begins by reading from Luke 17:7-10, where Jesus tells a parable about a servant and his master. The preacher emphasizes the importance of serving God wholeheartedly and not expecting recognition or praise for our actions. He shares a personal experience of realizing the need for a change in his own preaching style, focusing on waiting on the Lord and delivering messages from the heart of God. The sermon also references the story of Jesus meeting the Samaritan woman at Jacob's well, highlighting the importance of seeking the Lord and being open to His leading.
A Touch From God - Part 3
By David Wilkerson3.7K09:08EXO 33:7PSA 25:5PSA 27:8PSA 37:7PSA 62:5PSA 130:5ISA 40:31LAM 3:25HEB 11:6JAS 4:8
This sermon emphasizes the importance of waiting on the Lord and seeking His presence, highlighting the consequences of spiritual adultery and the need to come out from places of defilement to experience God's power and authority. It underscores the vital difference God's presence makes in a congregation and the necessity of prioritizing intimacy with Him above all else.
God's Grief Over His People
By David Wilkerson3.5K42:50RepentanceEXO 20:3PSA 37:7ISA 51:1ISA 58:1MAT 6:33ROM 15:4HEB 3:12In this sermon, the minister shares various stories and concerns about the state of the church and God's people. He mentions a pastor whose wife left him, grandparents who feel disconnected from their Christian grandchildren, and a church in New Jersey that has started incorporating ballroom dancing into their services. The minister also shares a powerful testimony of a woman named Lucy who had a personal encounter with Jesus, where he expressed his weariness with his bride, the church. The sermon emphasizes the need for God's people to love and prioritize their relationship with Him, as He desires to be loved by His bride.
Psalms - Part 1
By Zac Poonen2.0K57:31PsalmsPSA 14:1PSA 22:1PSA 22:6PSA 22:14PSA 22:16PSA 22:18PSA 22:22PSA 30:11PSA 31:11PSA 31:19PSA 36:9PSA 37:4PSA 37:7PSA 37:11PSA 37:21PSA 37:23PSA 38:11PSA 40:13PSA 40:16In this sermon, the speaker emphasizes the importance of filling one's heart with the Word of God rather than simply avoiding evil. He references the story of a demon being cast out and returning with seven others to illustrate the need for a filled and clean heart. The speaker encourages meditating on the law of the Lord day and night, comparing the result to a tree planted by rivers of water that prospers in all endeavors. The sermon also touches on the qualities of a godly person, such as having clean hands and a pure heart, seeking guidance from the Lord, and being set apart for God's purposes.
Mounting With Wings
By Leonard Ravenhill2.0K58:14Waiting On GodStrength in AdversityFreedomEXO 19:4DEU 32:11JOB 39:27PSA 37:7PSA 103:5ISA 40:29MAT 11:28JHN 6:53EPH 2:6REV 4:1Leonard Ravenhill emphasizes the power of waiting on the Lord, drawing from Isaiah 40:29-31, where God promises to renew the strength of those who trust in Him. He contrasts the majestic eagle, which soars high above the earth, with the impatience of modern society, urging believers to rise above their circumstances and live in the heavenly places God has prepared for them. Ravenhill illustrates how God, like an eagle, nurtures and strengthens His people, encouraging them to embrace their identity as children of God and to seek His presence for renewal and strength.
(The Word for Today) Isaiah 6:1 - Part 3
By Chuck Smith1.7K25:59ExpositionalPSA 37:7ISA 6:1MAT 6:10ACT 9:16REV 21:4In this sermon, the speaker emphasizes the importance of guarding our mouths and ears in a world filled with explicit filth. He laments the tragic state of television, where children can easily be exposed to immoral content. The speaker highlights the holiness and purity of God, which leads to a realization of our own shortcomings and the need for forgiveness. Despite the challenges and suffering that may come with preaching the gospel, the speaker encourages believers to be obedient and willing to be sent by God. The sermon also addresses the spiritual condition of the nation, where people have closed their ears and eyes to God, resulting in a lack of revival and turning back to Him. The speaker concludes with a prayer for righteousness and peace to come, longing for the day when God's kingdom will reign over the earth.
