Psalm 37:1-9

The Apparent Good Fortune of the Godless Compared with the Believers’ True Happiness.

A psalm of David, rightly considered one of the most beautiful written by him, called by Luther the garment of the pious, bearing the inscription: “Here is the patience of the saints,” Rev. 14, 12.

V. 1. Fret not thyself, with excitement and anger, because of evildoers, neither be thou envious against the workers of iniquity, being vexed by their apparent good fortune and prosperity.

V. 2. For they shall soon be cut down like the grass, fading away and perishing, and wither as the green herb, the tender grass and young vegetation of spring, whose beauty is but transient. These two verses having expressed the sentiment of the whole psalm, the two thoughts contained in them are further elaborate.

V. 3. Trust in the Lord, every believer placing his full confidence in Yahweh alone, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, the exhortation being to a quiet and peaceable life, and, verily, thou shalt be fed,rather, practice faithfulness and uprightness in all dealings.

V. 4. Delight thyself also in the Lord, considering Him the heart’s highest desire; and He shall give thee the desires of thine heart, all the requests which accord with His gracious and good will.

V. 5. Commit thy way unto the Lord, literally, “roll it upon Yahweh,” heavy as it may seem with all its troubles and cares; trust also in Him, and He shall bring it to pass, perform all that is needed for the believer’s true happiness.

V. 6. And He shall bring forth thy righteousness, which is now unappreciated and in densest darkness, as the light, when the dawn spreads over the eastern sky and the morning sun dispels the darkness, and thy judgment, the right on the part of the believers, as the noonday, in full brightness before the eyes of all the world.

V. 7. Rest in the Lord, being still before Jehovah with that calm resignation which knows itself secure in His hands, and wait patiently for Him, looking for His help in steadfast hope; fret not thyself, in anxious vexation, because of him who prospereth in his way, against the wicked in his good fortune, because of the man who bringeth wicked devices to pass, carrying out evil plans to harm the righteous.

V. 8. Cease from anger and forsake wrath, jealously guarding against the sins of an evil temper; fret not thyself in any wise to do evil, for such would be the natural result if a believer would yield to his vexation; he himself would become guilty of sin.

V. 9. For evil-doers shall be cut off, this result being certain without the sinful anger of the believer; but those that wait upon the Lord,steadfastly placing their trust in Him, they shall inherit the earth, enjoy true happiness even here in time, while sure of the blessings of eternity.