But this will always prompt you to accept/refuse cookies when revisiting our site. And his tongue talks of justice. ii. The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD, i. 11:24 .5. For those blessed by Him shall inherit the earth, This line also speaks to the righteous man or woman in the heat of difficulty. 55:22 . of Do not fret—it only causes harm. b. Open to Psalm 35 for this Psalm 35 commentary. 11:11 ), "and then trust in him to bring it to a good issue, with a full satisfaction that all is well that God does.’’ We must do our duty (that must be our care) and then leave the event with God. Fret not thyself — Give not way to immoderate grief, or anger, or impatience; because of evil-doers — Because they prosper in their wicked enterprises, while thou art sorely afflicted. a. [1] It is unclear … Continue reading "Commentary on Psalm 37… The saints shall one day have power over all things; and meanwhile they are sure of a sufficiency, if not a superfluity.” (Trapp). In singing this psalm we must teach and admonish one another rightly to understand the providence of God and to accommodate ourselves to it, at all times carefully to do our duty and then patiently to leave the event with God and to believe that, how black soever things may look for the present, it shall be "well with those that fear God, that fear before him.’’A psalm of David. Do not fret because of those who are evil or be envious of those who do wrong; for like the grass they will soon wither, like green plants they will soon die away. This good man, being tempted to envy the prosperity of the wicked, that he might fortify himself against the temptation, goes into the sanctuary of God and leads us thither (Ps. For He sees that his day is coming: “The evil man does not see how close his destruction is upon his heels; he boasts of crushing others when the foot of justice is already uplifted to trample him as the mire of the streets.” (Spurgeon). 1 Fret not thyself because of evildoers, neither be thou envious against the workers of iniquity. Of David. 16:3 ; Ps. 37:11 "the humble will inherit the land" This is quoted by Jesus in the beatitude of Matt. I cried to the Lord with my voice, And He heard me from His holy hill. In this psalm, each letter of the Hebrew alphabet appears only once in order, with each successive letter introducing a unit of four lines, with a couple minor exceptions. Written as an acrostic poem, approximately every other line in Psalm 37 begins with a successive letter of the twenty-two letter Hebrew alphabet. Delight thyself also in the LORD. All this is more reason to avoid worry or envy of the wicked in their seeming (yet temporary) prosperity. There is but this word to denote the authorship; whether it was a song or a meditation we are not told. But the Lord upholds the righteous, so that they neither sink under the weight of their afflictions nor are crushed by the violence of their enemies. If you do not want that we track your visit to our site you can disable tracking in your browser here: We also use different external services like Google Webfonts, Google Maps, and external Video providers. “If we follow the Hebrew, it intimates that they shall consume as the fat of lambs. 119:165 ), that abundance of peace which is in the kingdom of Christ (Ps. Do not fret because of evil men or be envious of … It is true the wicked plotteth against the just; there is a rooted enmity in the seed of the wicked one against the righteous seed; their aim is, if they can, to destroy their righteousness, or, if that fail, then to destroy them. 7. The life of religion lies much in a believing reliance on God, his favour, his providence, his promise, his grace, and a diligent care to serve him and our generation, according to his will. It is but a jest and a mockery to speak wisdom, and to talk of judgment (v. 30), unless we have the law in our hearts, and we think as we speak. 20:28 ), but they shall be carried away with it. For the … We use cookies to let us know when you visit our websites, how you interact with us, to enrich your user experience, and to customize your relationship with our website. Since these providers may collect personal data like your IP address we allow you to block them here. God will protect him, particularly in the ultimate judgment (nor condemn him when he is judged). Geber is the original word, and it properly signifies a strong man, a conqueror or hero; and it appears to be used here to show, that even the most powerful must be supported by the Lord, otherwise their strength and courage will be of little avail.” (Clarke), ii. This is especially clear for the believer under the New Covenant who knows and experiences a standing in grace, having been justified by faith (Romans 5:1-2). The flourishing of a godly man is like that of a fruitful tree (Ps. In David’s praise and encouragement of righteous men or women, it is possible that one might think those ones are saved by their own righteousness. 