Encouragement from Psalm 37
Dear Believers,
As we look around our world, we may be discouraged, saddened, or even enraged by what we see or experience. But we can find encouragement from God’s Word in all circumstances. In Psalm 37, we find the Psalmist describing the wicked and the fact that they seem to be getting away with their godless ways. Sound familiar? We may experience that as well. Our psalm is full of wisdom for these discouragements. Let’s take a look.
Fret not yourself (v.1)
Command: To fret means to be constantly or visibly worried or anxious. This Psalm begins with the command not to be worried or anxious. This command, along with “fear not,” is repeated over 365 times in the Bible. That’s at least one command a year. I wonder why? It is human nature to worry. And as a mom, I tend to fret, especially about my kids. I love them, want to protect them, and want the best for them. We worry about the bad stuff out there, the “evildoers”. But the LORD reminds us not to because it leads us to evil.
Promise: God will take care of the evil that is causing us to fret. Most of this Psalm speaks of God as our avenger. He will take care of the evil that is surrounding us. The evil that we worry about is caused by the devil himself, Satan. He knows his time is limited. That should give us hope. This evil is temporary. Jesus has already defeated him on the cross.
Beloved, never avenge yourself, but leave to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” Romans 12:19, for
[Jesus] has disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in [the cross]. Col. 2:15
Trust in the Lord and do good; dwell in the land and befriend faithfulness (v.3)
Command: trust. Instead of fretting, the LORD directs us to trust him. Trust him with all our cares and anxieties. He knows better (Prov 3:5), he is our refuge (Ps. 62:8), he is help and shield (Ps. 115:9-11), and everlasting rock that keeps us in peace (Is. 26:3-4). Once we can give all to him, we live our lives in goodness. He has called us to good works. Worry inhibits us from focusing fully on being obedient to live out our calling in freedom. Worry is like doing household chores with a 30lb backpack on our back. Trusting the LORD is like taking off our heavy burden of concerns, giving it to the LORD, and then going on to do what we need to do. Let go of every hindrance, and do good!
Since we have these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from every defilement of body and spirit, bringing holiness to completion in the fear of God. 2 Cor. 7:1
Promise: Dwelling and inheriting the land is mentioned 8 times in this one Psalm, and “befriending faithfulness” is translated as “finding safe pasture”. What is the meaning of all this real estate? The Hebrew word most often translated as “land” means “to be firm”. For God’s ancient people, land was more than a piece of property. They were transients at times in their history. This meant not having security or being able to plant their roots for safety and stability. Inheriting the land and dwelling in it meant anchoring firmly to something that could never be taken away from them. A place of comfort and safety. A place of rest. This is what God desires for us, and it is something we receive when we trust him. Following our Good Shepherd leads us to green pastures, rest from worry, and security in him.
The eternal God is your dwelling place, and underneath are the everlasting arms. And he thrust out the enemy before you and said, ‘Destroy’. Deut. 33:27
Delight yourself in the Lord (v.4)
Command: Delighting yourself in the LORD means rejoicing in him. It means finding fullness of joy in his presence (Ps. 16:11), rejoicing at his word (Ps.119:162), being grateful and glad for each day the he gives us (Ps.118:24). It means praising him for his great works (Ps. 111:2). Delighting means loving him above all else and finding our satisfaction in who he is and what he has done. It means taking the focus off of ourselves and onto our Savior. We look to Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith. It takes our focus and places it onto the One in whom it belongs.
Promise: When we delight ourselves in the LORD, his desires become our desires. We are no longer seeking self-gratification or worldly pursuits. We love him, and this means being obedient to his commands. But they are no longer harsh when we know they flow from love and for our good (1 John 5:3-4). So when Scripture tells us he will give us the desires of our hearts, it is those desires that are aligned with his desires. For it is no longer I who live, but Christ in me (Gal.2:20). Our minds have been renewed and transformed by the Spirit, and we no longer desire the things we used to desire- selfish ambition, worldly pursuits, or personal gain (Rom.12:2). We desire the salvation of others, spiritual growth, and the spread of the gospel of Christ.
When I regarded God as a tyrant, I thought sin a trifle; but when I knew him to be my father, then I mourned that I could ever have kicked against him. When I thought that God was hard, I found it easy to sin; but when I found God so kind, so good, so overflowing with compassion, I smote upon my breast to think that I could ever have rebelled against one who loved me so, and sought my good” (Spurgeon).
Commit your way to the Lord (v.5)
Command: To commit means to entrust, to give it up, and to release to a person or organization. This requires complete trust. Believing that whoever you are committed to has your best interests. We have trusted the LORD, and he has been faithful (Ps. 26:1, 2 Tim. 2:13). We delight in his faithfulness. Devoting our lives to him is the next step in our growth. We know that God works for the good of those who love him and are called according to his purpose (Rom. 8:28). And so we daily offer up all we are, and all we do to Him into his tender care.
Promise: He will act. We are to take God at his word. If you are a student of the Bible, you have come across promises and prophecies that God has made to his people throughout history. Promises to help us (Ps. 46:1), to never leave us (Heb. 13:5), to love us forever (Jer. 13:3, Rom. 8:38-30), to bring our purpose in this life to fruition and completion (Phil.1:6). God’s faithfulness is our confidence for the future.
So shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it. Is.55:11
Be still (v.7)
Command: Finally, we wait. God is eternal, and his time is not like our time. Sometimes the waiting seems long. But this is when the faith God has given helps us to be steadfast (Ps. 27:14) and enables us to endure, to be still in the waiting. We are calm, not fretful, and hopeful. Our heart has a deep tranquility. Not because it comes from ourselves, but because of the One in whom we are waiting (Jn. 14:27, 16:33). He is faithful and true. He will act. His plans and purposes are never thwarted.
You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you. Is. 26:3
Promise: Psalm 37 goes on about the goodness God will bestow on those who wait patiently for Him.
God will:
…Bring vengeance on the wicked
…Uphold the righteous
…Be their stronghold, help, deliverer, and refuge
…Establish their steps
…Never forsake them nor be put to shame
…Make their children a blessing and provide for them
…Inherit the land
…Put wisdom and justice in their mouth
…Give them a future and be their salvation.
Dear Believer, the rewards of the LORD are more than we can hold in a lifetime. May this encourage you to trust, delight, commit, and be still.
In Christ,
Bianca
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