“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. Trust in the
LORD and do good; dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture. Delight yourself in
the LORD and he will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the
LORD; trust in him and he will do this: He will make your righteousness shine
like the dawn, the justice of your cause like the noonday sun. Be still before
the LORD and wait patiently for him; do not fret when men succeed in their
ways, when they carry out their wicked schemes. Refrain from anger and turn
from wrath; do not fret– it leads only to evil. For evil men will be cut off,
but those who hope in the LORD will inherit the land.” Psalm 37:1-9 (NIV)
Israel’s King David was without peer. His pen has directed us toward some of
the greatest wisdom for worship found anywhere. The proper attitudes, the
proper spirit, what’s truly important and what’s not, who can help and who
can’t, who to trust and who can’t be trusted, joy, anguish, repentance,
deliverance, victory, emotional lows and highs, prayer, and singing are all in
his poetry.
be considered carefully in light of personal circumstances. If we are being
tempted to fret or envy read Psalm 37 again. Trust in the Lord. Be joyful in
the Lord. Commit yourself to the Lord. Be still before the Lord. Wait patiently
upon the Lord. Refrain from anger. Turn away from wrath. Hope in the Lord.
Inherit the land.
life can be scary and rough, but also beautiful and exciting. Over the years of
our lives we have carefully navigated through many situations by committing our
ways to the Lord in complete trust.
hurt and anger and envy and temptations, but finally faced up to them and let
them go. As our lives have developed, we’ve noted that failures and boneheaded
decisions can be forgiven and overcome. Note that the promises in this passage
are activated by the attitudes and actions of those who desire them.
you for the hope we have through Jesus Christ our Savior and Lord. Empower us
with the proper attitude that we might think rightly, see clearly, and act
properly. I pray this in the name of Jesus. AMEN
courageous today hoping in the Lord,