Psalm 37

He Will Not Forsake His Saints 37 1 Of David. 1 u Fret not yourself because of evildoers; be not v envious of wrongdoers! 2 For they will soon w fade like x the grass and wither y like the green herb. 3 z Trust in the Lord , and do good; a dwell in the land and befriend faithfulness. 1 4 b Delight yourself in the Lord , and he will c give you the desires of your heart. 5 d Commit your way to the Lord ; z trust in him, and he will act. 6 e He will bring forth your righteousness as the light, and your justice as f the noonday. 7 g Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him; h fret not yourself over the one who i prospers in his way, over the man who carries out evil devices! 8 j Refrain from anger, and forsake wrath! h Fret not yourself; it tends only to evil. 9 k For the evildoers shall be cut off, but those who wait for the Lord shall l inherit the land. 10 In m just a little while, the wicked will be no more; though you look carefully at n his place, he will not be there. 11 But o the meek shall inherit the land and delight themselves in p abundant peace. 12 The wicked q plots against the righteous and r gnashes his teeth at him, 13 but the Lord s laughs at the wicked, for he sees that his t day is coming. 14 The wicked draw the sword and u bend their bows to bring down the poor and needy, to slay those whose v way is upright; 15 their sword shall enter their own heart, and their w bows shall be broken. 16 x Better is the little that the righteous has than the abundance of many wicked. 17 For y the arms of the wicked shall be broken, but the Lord z upholds the righteous. 18 The Lord a knows the days of the blameless, and their b heritage will remain forever; 19 they are not put to shame in evil times; in c the days of famine they have abundance. 20 But the wicked will perish; the enemies of the Lord are like d the glory of the pastures; they vanish—like e smoke they vanish away. 21 The wicked borrows but does not pay back, but the righteous f is generous and gives; 22 for those blessed by the Lord 1 shall g inherit the land, but those cursed by him h shall be cut off. 23 The i steps of a man are j established by the Lord , when he delights in his way; 24 k though he fall, he shall not be cast headlong, for the Lord l upholds his hand. 25 I have been young, and now am old, yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken or his children m begging for bread. 26 He is ever n lending generously, and his children become a blessing. 27 o Turn away from evil and do good; so shall you p dwell forever. 28 For the Lord q loves justice; he will not forsake his r saints. They are preserved forever, but the children of the wicked shall be s cut off. 29 The righteous shall inherit the land and p dwell upon it forever. 30 The mouth of the righteous utters wisdom, and his tongue speaks justice. 31 t The law of his God is in his heart; his u steps do not slip. 32 The wicked v watches for the righteous and seeks to put him to death. 33 The Lord will not w abandon him to his power or let him x be condemned when he is brought to trial. 34 y Wait for the Lord and keep his way, and he will exalt you to inherit the land; you will look on z when the wicked are cut off. 35 a I have seen a wicked, ruthless man, spreading himself like b a green laurel tree. 1 36 But he passed away, 1 and behold, c he was no more; though I sought him, he could not be found. 37 Mark the blameless and behold the upright, for there is a future for the man of d peace. 38 But e transgressors shall be altogether destroyed; the future of the wicked f shall be cut off. 39 g The salvation of the righteous is from the Lord ; he is their stronghold in h the time of trouble. 40 The Lord helps them and i delivers them; j he delivers them from the wicked and saves them, because they k take refuge in him.