Week of Meetings 05 Be Still and Know
By Benard Fell1.5K42:56Waiting On GodGEN 27:33PSA 37:7PSA 46:10ECC 3:11MAT 6:33ROM 8:282CO 12:9In this sermon, the preacher shares a story about a brother who witnessed an auctioneer trying to sell a picture. While the auctioneer spoke about the picture's virtues and value, the brother's mind was focused on God, asking for deliverance. The preacher then discusses the story of Joseph, who was forgotten by the butler for two years before being released from prison. The sermon emphasizes the importance of finding time to sit at the feet of Jesus and meditate on His word, as the world's fast pace often hinders this practice. The preacher encourages the audience to present the glorious and transcendent person of Jesus Christ to others, allowing His presence to overshadow any human element.
Their Strength Is to Sit Still
By Hans R. Waldvogel1.5K27:11Waiting On GodPSA 37:7PSA 46:10PSA 62:1ISA 30:15MAT 6:25PHP 4:6HEB 4:10In this sermon, the speaker emphasizes the importance of relying on God's guidance and power in our lives. He highlights that God orchestrates every joy and trial we experience and wants us to trust Him fully. The speaker warns against trying to accomplish things in our own strength, as it leads to dissipation of power and ineffective results. Instead, he encourages us to wait upon the Lord and seek His direction, knowing that without Him, we can do nothing.
(Through the Bible) Psalms 31-40
By Chuck Smith1.5K1:30:47PSA 31:1PSA 37:1PSA 37:7PSA 38:1PSA 38:10In this sermon, the speaker begins by acknowledging the trials and troubles that people face in life. He expresses his own personal grief and the reproach he has faced from enemies and neighbors. However, he encourages the audience to find solace in the goodness of God and the power of His word. The speaker emphasizes the creation of the heavens and the earth by God's word and the need for all people to reverence and stand in awe of Him. He also highlights the importance of trusting in God and His mercy for deliverance and protection.
Who We Are, 1975
By Norman Grubb1.5K1:49:40In ChristGEN 1:1PSA 27:14PSA 37:7PSA 46:10PRO 3:5ISA 40:31MAT 11:28The video is a sermon that emphasizes the importance of taking action to demonstrate one's faith in God. The speaker discusses how the object of one's faith should be God, not oneself. He mentions the need to be committed to God and not be distracted by time or external influences. The speaker also emphasizes the importance of relying on God's power and not trying to control situations oneself.
Mid South Conference 1978-08 Zechariah's Visions
By Bob Clark1.2K20:46ZechariahPSA 37:7In this sermon, the speaker addresses the challenges and distractions that prevent people from prioritizing their relationship with God. He emphasizes the importance of recognizing God's personal care and seeking His guidance in troubled times. The speaker also highlights God's powerful control over all aspects of life, including circumstances, relationships, and even the local church. He uses the analogy of animal horns to represent the forces that scatter and oppress God's people, but assures that God remembers and will bring justice. The speaker concludes by urging the audience to proclaim God's message and lift their voices like a trumpet.
Rest in the Lord
By Hans R. Waldvogel1.1K10:58RestPSA 37:7PSA 139:5ISA 40:31MAT 28:20JHN 14:15ROM 12:11JN 5:3In this sermon, the speaker emphasizes the importance of resting in the Lord and allowing Him to work through us. He uses the analogy of a cluttered workspace to illustrate how rushing and being disorganized can hinder productivity. The speaker shares a personal experience in the jewelry business, where he learned the value of being calm and focused in his work. He also highlights the power of the Holy Spirit within believers and encourages listeners to present themselves as living sacrifices to God, allowing Him to use their bodies for His purposes.
