Psalms 37

Psalms 37THEME: A promise of future blessingThis is a psalm of David. It is an experience of David and a promise of future blessing to the remnant of Israel written in the form of an acrostic. Each verse in this psalm begins with a letter of the Hebrew alphabet. There are forty verses in Psalms 37, which means two verses would begin with each letter of the Hebrew alphabet. For example, two verses of this psalm begin with Aleph, two verses with Beth, two verses with Gimel, etc., right through the alphabet. That is the way we instruct our children.

I still remember a book I got when I was a little fellow: “A is for apple, B is for baby, C is for cat,” etc., with illustrating pictures for each. This psalm is constructed in a similar way. It has been a great blessing to God’s people down through the years, although it is often misapplied.

Psalms 37:1

The prosperity of evildoers troubled David a great deal. It is a subject that is dealt with in Psalms 73 and one that is presented elsewhere in the Old Testament. Why do the godless people seem to prosper? In the Old Testament, God promised believers earthly and material prosperity. He has not promised that to believers today. Our hope is in heaven, not on earth. But the hope of Israel was upon the earth. The man of that day looked about and saw the ungodly prosper. He could see the fields of the ungodly being watered by the rain and flourishing, while down the road a poor righteous man was having a hard time. It was difficult to understand the reason for this. David came to the conclusion, as Asaph did in Psalms 73, that someday the wicked would be cut down just like the grass. A few years ago I had people in my congregation who could not understand why God would permit Hitler to do the things he was doing. Why, he almost won World War II. Why would God permit a man like Mussolini to do some of the things he did? But where are these men today? Just give God time. He will deal with the wicked. It is the end of the ungodly that we need to consider. If it disturbs you when you look around today and see the wicked prospering, there are several things you can do to solve your problem.

Psalms 37:3

This was a promise to God’s earthly people. He told them, “Don’t worry about the wicked. You trust in Me, and I will take care of you.”

Psalms 37:4

This was a promise for Israel, but it also applies to us today. I am not sure that He is going to bless your business, but He has already blessed you with spiritual blessings, and He will shower on you all of the spiritual blessings you can contain. Then notice what we are to do. We are to delight ourselves in the Lord. Now, there is something else that we can do.

Psalms 37:5

“Commit thy way unto the LORD.” Many Christians criticize and find fault with Godthey have not committed their way to the Lord. “Trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass.” Give God time. He will work things out in your life. God is good, my friend. The heathen concept of God is as a terrible Being. Their idols are hideous. Many Christians view God that way. They think of Him as sort of a villain who will turn on you at any moment. He never willHe is your Friend. He loves you. He wants to save you, but you have to commit your way to Him.

Psalms 37:7

Here is another thing to do: “Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for him.” How wonderful it is. When the wicked prosper, don’t fret. When the ungodly bring their wicked devices to pass, don’t let it disturb you. Don’t get “uptight” about it.

Psalms 37:8

“Cease from anger"don’t lose your temper. If you do evil, don’t think you can get by with it. If you are God’s child, you will find yourself in deep trouble if you try to get by with evil.

Psalms 37:9

God will see to it that those who wait upon the Lord will one day inherit the earth. The wicked are going to be cut off.

Psalms 37:11

Someday the meek shall inherit the earth. The day will come when God will put His people on the earth. I heard a preacher say, “God is going to save so many people that there won’t be enough room for them on earth, so He made heaven to take care of the overflow.” Heaven is not for the overflow; it is for the church. Israel will inherit the earth. To make a statement like that preacher did is to hopelessly confuse the purposes of God.

Psalms 37:14

The Scripture makes it clear that if you take the sword, that is the way you will perish.

Psalms 37:16

Having traveled a lot in the course of my ministry, I have been in the homes of very poor saints and also in the homes of some very rich saints. It has been my experience that the happiest saints are those who do not have so much. God seems to see to that.

Psalms 37:20

The wicked are going to perish. Don’t concern yourself with their prosperity. That is God’s department, and He will take care of it.

Psalms 37:23

“The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD,” that is, they are established by the Lord on a foundation that is the Rockand the Rock is Christ. “He delighteth in his way.” Does God delight in you today? God could point to Jobwho was not sinless by any meansbut God took delight in him.

Psalms 37:29

This verse again tells us that God is going to make good His promise to Abraham and to the children of Israel. He promised them earthly blessings. He did not promise that to you and me. We are blessed with all spiritual blessings. You will be confused if you believe God has promised you earthly blessings. It is true that many Christians are blessed with material things, but that is surplus. It is an added blessing; and, if God has blessed you that way, you have a tremendous responsibility. I feel sorry for some of the rich saints who are not using their money the way God wants them to use it.

Psalms 37:37

The “perfect man” is one who is perfect toward God in that he trusts God and rests upon his salvation. The end of the upright man is peace. God will see to that. “The end of the wicked shall be cut off.” The transgressors will be destroyed and the wicked shall be cut off. Mark that down. It is as sure as the law of gravitation.