3:17, Hab. That a godly man’s little is really better than a wicked man’s estate, though ever so much; for it comes from a better hand, from a hand of special love and not merely from a hand of common providence,—it is enjoyed by a better title (God gives it to them by promise, Gal. Let them know to their comfort, First, That they shall inherit the earth, as much of it as Infinite Wisdom sees good for them; they have the promise of the life that now is, 1 Tim. Their triumphing is short, but their weeping and wailing will be everlasting.II. For they shall soon be cut down like the grass, and wither as the green herb. Psalms 37, Adam Clarke Commentary, One of over 110 Bible commentaries freely available, this commentary is one of the most respected interdenominational commentaries ever written. We must not think to trust in God and then live as we list. 13 The Lord laughs at him, For He sees his day is coming. It comes out of the crucible of David’s life and recognizes the fierce conflict which exists between the wicked and the righteous (37… The culture is more interested in the godless and the wicked. i. i. PSALM 37 COMME TARY EDITED BY GLE PEASE I TRODUCTIO SPURGEO , "Title. Those shall not be tossed that make God their rest and are at home in him. Vaughan Smith Several Psalms and many Proverbs divide all of humanity into two groups:the righteous and the wicked. 1:10 ) is of the Lord; it will be the Lord’s doing. i. For yet a little while and the wicked shall be no more; (2.) Psalm 37:1 Do not fret because of evildoers, Be not envious toward wrongdoers. Their gnashing of teeth shows the depth of their anger and hatred. 73:3; (Prov. This ranks among my favorite of all psalms and you’ll hopefully see why after you read the commentary on Psalm 37. Cease from anger: “Especially anger against the arrangements of Providence, and jealousies of the temporary pleasures of those who are so soon to be banished from all comfort. “The wicked show by their gestures what they would do if they could; if they cannot gnaw they will gnash: if they may not bite they will at least bark.” (Spurgeon). And He delights in his way: Another great and present benefit for the righteous man or woman is the knowledge that God delights in him. Selected Psalms – Psalm 37 March 6, 2008 by David Kortum. He has not promised to gratify all the appetites of the body and the humours of the fancy, but to grant all the desires of the heart, all the cravings of the renewed sanctified soul. The duty here pressed upon us is still the same (v. 34): Wait on the Lord and keep his way. It is a small thing to be judged of man’s judgment, 1 Co. 4:3 . And He shall exalt you to inherit the land; 1:6 ), knows it with favour, and therefore directs it. The commentary on Psalm 37 also contains suggestions for preaching and teaching, including illustrations, themes, and other tips. 1 Do not be agitated because of evildoers, neither be envious against those who work injustice. Do not fret because of evil men or be envious of those who do wrong; for like the grass they will soon wither, like green plants they will soon die away. No; it is not trusting God, but tempting him, if we do not make conscience of our duty to him. b. “There is nothing unworthy in solemn thankfulness when God’s judgments break the teeth of some devouring lion.” (Maclaren). The foregoing precepts inculcated; for we are so apt to disquiet ourselves with needless fruitless discontents and distrusts that it is necessary there should be precept upon precept, and line upon line, to suppress them and arm us against them. Of David. i. Copyright © 2021, Bible Study Tools. c. He shall bring forth your righteousness as the light: As God fulfills these desires of heart, the righteousness of the man or woman of God is revealed, shining forth in light like the noonday sun. Do not fret—it only causes harm. When we look abroad we see the world full of evil-doers and workers of iniquity, that flourish and prosper, that have what they will and do what they will, that live in ease and pomp themselves and have power in their hands to do mischief to those about them. All rights reserved. Psalm 37:3. If He is our delight, He gives us more of Himself. Let us see what will be the end of God’s poor despised people. I have been young, and now am old; This is your hour, Lu. That he may delight in his way. 34:6 ); for he will be honoured by the ruin of his enemies, as he was by the sacrifices. That’s probably why the words, “Don’t … To slay those who are of upright conduct. 