PSALM 37: Trust in the Lord and Do Good David teaches believers how to survive in the land of the wicked. A series of proverbs instructs us (ps.37:1–8), giving way to promises that the wicked will be punished (vv. 9–22). God upholds the just (vv. 23–31), despite the intent of the wicked to harm them (vv. 32–40). Key concepts. Evil » Exodus 32-34. Doing good » Titus 3. Trust » Psalms 18-21. The wicked » Psalms 1-4. Salvation » Isaiah 30-31. Response to the wicked (37:1–10). How is the believer to respond to wicked individuals? Don’t Do Fret (brood) v. 1 Trust in the Lord v. 3 Be envious v. 1 Do good v. 3 Fret v. 7 Enjoy your blessings v. 3 Be angry v. 8 Delight in the Lord v. 4 Fret v. 8 Commit way to God v. 5 Trust in Him v. 5 Be still before God v. 7 Wait patiently for Him v. 7 Anger (37:8). This anger is what most of us would call “righteous indignation.†It is clearly anger directed at the right thing—wicked wrongdoing. But here anger is linked with the repeated concept of “fret.†This is no sudden surge of anger that passes away. This is a smoldering anger, a hostile resentment that we nurture and in time dominates our attitude toward wrongdoers. This is the anger we must release, to replace with a perspective shaped by a quiet trust in God. “Wait for the Lord and keep His way†(37:34). God doesn’t expect us to remain passive while we wait for Him to act. He tells us to be active in doing good.
Posted on: Mon, 15 Jul 2013 06:29:19 +0000