What Can You Do?
By Jim Cymbala1.1K26:44DiscouragementPSA 11:4PSA 27:1PSA 37:3PSA 37:7PSA 56:3MAT 6:33ROM 10:11In this sermon, the speaker addresses the fear and uncertainty that many people feel in the current world, particularly in relation to issues such as terrorism and moral decay. He emphasizes the importance of not succumbing to hate and anger, but instead maintaining love and faith in difficult times. The speaker references a passage from the Bible where Jesus predicts that in the last days, the love of many will grow cold due to the difficult and lawless nature of the world. He encourages listeners to trust in the Lord and not in human institutions, as the Word of God is openly mocked in society today.
On Eagles' Wings Pt 135
By Don Courville1.0K29:54Marriage and DivorcePSA 27:14PSA 37:7ISA 30:18ISA 40:31LAM 3:25LUK 2:49JHN 11:20In this sermon, the preacher shares a personal experience of encountering homeless individuals and seeking guidance from Jesus on how to help them. He emphasizes the importance of relying on God's wisdom in difficult situations. The preacher also reflects on his journey in ministry, highlighting the challenges and spiritual warfare he has faced, particularly with electronic equipment breaking down. He concludes by reminding the audience of the need to rely on the Holy Spirit and patiently wait on God, using the story of Lazarus as an example.
Ruth - Part 5
By John McGregor80926:04RuthRUT 3:4PSA 37:7EPH 5:22EPH 5:25In this sermon, the speaker emphasizes the faithfulness and work of God in the lives of believers. The speaker highlights the trust factor between God and His people, using the example of Ruth resting in God's promise. The speaker encourages the audience to lay their burdens at God's feet and trust Him to work in their lives. The sermon concludes with the reminder that God will never leave or forsake His people and will complete the work He has started in them.
(Clip) Why Doesn't God Use Me Anymore?
By Shane Idleman78206:39PSA 37:7ISA 40:31LUK 5:16ACT 1:4ROM 12:2HEB 12:1JAS 4:8REV 2:4REV 3:2
This sermon emphasizes the need for believers to return to a place of surrender and waiting on God, drawing inspiration from the story of Duncan Campbell's revival experience. It highlights the importance of experiencing the power of God in our lives, waiting on Him for direction, and remembering and returning to our first love for God. The message calls for a posture of humility and a longing for God to move in our lives and in the church once again.
The Running Syndrome
By Jim Cymbala67728:36Christian Life1KI 19:11PSA 37:7ECC 3:1ISA 40:31MAT 11:28MRK 6:31ACT 3:19In this sermon, the speaker encourages ministers and missionaries not to quit or give up, but to come back to the Lord for strength and nourishment. He uses the story of Elijah from the Old Testament as an example of someone who faced spiritual fatigue and wanted to give up after accomplishing great things for God. Elijah, after confronting 400 false prophets and calling down fire from heaven, became suicidal when threatened by a woman. However, an angel of the Lord appeared to him and provided him with food and drink, giving him the strength to continue his journey. The speaker emphasizes the importance of not running on empty and relying on God's presence and word to sustain and empower us in our service to Him.
Standing Strong in the Coming Times
By Robert B. Thompson67154:13End TimesDEU 33:25DEU 33:27PSA 37:4PSA 37:7ISA 40:8ROM 5:20In this sermon, Tommy Barnett discusses a vision he had of a giant awakening, symbolizing a spiritual awakening in the midst of trouble in the world and America. He emphasizes that the body of Christ is in bad shape, substituting grace for obedience. Barnett believes that God's time to awaken the body of Christ is coming, even in the midst of chaos and potential destruction. He encourages the audience to trust in the Lord, do good, and find peace and safety in Him, regardless of the circumstances. Barnett also emphasizes the importance of believing in the Bible and standing firm on its words, even in the face of wickedness and temptation to fret.
