Psalms 37:1-10

Psalms 37:1. Fret not thyself because of evil-doers, neither be thou envious against the workers of iniquity.

A common temptation. Many of God's saints have suffered from it. Learn from their experience. Avoid this danger. There really is no power in it, when once the heart has come to rest in God. But it is a sad affliction until the heart does get its rest. «Fret not because of evildoers.»

Psalms 37:2. For they shall soon be cut down like the grass, and wither as the green herb. Trust in the LORD, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed. Delight thyself also in the LORD;

Make him thy delight, and take care that thou do really delight. Feel a fullness of joy in him.

Psalms 37:4. And he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.

Because when the heart delights in God, then its desires are all such as God can safely grant. He does not say to every man, or even to every praying man, «I will give thee the desires of thine heart,» but «Delight thyself in the Lord,» and then he will.

Psalms 37:5. Commit thy way unto the LORD;

Give it up to him to rule it, and to guide thee and lead thee in every step.

«Commit thy way unto the Lord.»

Psalms 37:5. Trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass. And he shall bring forth thy righteousness as the light, and thy judgment as the noonday.

It is better to trust our character with God than with the ablest counselor. Scandal may pass over a fair name for a while and cloud it, but God is the avenger of all the righteous. There will be a resurrection of reputations, as well as of persons at the last great day. Only we must commit it to God.

Psalms 37:7. Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for him: fret not thyself because of him who prospereth in his way, because of the man who bringeth wicked devices to pass. Cease from anger, and forsake wrath: fret not thyself in any wise to do evil.

A fretful spirit soon comes to be an angry spirit, and when we begin to be jealous of evildoers, we are very apt to become evildoers ourselves. Many an honest man has snatched at hasty gain, because he was envious of the prosperity of the unrighteous; and then he has pierced himself through with many sorrows in consequence. But «fret not thyself in any wise to do evil.» There is an old proverb that it is hard for an empty sack to stand upright. Therefore, when you are in temporal trouble, ask the Lord to fill you with his grace, for then you will stand upright, and by-and-by you shall be delivered.

Psalms 37:9. For evildoers shall be cut off: but those that wait upon the LORD, they shall inherit the earth.

If there is anything good to be had here, men that wait upon God shall have it. If there is any grain of wheat amidst these heaps of chaff, believers that are trusting the Lord shall find them.

Psalms 37:10. For yet a little while, and the wicked shall not be:

How transient are their joys! Their wealth which they accumulate, the beauty which they think is upon their estate, all this is but as the painted colors of the bubble, which is scarcely seen before it vanishes. Wilt thou envy this? Wilt thou envy a little child his play-toys, which will be broken in an hour? Wilt thou envy a madman the straw crown which he plaits and puts upon his head when he thinks himself a king? Oh! be not so foolish. Thine inheritance is eternal, and thou art immortal. Why shouldest thou envy the creature of an hour? «For yet a little while, and the wicked shall not be.»

Psalms 37:10. Yea, thou shalt diligently consider his place,

His mansion, his house, the grand figure that he cut in society.

This exposition consisted of readings from Psalms 73:1; Psalms 37:1.