Words for Life: Psalm 37

Image originally from here.

I've had a niggling need to read Psalm 37 in my personal devotional time for a little while now, and finally got around to it this evening. Its powerful. I could easily write a book on it, but for the moment this post will suffice. 

In my ESV bible, its 'titled' "He Will Not Forsake His Saints", which is sometimes exactly what followers of Jesus need to hear. This post is basically going to be a reproduction of Psalm 37, with the odd small paragraph of commentary interposed amongst the verses of the text.

"Fret not yourself because of evildoers:
be not envious of wrongdoers.
For they will soon fade like the grass
and wither like the green herb.

Trust in the LORD, and do good;
dwell in the land and befriend faithfulness.
Delight yourself in the LORD and he will give you the desires of your heart"

The first four verses of this Psalm are powerful. I strongly feel that God used this passage to say to me "Don't worry". Its so easy to get caught up in the stresses and struggles of this earth, this life, this culture, this season, and often its people that provoke those worries. But the Psalmist has a clear instruction; "Trust". Its simple. The outworking of that trust is doing good, living in "the land" and being faithful. That little summary of the follower of God is followed by a challenging promise. What does it mean to "delight" in God? What would it look like for God to give me the desires of my heart?

"Commit your way to the LORD;
trust in him, and he will act.
He will bring forth your righteousness as the light,
and your justice as the noonday.

Be still before the LORD, and wait patiently for him;
fret not yourself over the one who prospers in his way, 
over the man who carries out evil devices.

Refrain from anger, and forsake wrath!
Fret not yourself; it tends only to evil.

For the evildoers shall be cut off,
but those who wait for the LORD shall inherit the land"

These next verses, 5-9, are a powerful continuation of the simple message of "Don't worry, Trust, Do Good". We do not believe in a passive God. The God that the psalmist trusts in, that I trust in, that you can trust in, is a God who acts. His action is bold; bringing forth righteousness and justice. Be still before the Lord, the Psalmist writes - and this is difficult. I'm learning to be patient in waiting for God. Its hard. Echoing the opening words of Psalm 37, we are warned not to fret, not to be evil. There will be a cutting off from God of those who go their own way. There will be a cutting off from God of those who do evil. But its worth waiting for God. There will be an inheritance. There will be an inheritance.

"In just a little while, the wicked will be no more;
though you look carefully at his place, he will not be there.

But the meek shall inherit the land 
and delight themselves in abundant peace.

The wicked plots against the righteous,
and gnashes his teeth at him,
but the Lord laughs at the wicked,
for he sees that his day is coming.

The wicked draw the sword and bend their bows
to bring down the poor and needy,
to slay those whose way is upright;
their sword shall enter their own heart,
and their bows shall be broken"

As the Psalm in verses 10-15 moves on, I believe the Psalmist is challenging us to wait, just a little while. The passing reign of evil will end. Our fascination with him, our fascination with evil, will eventually literally become a fascination with nothing. The Psalmist foreshadows the beatitudes, with the promise of abundant peace. The last bit of this section paints a picture of the wicked. A picture of a person I do not want to be. Ultimately, those who draw swords as wicked people will do themselves evil, their plans will not prevail.

"Better is the little that the righteous has
than the abundance of many wicked.
For the arms of the wicked shall be broken,
but the LORD upholds the righteous.

The LORD knows the days of the blameless,
and their heritage will remain forever;
they are not put to shame in evil times;
in the days of famine they have abundance.

But the wicked will perish;
the enemies of the LORD are like the glory of the pastures;
they vanish - like smoke they vanish away.

The wicked borrows but does not pay back,
but the righteous is generous and gives;
for those blessed by the LORD shall inherit the land,
but those cursed by him shall be cut off"

Verses 16-22 are powerful. The Psalmist echoes the kingdom of God as revealed by Jesus in talking about things in real terms rather than the expected. Better to have little, and be righteous, than have abundantly, and be wicked. Why? Because God upholds the righteous. God knows our days; these finite human days, and he has a heritage and inheritance for us. There is such a contrast here between the righteous and the wicked. Perish. Enemies. Vanish. Cursed. That is the way of those who do not trust God. But the Lord God blesses those who trust him. Something better is in store for them.

"The steps of a man are established by the LORD,
when he delights in his way;
though he fall, he shall not be cast headlong,
for the LORD upholds his hand.