Think Resurrection (6am)
By Stewart Ruch14211:57ResurrectionEXO 20:8PSA 37:7PSA 73:2PRO 23:7MAT 6:33ROM 8:5COL 3:2In this sermon, Bishop Stuart Rook discusses the importance of setting our minds on things above and allowing the resurrection of Jesus Christ to transform our thinking. He emphasizes the significance of our thoughts and the story that plays in our heads. Bishop Rook encourages listeners to train their thinking in light of the bodily resurrection and to set their minds on the things of heaven and the kingdom. He challenges negative thought patterns and invites individuals to imagine a different story, one that is filled with hope and faith in God's provision.
The Necessity of Waiting on God
By Phil Beach Jr.511:16:20Waiting On GodLove for GodPSA 25:5PSA 37:7PSA 40:1PSA 62:1ISA 30:18LAM 3:25MIC 7:7HAB 2:3JHN 14:211CO 2:9Phil Beach Jr. emphasizes the importance of waiting on God, urging the congregation to cultivate a posture of stillness and silence in His presence. He highlights that true waiting is not about presenting our agendas to God but about allowing Him to speak and reveal Himself to us. Through various scriptures, he illustrates that waiting is an expression of love for God and a necessary discipline for spiritual growth. The sermon calls for a collective commitment to waiting on the Lord, encouraging families to engage in this practice together. Ultimately, Beach Jr. reassures that in waiting, we will experience God's grace and revelation in profound ways.
(How to Understand the Kjv Bible) 45 Psalm 37
By Keith Simons4335:20KJV BibleRighteousness vs. WickednessTrust in GodPSA 37:1PSA 37:7PSA 37:9PSA 37:11PSA 37:16PSA 37:23PSA 37:28PSA 37:39Keith Simons teaches on Psalm 37, emphasizing David's reflections on the fate of the righteous versus the wicked. He encourages believers not to fret over evildoers, as their prosperity is temporary and will ultimately lead to their downfall. Instead, he urges trust in the Lord, highlighting that God will provide for the righteous and uphold them through trials. Simons reassures that the meek will inherit the earth and that God's judgment will prevail, ensuring justice for His people. He concludes with a reminder of God's faithfulness, stating he has never seen the righteous forsaken.
- Keil-Delitzsch
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
- John Gill
- Matthew Henry
- Tyndale
Carl Friedrich Keil and Franz Delitzsch Old Testament Commentary
The verb דּמם, with its derivatives (Psa 62:2, Psa 62:6; Lam 3:28), denotes resignation, i.e., a quiet of mind which rests on God, renounces all self-help, and submits to the will of God. התחולל (from הוּל, to be in a state of tension, to wait) of the inward gathering of one's self together in hope intently directed towards God, as in B. Berachoth 30b is a synonym of התחונן, and as it were reflexive of חלּה of the collecting one's self to importunate prayer. With Psa 37:7 the primary tone of the whole Psalm is struck anew. On Psa 37:7 compare the definition of the mischief-maker in Pro 24:8.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
Rest in--literally, "Be silent to the Lord." and wait--Be submissive--avoid petulance and murmurings, anger and rash doing.
John Gill Bible Commentary
Cease from anger,.... Either at these wicked men who are so prosperous, or at God, who for the present suffers it; see Jon 4:9, Pro 19:3; and forsake wrath; which is anger wrought up to a greater degree; and the rather to be shunned and avoided, as being very disagreeable to the character of a good man; fret not thyself in any wise to do evil; evil may be done by fretting at the prosperity of wicked men, or by imitating them, doing as they do, in hope of being prosperous as they are; from which the psalmist dissuades by reasons following.
