The wicked are large and in charge, thriving, and seem to be getting away with their evil deeds. The righteous are ridiculed and justice is perverted. What are the people of God supposed to do? How are we to react? How are we to understand what is happening? How are we to live as faithful Christians in a wicked and perverse generation? This is what Psalm 37 is all about. We have spent the last several weeks going through it verse by verse and I thought it would be a good idea to organize and list everything the Psalm tells us into three categories: What should we do? What is God promising to do about the wicked? What is God promising to do for His servants who act faithfully?
What should we do? Do not be overcome by anger because of evildoers, do not be envious of them, trust in the Lord, do good, dwell in the land, feed on His faithfulness, delight yourself in the Lord, commit your way to Him, trust in Him, rest in the Lord, wait patiently for Him, do not be overcome by anger, cease from anger, forsake wrath, do not be overcome by anger, wait on the Lord, show mercy, give, depart from evil, do good, speak wisdom, talk of justice, love God’s law, wait on the Lord, keep His ways, and trust in Him.
What is God promising to do about the wicked? They will soon be cut down like grass, they will wither like a green herb, they shall be cut off, they shall be no more, they shall not be found, the Lord will laugh at them, the day of their doom is coming, their swords shall enter their own hearts, their bows shall be broken, their arms shall be broken, they shall perish, they shall vanish like smoke, they shall be cursed by God, they shall be cut off, their descendants shall be cut off, the righteous shall escape from their hand, they will be cut off in the sight of the righteous, they will disappear, they will be destroyed, and they will be utterly cut off.
What is God promising to do for His servants who act faithfully? God will give them the desires of their heart, He will bring their plans to fruition, He will make their righteousness shine as the light, He will bring forth their justice, they will inherit the earth, they will inherit the earth, they will delight themselves in the abundance of peace, they will be upheld by the Lord, the Lord knows their days, He will give them an eternal inheritance, they shall not be ashamed in the evil day, they will be satisfied in days of famine, they will be blessed by God, they will inherit the earth, their steps are ordered by the Lord, the Lord delights in their way, though they fall they will not be utterly cast down, the Lord will uphold them with His very hands, they will not be forsaken, they will not be forsaken, they will be preserved forever, they will inherit the land, they will live forever, none of their steps will slide, they will escape the wicked, they will not be condemned, they will be exalted, they will inherit the land, they will see the wicked cut off, their future is peace, He will save them, He will be their strength, He will help them, He will deliver them from the wicked, and He will surely save them.
Glory to the Lord of hosts!
His mercy endures forever!
Pastor Flynn
