“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)
As a songwriter, 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.
Today’s passage must 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.
Note that the promises in this passage are activated (or not) by the attitudes and actions of those who desire them.
Dear Father, thank you for your grace and mercy. Empower us with a proper attitude that we might think rightly, see clearly, and act properly. Enable us to resist anger and wrath. Give us love one for another. This I pray in Jesus’ name. AMEN
Let us praise God for his righteousness and live to his glory,