Matthew Henry Bible Commentary
In these verses we have, I. The foregoing precepts inculcated; for we are so apt to disquiet ourselves with needless fruitless discontents and distrusts that it is necessary there should be precept upon precept, and line upon line, to suppress them and arm us against them. 1. Let us compose ourselves by believing in God: "Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for him (Psa 37:7), that is, be well reconciled to all he does and acquiesce in it, for that is best that is, because it is what God has appointed; and be well satisfied that he will still make all to work for good to us, though we know not how or which way." Be silent to the Lord (so the word is), not with a sullen, but a submissive silence. A patient bearing of what is laid upon us, with a patient expectation of what is further appointed for us, is as much our interest as it is our duty, for it will make us always easy; and there is a great deal of reason for it, for it is making a virtue of necessity. 2. Let us not discompose ourselves at what we see in this world: "Fret not thyself because of him who prospers in his wicked way, who, though he is a bad man, yet thrives and grows rich and great in the world; no, nor because of him who does mischief with his power and wealth, and brings wicked devices to pass against those that are virtuous and good, who seems to have gained his point and to have run them down. If thy heart begins to rise at it, stroke down thy folly, and cease from anger (Psa 37:8), check the first stirrings of discontent and envy, and do not harbour any hard thoughts of God and his providence upon this account. Be not angry at any thing that God does, but forsake that wrath; it is the worst kind of wrath that can be. Fret not thyself in any wise to do evil; do not envy them their prosperity, lest thou be tempted to fall in with them and to take the same evil course that they take to enrich and advance themselves or some desperate course to avoid them and their power." Note, A fretful discontented spirit lies open to many temptations; and those that indulge it are in danger of doing evil. II. The foregoing reasons, taken from the approaching ruin of the wicked notwithstanding their prosperity, and the real happiness of the righteous notwithstanding their troubles, are here much enlarged upon and the same things repeated in a pleasing variety of expression. We were cautioned (Psa 37:7) not to envy the wicked either worldly prosperity or the success of their plots against the righteous, and the reasons here given respect these two temptations severally: - 1. Good people have no reason to envy the worldly prosperity of wicked people, nor to grieve or be uneasy at it, (1.) Because the prosperity of the wicked will soon be at an end (Psa 37:9): Evil-doers shall be cut off by some sudden stroke of divine justice in the midst of their prosperity; what they have got by sin will not only flow away from them (Job 20:28), but they shall be carried away with it. See the end of these men (Psa 73:17), how dear their ill-got gain will cost them, and you will be far from envying them or from being willing to espouse their lot, for better, for worse. Their ruin is sure, and it is very near (Psa 37:10): Yet a little while, and the wicked shall not be what they now are; they are brought into desolation in a moment, Psa 73:19. Have a little patience, for the Judge stands before the door, Jam 5:8, Jam 5:9. Moderate your passion, for the Lord is at hand, Phi 4:5. And when their ruin comes it will be an utter ruin; he and his shall be extirpated; the day that comes shall leave him neither root nor branch (Mal 4:1): Thou shalt diligently consider his place, where but the other day he made a mighty figure, but it shall not be, you will not find it; he shall leave nothing valuable, nothing honourable, behind. him. To the same purport (Psa 37:20), The wicked shall perish; their death is their perdition, because it is the termination of all their joy and a passage to endless misery. Blessed are the dead that die in the Lord; but undone, for ever undone, are the dead that die in their sins. The wicked are the enemies of the Lord; such those make themselves who will not have him to reign over them, and as such he will reckon with them: They shall consume as the fat of lambs, they shall consume into smoke. Their prosperity, which gratifies their sensuality, is like the fat of lambs, not solid or substantial, but loose and washy; and, when their ruin comes, they shall fall as sacrifices to the justice of God and be consumed as the fat of the sacrifices was upon the altar, whence it ascended in smoke. The day of God's vengeance on the wicked is represented as a sacrifice of the fat of the kidneys of rams (Isa 34:6); for he will be honoured by the ruin of his enemies, as he was by the sacrifices. Damned sinners are sacrifices, Mar 