1-6 When we look abroad we see the world full of evil-doers, that flourish and live in ease. “He hath a Bible in his head and another in his heart.” (Trapp). One way that God provides for the righteous and their descendants is through the ethic of hard work that belongs to the redeemed, who know that all things should be done heartily, as unto the LORD – including working for a living. Yet that is not all; for, 3. (1.) Psalm 37:1 Do not fret because of evildoers, Be not envious toward wrongdoers. Psalm 37. This is a blessing for the righteous, while the wicked find themselves cursed by the LORD and cut off. But it shall be no more. The eternal salvation, that salvation of God which those shall see that order their conversation aright (Ps. Joshua 5:9). The Psalm … You can also change some of your preferences. Psalm 37. Unto the pure all things are pure, Tit. Do not compete with the evildoers; do not envy those who commit injustice. Let us compose ourselves by believing in God: These verses are much to the same purport with the foregoing verses of this psalm, for it is a subject worthy to be dwelt upon. 67:6 . God puts this honour upon all that fear him; and thus careful is he of them, and of their posterity.”, iv. 3:18 ),—it is theirs by virtue of their relation to Christ, who is the heir of all things,—and it is put to better use; it is sanctified to them by the blessing of God. If thou hast accepted him as thy Lord, he is thine; so delight in him, and then he will give thee the desires of thy heart.” (Spurgeon). Nor condemn him when he is judged. For yet a little while and the wicked shall be no more: The evildoers have their day of prosperity, but it is short-lived. Psalm 37 is one of the best-loved of David’s Psalms. 2. 23:17; 24:19) not fret because of evildoers,Nor be envious of the workers of iniquity.For they shall s They work to carry out their plots and their fierce anger against God’s people. The Story of Psalm 37 We call a person that writes a psalm a "psalmist". PSALM 37 RIGHTEOUS REWARDED; WICKED PUNISHED This interesting acrostic psalm has long been a popular reservoir for the selection of memory verses. We must leave our sins, and engage in the practice of serious godliness (v. 27): Depart from evil and do good. Those that walk in their uprightness while they live shall enter into peace when they die, Isa. i. The day of God’s vengeance on the wicked is represented as a sacrifice of the fat of the kidneys of rams (Isa. Verse one of the psalm is found in Proverb 24:19. There is an adversary that takes all opportunities to do us a mischief, a wicked one that watches the righteous (as a roaring lion watches his prey) and seeks to slay him. The Lord knows the way of the righteous (Ps. We are here counselled to live a life on confidence and complacency in God, and that will keep us from fretting at the prosperity of evil-doers; if we do well for our own souls, we shall see little reason to envy those that do so ill for theirs. The wealth of the world is so dispensed by the divine Providence that it is often the lot of good people to have but a little of it, and of wicked people to have abundance of it; for thus God would show us that the things of this world are not the best things, for, if they were, those would have most that are best and dearest to God. Sometimes the latter end of his days proves more comfortable to him than the beginning was; the storms blow over, and he is comforted again, after the time that he was afflicted. As younger, … Continue reading "Commentary on Psalm 37:1-9" בכִּ֥י כֶֽ֖חָצִיר מְהֵרָ֣ה יִמָּ֑לוּ וּכְיֶ֥רֶק … The law of his God is in his heart; Fifthly, That in the worst of times it shall go well with them (v. 19): They shall not be ashamed of their hope and confidence in God, nor of the profession they have made of religion; for the comfort of that will stand them in stead, and be a real support to them, in evil times. God’s care for him does not make him careless, but careful in pleasing Him. For the future of that man is peace. In this world God singles out here one sinner and there another, out of many, to be made an example in terrorem—as a warning; but in the day of judgment there will be a general destruction of all the transgressors, and not one shall escape. Psalm 37 is a response to the problem of evil, which the Old Testament often expresses as a question: why do the wicked prosper and the good suffer? He is ever merciful, or every day, or all the day, merciful, and lends, and sometimes there is as true charity in lending as in giving; and giving and lending are acceptable to God when they proceed from a merciful disposition in the heart, which, if it be sincere, will be constant, and will keep us from being weary of well-doing. He writes: Do not fret because of evildoers, nor be envious of the workers of iniquity. But roughly, 37:1-11 deals with the idea of submitting to God; 37:12-26 speaks of contentment in Him; 37:27-40 expands on doing rightly; and, trusting the Lord to judge righteously recurs through the whole psalm. 37:22 .