Psalm 37

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Psalm 37 Commentary

by Brad Boyles

It is sometimes difficult to understand why the evil continues to prosper. We struggle to reconcile how they are getting away with corruption, deceit, and manipulation right in front of God’s eyes. In fact, this psalm assumes that we, as faithful believers, will struggle with this truth. It’s not a matter of if, but when.

Don’t be worried on account of the wicked; don’t be jealous of those who do wrong. 2 They will soon disappear like grass that dries up; they will die like plants that wither.

Psalms 37:1-2 GNB

The primary difference between the wicked and the faithful is how they choose to live their lives. The wicked indulge in temporary pleasures. They use others to selfishly gain their own desires. They do not wait patiently for anything, but go out and get what they want however they can. Believers live for God’s eternal kingdom. Their hope is rooted in the life to come, not in this finite and temporary existence.

The most difficult part of this whole scenario is that it takes faith to believe that God will restore the righteous and destroy the wicked. We are living in a time when right is wrong and wrong is right. People are so deceived. The psalmist’s prescription for dealing with this problem is two-fold.

1. Trust the Lord and do good. This may seem obvious, but how many of us are pushing forward living righteous and holy lives despite what we see around us? There is a temptation to engage in prosperous evil like others. There is also a temptation to go out and correct all the wrongs that we see. This is not the prescription that the psalmist recommends. He encourages us to seek and find our happiness in the Lord. He promises us that if we seek God, He will give us greater prosperity than material blessings. He will give us the deepest desires of our hearts.
2. Be patient and don’t worry about the wicked. This is difficult. Patience is something we all struggle with. It is much easier to wait for something that we can see than to wait for something that seems contrary to the facts at hand. When evil and suffering overwhelm us, the psalmist urges us to wait on the Lord. Wait on Him for your blessings but also wait for Him to punish the wicked. In fact, worrying about the wicked is a slippery slope because it leads to all kinds of other issues. Becoming angry and wrathful at the wicked only leads to more wrongdoing. Let the Lord fight your battles!

What I find interesting about these verses is that they give us practical advice on how we deal with evil both internally and externally. This can be tricky. For instance, sometimes we agree to “do good” by following God closely in our spiritual lives but still hold grudges and vengeance towards the wicked. This is where our external outlook is skewed. Similarly, we may agree to be patient and wait for the Lord to deal with the wicked but compromise in our own spiritual lives. It’s possible for us to compare ourselves to those who are eviler than us and excuse our current behavior and struggles.

God’s desire is that we take responsibility for our own spiritual health while at the same time letting Him handle those who are opposed to Him. This doesn’t mean that we always remain silent and do nothing. It does mean, however, that we seek Him in all things and wait for Him to lead us before we take our first step.

Look, I know there are people in your life that frustrate you. When people are acting in rebellion and affecting so many others it can be enraging. But God’s desire is for us to come to Him! Seek knowledge and wisdom from God in the current situation. Wait on the Lord. Trust that He will make things right. Pray toward what your role should be. And finally, live and model a holy life yourself so that others have nothing bad to say about you.