9:49. This is a good reason why we should not envy them their prosperity; while they are fed to the full, they are but in the fattening for the day of sacrifice, like a lamb in a large place (Hos 4:16), and the more they prosper the more will God be glorified in their ruin. (2.) Because the condition of the righteous, even in this life, is every way better and more desirable than that of the wicked, Psa 37:16. In general, a little that a righteous man has of the honour, wealth, and pleasure of this world, is better than the riches of many wicked. Observe, [1.] The wealth of the world is so dispensed by the divine Providence that it is often the lot of good people to have but a little of it, and of wicked people to have abundance of it; for thus God would show us that the things of this world are not the best things, for, if they were, those would have most that are best and dearest to God. [2.] That a godly man's little is really better than a wicked man's estate, though ever so much; for it comes from a better hand, from a hand of special love and not merely from a hand of common providence, - it is enjoyed by a better title (God gives it to them by promise, Gal 3:18), - it is theirs by virtue of their relation to Christ, who is the heir of all things, - and it is put to better use; it is sanctified to them by the blessing of God. Unto the pure all things are pure, Tit 1:15. A little wherewith God is served and honoured is better than a great deal prepared for Baal or for a base lust. The promises here made to the righteous secure them such a happiness that they need not envy the prosperity of evil-doers. Let them know to their comfort, First, That they shall inherit the earth, as much of it as Infinite Wisdom sees good for them; they have the promise of the life that now is, Ti1 4:8. If all the earth were necessary to make them happy, they should have it. All is theirs, even the world, and things present, as well as things to come, Co1 3:21, Co1 3:22. They have it by inheritance, a safe and honourable title, not by permission only and connivance. When evil-doers are cut off the righteous sometimes inherit what they gathered. The wealth of the sinner is laid up for the just, Job 27:17; Pro 13:22. This promise is here made, 1. To those that live a life of faith (Psa 37:9); Those that wait upon the Lord, as dependents on him, expectants from him, and suppliants to him, shall inherit the earth, as a token of his present favour to them and an earnest of better things intended for them in the other world. God is a good Master, that provides plentifully and well, not only for his working servants, but for his waiting servants. 2. To those that live a quiet and peaceable life (Psa 37:11): The meek shall inherit the earth. They are in least danger of being injured and disturbed in the possession of what they have and they have most satisfaction in themselves and consequently the sweetest relish of their creature-comforts. Our Saviour has made this a gospel promise, and a confirmation of the blessings he pronounced on the meek, Mat 5:5. Secondly, That they shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace, Psa 37:11. Perhaps they have not abundance of wealth to delight in; but they have that which is better, abundance of peace, inward peace and tranquility of mind, peace with God, and then peace in God, that great peace which those have that love God's law, whom nothing shall offend (Psa 119:165), that abundance of peace which is in the kingdom of Christ (Psa 72:7), that peace which the world cannot give (Joh 14:27), and which the wicked cannot have, Isa 57:21. This they shall delight themselves in, and in it they shall have a continual feast; while those that have abundance of wealth do but cumber and perplex themselves with it and have little delight in it. Thirdly, That God knows their days, Psa 37:18. He takes particular notice of them, of all they do and of all that happens to them. He keeps account of the days of their service, and not one day's work shall go unrewarded, and of the days of their suffering, that for those also they may receive a recompence. He knows their bright days, and has pleasure in their prosperity; he knows their cloudy and dark days, the days of their affliction, and as the day is so shall the strength be. Fourthly, That their inheritance shall be for ever; not their inheritance in the earth, but that incorruptible indefeasible one which is laid up for them in heaven. Those that are sure of an everlasting inheritance in the other world have no reason to envy the wicked their transitory possessions and pleasures in this world. Fifthly, That in the worst of times it shall go well with them (Psa 37:19): They shall not be ashamed of their hope and confidence in God, nor of the profession they have made of religion; for the comfort of that will stand them in stead, and be a real support to them, in evil times. When others droop they shall lift up their heads with joy and confidence: Even in the days of famine, when others are dying for hunger round about them, they shall be satisfied, as Elijah was; in some way or other God will provide food convenient for them, or give them hearts to be satisfied and content without it, so that, if they should be hardly bestead and hungry, they shall not (as the wicked do) fret themselves and curse their king and their God (Isa 7:21), but rejoice in God as the God of their salvation even when the fig-tree does not blossom, Hab 3:17, Hab 3:18. 