Psalm 37

Encouragement for the Righteous Poor

(Psalm 37)

Who is the Lord?

He is the God of justice and righteousness, who watches over those who follow him.  He is the God of the poor, those who watch over the oppressed.  He is the God of power, who has the ability, the right and the desire to judge between the righteous and the wicked, to give the former what is good and the latter their punishment.

Who are the Wicked?

They are those with many resources who use those resources to oppress those who are not able to defend themselves.  They are those who hate righteousness and who do what they can to get what they can from the righteous in order to increase their gain. 

The wicked plot against the righteous, and gnash their teeth at them (v. 12)

The wicked draw the sword and bend their bows to bring down the poor and needy, to kill those who walk uprightly (v. 14)

The abundance of many wicked. (v. 16)

The wicked borrow, and do not pay back (v. 21)

Those cursed by him (v. 22)

The wicked watch for the righteous, and seek to kill them. (v. 32)

I have seen the wicked oppressing, and towering like a cedar of Lebanon. (v. 35)

Transgressors (v. 38)

Who are the Righteous?

These are those who look to God for how they should live their lives.  They are always giving, always speaking good, always seeking peace, always looking to the Lord.  They are humble and meek on the earth, allowing others to do evil to them, and who wait for God to vindicate them. Because of their humility and righteousness they are often poor and needy, and others take advantage of them.

Those who wait for the LORD (v.9)

The meek (v. 11)

Better is a little that the righteous person has (v. 16)

The righteous are generous and keep giving (v. 21)

He delights in our way (v. 23)

They are ever giving liberally and lending, and their children become a blessing. (v. 26)

Depart from evil, and do good (v. 27)

His faithful ones (v. 28)

The mouths of the righteous utter wisdom, and their tongues speak justice.

The law of their God is in their hearts; their steps do not slip. (v. 30-31)

The poor and needy (v. 14)

Peaceable, blameless (v. 37)

They take refuge in the Lord (v. 40)

The Lord’s response to the wicked

God has contempt for the wicked, because he sees that their prosperity is only temporary—soon their wickedness will be punished.

The LORD laughs at the wicked, for he sees that their day is coming. (v. 13)

The Lord’s response to the righteous

God watches over the righteous, remaining always faithful to his promises to them.  They gain justice from God, even when everyone else tries to oppress them.  God will help them in trouble and save them from the wicked.

He will give you the desires of your heart. (v. 4)

The LORD upholds the righteous. (v. 17)

The LORD knows the days of the blameless, and their heritage will abide forever;

They are not put to shame in evil times, in the days of famine they have abundance.  (v. 18-19)

Those blessed by the LORD (v. 22)

Our steps are made firm by the LORD, when he delights in our way;

Though we stumble, we shall not fall headlong, for the LORD holds us by the hand. I have been young, and now am old, yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken or their children begging bread. (v. 23-25)

For the LORD loves justice; he will not forsake his faithful ones. (v. 27)

The LORD will not abandon them to their (the wicked’s) power, or let them be condemned when they are brought to trial. (v. 33)

The salvation of the righteous is from the LORD; he is their refuge in the time of trouble. The LORD helps them and rescues them; he rescues them from the wicked, and saves them, because they take refuge in him. (v. 39-40)

The final end of the wicked

In justice, God will come and punish the wicked.  Their riches will be taken away from them, their power will be gone, they will be separated from the land and people of God.  They will be destroyed.

For the wicked shall be cut off (v.9)

Yet a little while, and the wicked will be no more; though you look diligently for their place, they will not be there. (v. 10)

Their sword shall enter their own heart, and their bows shall be broken. (v. 15)

The arms of the wicked shall be broken (v. 17)

But the wicked perish, and the enemies of the LORD are like the glory of the pastures; they vanish-- like smoke they vanish away. (v. 20)

Those cursed by him shall be cut off. (v. 22)

The children of the wicked shall be cut off. (v. 28)

The destruction of the wicked (v. 34)

Again I passed by, and they were no more; though I sought them, they could not be found. (v. 36)

But transgressors shall be altogether destroyed; the posterity of the wicked shall be cut off. (v. 38)

For they will soon fade like the grass, and wither like the green herb (v. 2)

The final end of the righteous

God will give the righteous the rule of the land.  They will be secure and prosperous.  They will be declared right before the wicked and they will see the wicked punished.  And they shall live well in the land of God among the people of God for all ages.

You will live in the land, and enjoy security (v. 3)

He will act. He will make your vindication shine like the light, and the justice of your cause like the noonday. (v. 5-6)

He will exalt you to inherit the land; you will look on the destruction of the wicked. (v. 8)

But those who wait for the LORD shall inherit the land. (v. 9)

The meek shall inherit the land, and delight themselves in abundant prosperity. (v. 11)

Those blessed by the LORD shall inherit the land (v. 22)

Depart from evil, and do good; so you shall abide forever. (v. 27)

The righteous shall be kept safe forever (v. 28)

The righteous shall inherit the land, and live in it forever. (v. 29)

He will exalt you to inherit the land; you will look on the destruction of the wicked (v. 34)

For there is posterity for the peaceable (v. 37)

The LORD helps them and rescues them; he rescues them from the wicked, and saves them (v. 40)

The righteous response to the wicked

The righteous should not get upset about the wicked, about their unrighteousness or the seeming injustice of their wealth.  They should not be envious of the wicked, their power or wealth, because their end indicates that there is nothing to be jealous about.

Do not fret because of the wicked; do not be envious of wrongdoers, (v. 1)

Do not fret over those who prosper in their way, over those who carry out evil devices. Refrain from anger, and forsake wrath. Do not fret-- it leads only to evil. (v. 7-8)

The righteous response to the Lord

Rather, the righteous should wait on God and his justice which is coming soon.  Those who are oppressed should do what is right before God, not wickedly do what the wicked do, but instead walk in the way of the Lord. Always do good, always depend on God and he will do right to you, even as he does the righteous.

Wait for the LORD, and keep to his way, and he will exalt you to inherit the land; you will look on the destruction of the wicked.

Trust in the LORD, and do good (v. 3)

Take delight in the LORD (v. 4)

Commit your way to the LORD; trust in him (v. 5)

Be still before the LORD, and wait patiently for him (v. 7)

Wait for the LORD, and keep to his way (v.8)