I have been young, and now am old,
yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken
or his children begging for bread.
He is ever lending generously,
and his children become a blessing"

Now it gets exciting. Now we see the sheer sovereign unbounded love of God. Verses 23-26 are amazing. In the cold of winter, in the frustration of unemployment, in the land between, it is a challenge to the melancholy in all of us that the steps of a man are established by the LORD. Not just put there, but established. Firmly. By God. Falling, struggling, stumbling and difficulty are inevitable - but the LORD is there. The Psalmist then speaks from experience, his vision of God as evidenced by his years of life. God does what he says. He does not forsake the righteous. God does not forsake those who love, trust, and follow him.

"Turn away from evil and do good;
so shall you dwell forever.
For the LORD loves justice;
he will not forsake his saints.

They are preserved forever,
but the children of the wicked shall be cut off.

The righteous shall inherit the land
and dwell in it forever"

Once again the radical different nature of the person who trusts God totally is revealed Verses 27-29 are powerful. A turn happens. A movement from the ease of evil to the power of God is inevitable. As is dwelling, living, being with the Lord, for ever. Why? Because God loves justice. The justice that he has pronounced. The law that he has set. The preservation of his reign and his people forever. Contrasted by the fate of the wicked. This motif of the righteous person, this picture of the inheritance of the land, and this living forever, are appearing again, flowing through this beautiful and powerful Psalm.

"The mouth of the righteous utters wisdom, 
and his tongue speaks justice.
The law of his God is in his heart;
his steps do not slip.

The wicked watches for the righteous
and seeks to put him to death.
The LORD will not abandon him to his power,
or let him be condemned when he is brought to trial"

The contrast continues. The reality and certainty of life in the person who is righteous is clear. Against the odds. Against the schemes of the enemy. A righteous person will be wise, will speak of justice. A righteous person will step carefully, with what God has said firmly inside him. Part of him. The wicked person isn't like that. He desires evil, even the death of other men. But God is bigger. God does not abandon his people to the plans of the enemy. God does not let his people be falsely condemned. 

"Wait for the LORD and keep his way,
and he will exalt you to inherit the land;
you will look on when the wicked are cut off.

I have seen a wicked, ruthless man,
spreading himself like a green laurel tree.
But he passed away, and behold, he was no more;
though I sought him, he could not be found.

Mark the blameless and behold the upright,
for there is a future for the man of peace.
But transgressors shall be altogether destroyed;
the future of the wicked shall be cut off"

As this Psalm comes to a close, verses 34-38 reveal more of what is to come. The wisdom and virtue of waiting for the Lord, being obedient, and staying close to him are emphasised. It is in contrast to the fate of the wicked. The fate of the wicked is a future of being cut off. And this future will be terrible. And this terrible future will be real. The Psalmist is very clear that the righteous "will look on when" this is happening. It will take place in reality. God promises a future for the man of peace, but not for the transgressors. The difference is harsh. But there is hope. Because waiting for the Lord and keeping his way is a route we can take. A way we can go.

"The salvation of the righteous is from the LORD;
he is their stronghold in the time of trouble.

The LORD helps them and delivers them;
he delivers them from the wicked and saves them,
because they take refuge in him"

The closing verses of Psalm 37 promise something amazing. As people living on the New Testament end of history, it is perhaps confusing that 'righteous' has featured so heavily, until salvation is used in vers 39 here. Salvation is coming. "The salvation of the righteous is from the LORD". The salvation of the righteous has nothing to do with the people called righteous. It has nothing to do with me. It has everything to do with God. When troubles come, refuge can be found in God. God delivers his people from evil. God helps his people. Through all the changing scenes of life.

________

I believe that this Psalm, Psalm 37, is a powerful example of God speaking to his people. I believe that there are two kinds of people. Gods, the righteous, and those who are not, the wicked. I'd use different terms nowadays. God's people follow him, those who are not God's people follow their own way. Their own interpretations of reality. I believe that salvation is real, and that it happens through Jesus, who Christians throughout history have called "LORD". I believe that the God who speaks in Psalm 37 is the same God who is Jesus, the same God who lives inside his people by the power and person of the Holy Spirit. I believe Jesus wants to make you righteous. I believe Jesus wants you to trust him. Would you consider that? Consider accepting the promises of Psalm 37 for those who are righteous, throughout the tumult and variety of life?