2. Good people have no reason to fret at the occasional success of the designs of the wicked against the just. Though they do bring some of their wicked devices to pass, which makes us fear they will gain their point and bring them all to pass, yet let us cease from anger, and not fret ourselves so as to think of giving up the cause. For, (1.) Their plots will be their shame, Psa 37:12, Psa 37:13. It is true the wicked plotteth against the just; there is a rooted enmity in the seed of the wicked one against the righteous seed; their aim is, if they can, to destroy their righteousness, or, if that fail, then to destroy them. With this end in view they have acted with a great deal both of cursed policy and contrivance (they plot, they practice, against the just), and of cursed zeal and fury - they gnash upon them with their teeth, so desirous are they, if they could get it into their power, to eat them up, and so full of rage and indignation are they because it is not in their power; but by all this they do but make themselves ridiculous. The Lord shall laugh at them, Psa 2:4, Psa 2:5. They are proud and insolent, but God shall pour contempt upon them. he is not only displeased with them, but he despises them and all their attempts as vain and ineffectual, and their malice as impotent and in a chain; for he sees that his day is coming, that is, [1.] The day of God's reckoning, the day of the revelation of his righteousness, which now seems clouded and eclipsed. Men have their day now. This is your hour, Luk 22:53. But God will have his day shortly, a day of recompences, a day which will set all to rights, and render that ridiculous which now passes for glorious. It is a small thing to be judged of man's judgment, Co1 4:3. God's day will give a decisive judgment. [2.] The day of their ruin. The wicked man's day, the day set for his fall, that day is coming, which denotes delay; it has not yet come, but certainly it will come. The believing prospect of that day will enable the virgin, the daughter of Zion, to despise the rage of her enemies and laugh them to scorn, Isa 37:22. (2.) Their attempts will be their destruction, Psa 37:14, Psa 37:15. See here, [1.] How cruel they are in their designs against good people. They prepare instruments of death, the sword and the bow, no less will serve; they hunt for the precious life. That which they design is to cast down and slay; it is the blood of the saints they thirst after. They carry on the design very far, and it is near to be put in execution: They have drawn the sword, and bent the bow; and all these military preparations are made against the helpless, the poor and needy (which proves them to be very cowardly), and against the guiltless, such as are of upright conversation, that never gave them any provocation, nor offered injury to them or any other person, which proves them to be very wicked. Uprightness itself will be no fence against their malice. But, [2.] How justly their malice recoils upon themselves: Their sword shall turn into their own heart, which implies the preservation of the righteous from their malice and the filling up of the measure of their own iniquity by it. Sometimes that very thing proves to be their own destruction which they projected against their harmless neighbours; however, God's sword, which their provocations have drawn against them, will give them their death's wound. (3.) Those that are not suddenly cut off shall yet be so disabled for doing any further mischief that the interests of the church shall be effectually secured: Their bows shall be broken (Psa 37:15); the instruments of their cruelty shall fail them and they shall lose those whom they had made tools of to serve their bloody purposes with; nay, their arms shall be broken, so that they shall not be able to go on with their enterprises, Psa 37:17. But the Lord upholds the righteous, so that they neither sink under the weight of their afflictions nor are crushed by the violence of their enemies. He upholds them both in their integrity and in their prosperity; and those that are so upheld by the rock of ages have no reason to envy the wicked the support of their broken reeds.
Tyndale Open Study Notes
37:7 Be still: We should let the Lord be God rather than taking matters into our own hands.