Old Testament Commentary - Psalms 37

by Don R. Hender

Scriptural Text [& Editorial]	Commentary & Explanation	Footnotes ~ References ~ JST
CHAPTER 37 David counsels: Trust in the Lord and do good—Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for him—Cease from anger and forsake wrath—The meek shall inherit the earth—The Lord loves judgment and forsakes not his saints.
A Psalm of David.
1 FRET not thyself because of evildoers, neither be thou ^aenvious against the workers of iniquity. 2 For they shall soon be ^acut down like the grass, and wither as the green herb. 3 ^aTrust in the LORD, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed.
4 Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the ^adesires of thine heart. 5 ^aCommit thy ^bway unto the LORD; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass. 6 And he shall ^abring forth thy righteousness as the light, and thy judgment as the noonday.
7 Rest in the LORD, and wait ^apatiently for him: fret not thyself because of him who prospereth in his way, because of the man who bringeth wicked devices to pass. 8 ^aCease from ^banger, and forsake wrath: fret not thyself in any wise to do evil^a. 9 For evildoers shall be ^acut off: but those that wait upon the LORD, they shall inherit the ^bearth.	8^a fret not thyself in any wise to do evil The wages of sin are much more than just spiritual death. The wear upon the heart, mind, soul and being of a person does harden one into unfeeling and does canker and waste away that which is of real worth. Vanity of the world, the riches, property, prestiege, power, popularity and desires of the flesh do not satisfy the eternal man and are but false fleeting things. All is vanity but that which pertains unto God, his truth, righteousness and goodness. Love the Lord, his way. The good doth build the soul and fill man's being unto overwhelming satisfaction which the vanity of the world can never be satisfied for it considereth not that love of God and of one's fellow being which does fill the soul with life and loving for ever. Thus waste not away thy soul and being in evil which does but corrupt and destory the inner man, that spiritual being which is a child of God and which may develop into such as that God of goodness from which it came.
10 For yet a ^alittle while, and the wicked shall not be: yea, thou shalt diligently consider his place, and it shall not be. 11 But the ^ameek shall inherit the ^bearth; and shall ^cdelight themselves in the abundance of peace. 12 The wicked plotteth against the just, and gnasheth upon him with his teeth.
13 The Lord shall ^alaugh at him: for he seeth that his day is coming. 14 The wicked have drawn out the sword, and have bent their bow, to cast down the poor and needy, and to slay such as be of upright conversation. 15 Their sword shall enter into their own heart, and their bows shall be broken.
16 A ^alittle that a ^brighteous man hath is better than the ^criches of many wicked. 17 For the arms of the wicked shall be broken: but the LORD upholdeth the righteous. 18 The LORD knoweth the days of the upright: and their ^ainheritance shall be for ever.
19 They shall not be ashamed in the evil time: and in the days of ^afamine they shall be satisfied. 20 But the wicked shall perish, and the enemies of the LORD shall be as the fat of lambs: they shall consume; into smoke shall they consume away. 21 The wicked ^aborroweth, and payeth not again: but the righteous sheweth mercy, and giveth.
22 For such as be blessed of him shall inherit the ^aearth; and they that be ^bcursed of him shall be cut off. 23 The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD: and he delighteth in his way. 24 Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down: for the LORD upholdeth him with his hand.
25 I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the ^arighteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread. 26 He is ever merciful, and lendeth; and his seed is blessed. 27 Depart from evil, and do good; and dwell for evermore.
28 For the LORD loveth ^ajudgment, and forsaketh not his saints; they are preserved for ever: but the ^bseed of the wicked shall be cut off. 29 The righteous shall inherit the land, and dwell therein for ever. 30 The mouth of the ^arighteous speaketh wisdom, and his tongue talketh of judgment.
31 The ^alaw of his God is in his ^bheart; none of his steps shall slide. 32 The wicked watcheth the righteous, and seeketh to slay him. 33 The LORD will not leave him in his hand, nor condemn him when he is judged.
34 ^aWait on the LORD, and keep his way, and he shall exalt thee to inherit the land: when the wicked are cut off, thou shalt see it. 35 I have seen the wicked in great power, and spreading himself like a green bay tree. 36 Yet he passed away, and, lo, he was not: yea, I sought him, but he could not be found.
37 Mark the ^aperfect man, and behold the upright: for the end of that man is ^bpeace. 38 But the transgressors shall be destroyed together: the ^aend of the wicked shall be cut off.
39 But the ^asalvation of the righteous is of the LORD: he is their strength in the time of trouble. 40 And the LORD shall help them, and deliver them: he shall deliver them from the wicked, and save them, because they trust in him.