We see them on TV and occasionally around the neighborhood. Perhaps you know a few at your workplace, or even have some like this in your family. I’m referring to people who are breaking the law, either openly or more likely in a quiet and unobtrusive way, day after day, yet they are not caught or punished. On the contrary, they are prospering. They have a big, expensive house, drive a nice, newer model car every year, and live a life of ease. There are also plenty who may not be breaking any of man’s laws, but are certainly breaking God’s laws, and they, too, are prospering while you and others like you, who live good and godly lives, struggle to get the bills paid every month and put food on the table. Thoughts of how unfair this seems goes through your mind, along with perhaps some envy of what they have and how easy the “good things in life” seem to come to them. Our psalm today speaks of just such a scenario. Let’s take a look.
Psalm 37 is a rather lengthy psalm written by David. We will only look at the opening ten verses today. All throughout his life David had observed how it seems that the wicked, those who break man’s law and/or God’s law, always seem to prosper, while good folks struggle to get by. We wonder about that, too. Doesn’t God see? Where’s the justice?
God’s Word tells us here that we should not fret or become upset or envious of these evildoers. God lets us know that they are not going to be around forever. They will one day get their just punishment. We may not see it happening when we would like it to, and it may not even happen in this lifetime, but God assures us that they will be punished.
Three times in this brief passage the Lord tells us not to fret over this (vs. 1, 7, 8). What does the word “fret” mean? It means to be constantly and visibly worried and anxious over something. It is a worry that causes us distress. It also has the meaning of wearing away at something, or gnawing on something. Is this envying over the prosperity of the wicked making you so anxious that you are becoming distressed over it? Is it wearing away at your spirit, maybe so much that you are becoming sick or depressed? Do these thoughts keep gnawing away in your mind, just like a dog gnaws on a big bone from the butcher shop? God tells us that instead of fretting, we need to trust in Him, delight in Him, and to commit our ways to Him (vs. 3-5).
God wants us to trust in Him to provide for all that we need. How well do we trust in Him? Many young children have total trust in their parents. Even at a young age they will leap into a deep pool, trusting that mother or father will catch them. God is our ever-present help in every situation. God is a better Father than the best earthly father is. We can trust Him, and jump into His arms, knowing He won’t miss or drop us.
Now we come upon verse 4, which some Christians think is an all-encompassing promise to get whatever we want, but that is not the case. To understand this promise we need to look at the conditions in this Scripture passage. First, God tells us that we’re not to be consumed with the success of the unrighteous people we see who are prospering (vs. 1). God will deal with them. We need to only be concerned with ourselves. We need to be fully trusting in God (vs. 3). We need to delight in Him and be seeking His desires (vs. 4). This psalm tells us to commit our ways, to focus our steps in God’s path, and then we’ll head in the right direction (vs. 5). God won’t bless sinful miss-steps. Lastly, we need to wait for God, as His timing is perfect (vs. 7).
To delight in the Lord means to take pleasure in discovering more about Him and following His will (vs. 4). Then the Holy Spirit will align our hearts desires with His. When we commit our ways to God, we allow our thoughts, goals, and lifestyle to be shaped by His will and the things He loves. Then our hearts desires will be His hearts desires, too.
Are we still fretting, anxious, and envious about the easy life of the wicked? Distress over a situation is the opposite of trust. The antidote is to have absolute trust in Jesus Christ. He is there to catch us!
No comments:
Post a Comment