Psalms 37:1-40

wlc

37 1 לְדָוִ֨ד ׀ אַל ־ תִּתְחַ֥ר בַּמְּרֵעִ֑ים אַל ־ תְּ֝קַנֵּ֗א בְּעֹשֵׂ֥י עַוְלָֽה 1 ׃ 2 כִּ֣י כֶ֭חָצִיר מְהֵרָ֣ה יִמָּ֑לוּ וּכְיֶ֥רֶק דֶּ֝֗שֶׁא יִבּוֹלֽוּן ׃ 3 בְּטַ֣ח בַּֽ֭יהוָה וַעֲשֵׂה ־ ט֑וֹב שְׁכָן ־ אֶ֝֗רֶץ וּרְעֵ֥ה אֱמוּנָֽה ׃ 4 וְהִתְעַנַּ֥ג עַל ־ יְהוָ֑ה וְיִֽתֶּן ־ לְ֝ךָ֗ מִשְׁאֲלֹ֥ת לִבֶּֽךָ ׃ 5 גּ֣וֹל עַל ־ יְהוָ֣ה דַּרְכֶּ֑ךָ וּבְטַ֥ח עָ֝לָ֗יו וְה֣וּא יַעֲשֶֽׂה ׃ 6 וְהוֹצִ֣יא כָא֣וֹר צִדְקֶ֑ךָ וּ֝מִשְׁפָּטֶ֗ךָ כַּֽצָּהֳרָֽיִם ׃ 7 דּ֤וֹם ׀ לַיהוָה֮ וְהִתְח֪וֹלֵ֫ל ל֥וֹ אַל ־ תִּ֭תְחַר בְּמַצְלִ֣יחַ דַּרְכּ֑וֹ בְּ֝אִ֗ישׁ עֹשֶׂ֥ה מְזִמּֽוֹת ׃ 8 הֶ֣רֶף מֵ֭אַף וַעֲזֹ֣ב חֵמָ֑ה אַל ־ תִּ֝תְחַ֗ר אַךְ ־ לְהָרֵֽעַ ׃ 9 כִּֽי ־ מְ֭רֵעִים יִכָּרֵת֑וּן וְקֹוֵ֥י יְ֝הוָ֗ה הֵ֣מָּה יִֽירְשׁוּ ־ אָֽרֶץ ׃ 10 וְע֣וֹד מְ֭עַט וְאֵ֣ין רָשָׁ֑ע וְהִתְבּוֹנַ֖נְתָּ עַל ־ מְקוֹמ֣וֹ וְאֵינֶֽנּוּ ׃ 11 וַעֲנָוִ֥ים יִֽירְשׁוּ ־ אָ֑רֶץ וְ֝הִתְעַנְּג֗וּ עַל ־ רֹ֥ב שָׁלֽוֹם ׃ 12 זֹמֵ֣ם רָ֭שָׁע לַצַּדִּ֑יק וְחֹרֵ֖ק עָלָ֣יו שִׁנָּֽיו ׃ 13 אֲדֹנָ֥י יִשְׂחַק ־ ל֑וֹ כִּֽי ־ רָ֝אָ֗ה כִּֽי ־ יָבֹ֥א יוֹמֽוֹ ׃ 14 חֶ֤רֶב ׀ פָּֽתְח֣וּ רְשָׁעִים֮ וְדָרְכ֪וּ קַ֫שְׁתָּ֥ם לְ֭הַפִּיל עָנִ֣י וְאֶבְי֑וֹן לִ֝טְב֗וֹחַ יִשְׁרֵי ־ דָֽרֶךְ ׃ 15 חַ֭רְבָּם תָּב֣וֹא בְלִבָּ֑ם וְ֝קַשְּׁתוֹתָ֗ם תִּשָּׁבַֽרְנָה ׃ 16 טוֹב ־ מְ֭עַט לַצַּדִּ֑יק מֵ֝הֲמ֗וֹן רְשָׁעִ֥ים רַבִּֽים ׃ 17 כִּ֤י זְרוֹע֣וֹת רְ֭שָׁעִים תִּשָּׁבַ֑רְנָה וְסוֹמֵ֖ךְ צַדִּיקִ֣ים יְהוָֽה ׃ 18 יוֹדֵ֣עַ יְ֭הוָה יְמֵ֣י תְמִימִ֑ם וְ֝נַחֲלָתָ֗ם לְעוֹלָ֥ם תִּהְיֶֽה ׃ 19 לֹֽא ־ יֵ֭בֹשׁוּ בְּעֵ֣ת רָעָ֑ה וּבִימֵ֖י רְעָב֣וֹן יִשְׂבָּֽעוּ ׃ 20 כִּ֤י רְשָׁעִ֨ים ׀ יֹאבֵ֗דוּ וְאֹיְבֵ֣י יְ֭הוָה כִּיקַ֣ר כָּרִ֑ים כָּל֖וּ בֶעָשָׁ֣ן כָּֽלוּ ׃ 21 לֹוֶ֣ה רָ֭שָׁע וְלֹ֣א יְשַׁלֵּ֑ם וְ֝צַדִּ֗יק חוֹנֵ֥ן וְנוֹתֵֽן ׃ 22 כִּ֣י מְ֭בֹרָכָיו יִ֣ירְשׁוּ אָ֑רֶץ וּ֝מְקֻלָּלָ֗יו יִכָּרֵֽתוּ ׃ 23 מֵ֭יְהוָה מִֽצְעֲדֵי ־ גֶ֥בֶר כּוֹנָ֗נוּ וְדַרְכּ֥וֹ יֶחְפָּֽץ ׃ 24 כִּֽי ־ יִפֹּ֥ל לֹֽא ־ יוּטָ֑ל כִּֽי ־ יְ֝הוָ֗ה סוֹמֵ֥ךְ יָדֽוֹ ׃ 25 נַ֤עַר ׀ הָיִ֗יתִי גַּם ־ זָ֫קַ֥נְתִּי וְֽלֹא ־ רָ֭אִיתִי צַדִּ֣יק נֶעֱזָ֑ב וְ֝זַרְע֗וֹ מְבַקֶּשׁ ־ לָֽחֶם ׃ 26 כָּל ־ הַ֭יּוֹם חוֹנֵ֣ן וּמַלְוֶ֑ה וְ֝זַרְע֗וֹ לִבְרָכָֽה ׃ 27 ס֣וּר מֵ֭רָע וַעֲשֵׂה ־ ט֗וֹב וּשְׁכֹ֥ן לְעוֹלָֽם ׃ 28 כִּ֤י יְהוָ֨ה ׀ אֹ֘הֵ֤ב מִשְׁפָּ֗ט וְלֹא ־ יַעֲזֹ֣ב אֶת ־ חֲ֭סִידָיו לְעוֹלָ֣ם נִשְׁמָ֑רוּ וְזֶ֖רַע רְשָׁעִ֣ים נִכְרָֽת ׃ 29 צַדִּיקִ֥ים יִֽירְשׁוּ ־ אָ֑רֶץ וְיִשְׁכְּנ֖וּ לָעַ֣ד עָלֶֽיהָ ׃ 30 פִּֽי ־ צַ֭דִּיק יֶהְגֶּ֣ה חָכְמָ֑ה וּ֝לְשׁוֹנ֗וֹ תְּדַבֵּ֥ר מִשְׁפָּֽט ׃ 31 תּוֹרַ֣ת אֱלֹהָ֣יו בְּלִבּ֑וֹ לֹ֖א תִמְעַ֣ד אֲשֻׁרָיו ׃ 32 צוֹפֶ֣ה רָ֭שָׁע לַצַּדִּ֑יק וּ֝מְבַקֵּ֗שׁ לַהֲמִיתוֹ 1 ׃ 33 יְ֭הוָה לֹא ־ יַעַזְבֶ֣נּוּ בְיָד֑וֹ וְלֹ֥א יַ֝רְשִׁיעֶ֗נּוּ בְּהִשָּׁפְטֽוֹ ׃ 34 קַוֵּ֤ה אֶל ־ יְהוָ֨ה ׀ וּשְׁמֹ֬ר דַּרְכּ֗וֹ וִֽ֭ירוֹמִמְךָ לָרֶ֣שֶׁת אָ֑רֶץ בְּהִכָּרֵ֖ת רְשָׁעִ֣ים תִּרְאֶֽה ׃ 35 רָ֭אִיתִי רָשָׁ֣ע עָרִ֑יץ וּ֝מִתְעָרֶ֗ה כְּאֶזְרָ֥ח רַעֲנָֽן ׃ 36 וַ֭יַּֽעֲבֹר וְהִנֵּ֣ה אֵינֶ֑נּוּ וָֽ֝אֲבַקְשֵׁ֗הוּ וְלֹ֣א נִמְצָֽא ׃ 37 שְׁמָר ־ תָּ֭ם וּרְאֵ֣ה יָשָׁ֑ר כִּֽי ־ אַחֲרִ֖ית לְאִ֣ישׁ שָׁלֽוֹם ׃ 38 וּֽ֭פֹשְׁעִים נִשְׁמְד֣וּ יַחְדָּ֑ו אַחֲרִ֖ית רְשָׁעִ֣ים נִכְרָֽתָה ׃ 39 וּתְשׁוּעַ֣ת צַ֭דִּיקִים מֵיְהוָ֑ה מָֽ֝עוּזָּ֗ם בְּעֵ֣ת צָרָֽה ׃ 40 וַֽיַּעְזְרֵ֥ם יְהוָ֗ה וַֽיְפַ֫לְּטֵ֥ם יְפַלְּטֵ֣ם מֵ֭רְשָׁעִים וְיוֹשִׁיעֵ֑ם כִּי ־ חָ֥סוּ בֽוֹ ׃

