Psalm 37

I was reading scripture this morning and part of what I was reading was Psalm 37.

It was so good, it has always been one of my favorites but this morning I saw it a little differently more hopeful and full of promises and instructions. I always focused on the things that God could do for us but he gives us commands I would call them comforting commands. Trusting, delighting, committing, being still, and do not fret.

To fret means to be visibly worried or anxious.

To trust means to firmly believe in the reliability and strength and truth of God's ability.

To delight means to have extreme pleasure, satisfaction, and joy.

To commit, a deliberate action of giving over to the Lord.

Trusting and committing and delighting and being still, and waiting patiently on the Lord can be hard in our weak humanness but when we do it, it can be one of the most comforting things to realize that his promises and our desires are not dependent on our abilities or our strength, but on the Lord, who is perfect, his strength and ways and promises are perfect.

It tells us that the righteous are never forsaken and that the wicked will not last forever, they were with her away, they and their children will be cut off.

At the end of the chapter, he says "the salvation of the righteous is from the Lord. He is their stronghold in times of trouble. The Lord helps them and delivers them. He delivers them from the wicked and saves them, because they take refuge in Him!"

I like that take refuge it sounds like protection and comfort, guidance, and direction.

"Fret not yourself because of evildoers; be not envious of wrongdoers! For they will soon fade like the grass and wither like the green herb.

Trust in the Lord, and do good; dwell in the land and befriend faithfulness. 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 act. He will bring forth your righteousness as the light, and your justice as the noonday.

Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him; fret not yourself over the one who prospers in his way, over the man who carries out evil devices!

Refrain from anger, and forsake wrath! Fret not yourself; it tends only to evil. For the evildoers shall be cut off, but those who wait for the Lord shall inherit the land.

In just a little while, the wicked will be no more; though you look carefully at his place, he will not be there. But the meek shall inherit the land and delight themselves in abundant peace.

The steps of a man are established by the Lord, when he delights in his way; though he fall, he shall not be cast headlong, for the Lord upholds his hand.

I have been young, and now am old, yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken or his children begging for bread. He is ever lending generously, and his children become a blessing.

Turn away from evil and do good; so shall you dwell forever. For the Lord loves justice; he will not forsake his saints. They are preserved forever, but the children of the wicked shall be cut off. The righteous shall inherit the land and dwell upon it forever.

The mouth of the righteous utters wisdom, and his tongue speaks justice. The law of his God is in his heart; his steps do not slip.

The wicked watches for the righteous and seeks to put him to death. The Lord will not abandon him to his power or let him be condemned when he is brought to trial.

Wait for the Lord and keep his way, and he will exalt you to inherit the land; you will look on when the wicked are cut off.

I have seen a wicked, ruthless man, spreading himself like a green laurel tree.[d] But he passed away,[e] and behold, he was no more; though I sought him, he could not be found.

Mark the blameless and behold the upright, for there is a future for the man of peace. But transgressors shall be altogether destroyed; the future of the wicked shall be cut off.

The salvation of the righteous is from the Lord; he is their stronghold in the time of trouble. The Lord helps them and delivers them; he delivers them from the wicked and saves them, because they take refuge in him."