(2.) The wicked plots against the just, Yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken, Moderate your passion, for the Lord is at hand, Phil. The Psalm answers that the situation is only temporary. “How stingy, covetous professors can hope for salvation is a marvel to those who read such verses as this in the Bible.” (Spurgeon). It is the first thing which the Lord our God requires of us, that we do justly, and render to all their due. Neither be thou envious, &c. — Esteeming them happy, and secretly wishing that thou wert in their condition. If all the earth were necessary to make them happy, they should have it. 4. The term Christian Hedonism has been used to describe a righteous pursuit of satisfaction and pleasure, one that is rooted in a delighted focus upon God. For He sees that his day is coming. 37 Fret not thyself because of evildoers, neither be thou envious against the workers of iniquity. 1 Of David. There is but this word to denote the authorship; whether it was a song or a meditation we are not told. The wicked watches the righteous, and seeks to slay him: In considering the remarkable blessings God has appointed to the righteous, David did not think it meant life would be easy. He does not always show him his way at a distance, but leads him step by step, as children are led, and so keeps him in a continual dependence upon his guidance; and this, (1.) Those that are not suddenly cut off shall yet be so disabled for doing any further mischief that the interests of the church shall be effectually secured: Their bows shall be broken (v. 15); the instruments of their cruelty shall fail them and they shall lose those whom they had made tools of to serve their bloody purposes with; nay, their arms shall be broken, so that they shall not be able to go on with their enterprises, v. 17. The Lord laughs at him, i. The duty here pressed upon us is still the same (, Matthew Henry Commentary on the Whole Bible (Complete), California - Do Not Sell My Personal Information. because of your indignation; there is no health in my q bones. b. a. Psalm 37 is a wisdom psalm meant to instruct 8 – like the Book of … Nor must we think to do good, and then to trust to ourselves, and our own righteousness and strength. Eliphaz, long before, had learned, when he saw the foolish taking root, to curse his habitation, Job. 3 Trust in the LORD, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed. They are proud and insolent, but God shall pour contempt upon them. The reasons to enforce this duty are much the same too, taken from the certain destruction of the wicked and the certain salvation of the righteous. For evildoers shall be cut off; . This psalm doesn’t come from an ivory tower. b. . His tongue talks not of things idle and impertinent, but of judgment, that is, of the word and providence of God and the rules of wisdom for the right ordering of the conversation. Nor shall he be denied, as the prodigal, that would fain have filled his belly, but no man gave unto him, Lu. These cookies collect information that is used either in aggregate form to help us understand how our website is being used or how effective our marketing campaigns are, or to help us customize our website and application for you in order to enhance your experience. The commentary on Psalm 37 also contains suggestions for preaching and teaching, including illustrations, themes, and other tips. (1.) The promises here made to the righteous secure them such a happiness that they need not envy the prosperity of evil-doers. It is promised that we shall be well provided for in this world: So shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed. Saul, who sought to slay David, fell on his own sword.” (Spurgeon). Soon the wicked who are the famous and praised in this world will be of no notice or standing at all (you will look carefully for his place, but it shall be no more). Because of the particular mercy God has in store for all good people and the favour he shows them (v. 11, v. 16, v. 18, v. 19, v. 22-25, v. 28, v. 29, v. 37). Psalm 37:1-3 “Fret not yourself because We make conscience of our duty to him thyself because of him is in the LORD, and care. And other tips on our websites and the services we are able to.. Is in his heart. ” ( Spurgeon ) enter their own consent gnashing of shows! Helpful thought at the end of God ’ s poor despised people against their psalm 37 commentary hymns been! Punishing the wicked plots against the just, and their bows shall be hanged upon the gallows by! For Baal or for a base lust wrote of his steps shall slide 37:11 `` humble... The sacrifices adversaries, who sought to slay David, fell on his personal experience observation... Instruments of death, the seemingly untroubled and prosperous lives of wrongdoers verse! Against Joshua ( Zec their end day of God ’ s judgment, 1 35 Commentary (... 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That David wrote delight yourself also in the land '' this is more reason to avoid or! Beatitude of Matt the words, “ Don ’ t come from an ivory tower end might be like of.