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Outline

Don't get angry because of evil, but wait on God Intro : Don't get angry, the repeated idea (v1,7,8). 'F ret' - literally be angry/be kindled/burn. T he natural response to injustice is to get angry. This Psalm acknowledges that, hence, three times 'don't get angry' - v1,7,8 Similar to Proverbs, both in content and in teaching style (e.g., drawing on imagery from created world). A double acrostic. 1. The meek shall inherit the land (v1-11) v1-2 a kind of summary of the whole. v3-6 Trust, dwell, befriend, delight, commit (lit. 'roll'), trust. v7-8 Be still, wait patiently. Hold back from anger. v9-11 'For' - something is coming, and you can wait confidently for that. v11 what it means for the meek to inherit the land, or 'the earth' (Matthew 5) in Biblical theology. Application directions : What is 'meekness'? 'Roll over, roll over' 'I've tried waiting for the LORD, but evil doesn't seem to be fading in the slightest! And in the meantime my life is wasting away!' He will give the desires of you heart? Really? v7 the comfort of literally, 'writhing, being in anguish' before him. God's glory : he sees, he knows, he can be trusted to put things right and carry all of our sorrows and injustices. FCF . Injustice. We see it, we suffer it, we cause it. The Bible is realistic and nuanced about victim and oppressor. cf impartiality in Deuteronomy or Proverbs. 'You shall not recognise a face'. We get angry at injustice and want revenge or vengeance [Monte Cristo]. We find an outlet for grandiosity from our own experience of victimhood, dependency, or helplessness. E.g,. addictions, anger outbursts, conspiracy theory (I have something on all of you, which is that I know the truth; a cherished self-righteousness). We want to become the oppressor if we're given half a chance. We jump at the opportunity to join the inner circle. [Hierarchical organisations] Victim, villain, relief - 'drama' triangle. To meet evil with evil is to surrender to evil. Righteous anger looks completely different. We don't choose radical meekness. 2. The great day of judgement is coming (v12-26) v13 cf Psalm 2. The LORD 'laughs' - in what sense. v14 oppression of the poor and needy and the upright. NB Biblical sense of 'poor'. v16 why 'better'? Because what is coming will make sense of everything. v25-26 a way of living trustingly and generously in the world while we wait. Application directions : v19 what it means. Abundance? To be sated, satisfied. Do we believe this? v25 I have not seen the righteous forsaken...until you get to the Cross. Person of Jesus. Shows true humility and meekness, true 'entrustedness'. And he is the true victim. Work of Jesus . Bears the penalty of our injustice (2 Corinthians 5.21). The righteous one is forsaken. 3. Wait for the LORD and keep his way (v27-40) v27 Turn away from evil and do good; the LORD loves justice. v29 inherit the land, again. And v34. v33 the LORD himself holds his people. v34 he will exalt you. v35-6 cf Proverbs I have seen. Observation followed by lesson v37-38. Union with Jesus . I am learning true meekness. Forgiving others, and leaving it to God to judge. I am learning what 'roll over, roll over' really means. cf 1 Peter 2.23; wisdom is the wisdom of the cross, to entrust ourselves to a just creator God. This is meekness. Wrap up : v1-2 the introduction, and v39-40 the clear conclusion. Salvation of the righteous is from the LORD.

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