Psalm 37

Delight yourself in the LORD.

 


 

DELIGHT YOURSELF IN THE LORD

By David.

 

VERSE 1. Don’t fret because of evildoers, neither be envious against those who work unrighteousness.

Don’t fret. That is, don’t be provoked. The selfish activities of evildoers are a given.

The response of a person of God is to not freak out, to somehow take it in stride.

This gives new meaning to one of the fruits of the Holy Spirit: self-control.

Expect evil, but use self-control and don’t become anxious about it.

evildoers. That is, the wicked. They will do wicked things. Do not let their wicked deeds cause you to fret. The evil will do evil things. Don’t envy their wicked deeds.

Proverbs 24:19. Don’t fret yourself because of evildoers; neither be envious of the wicked:

 

VERSE 2. For they shall soon be cut down like the grass, and wither like the green herb.

they shall soon be cut down. The wicked people and evildoers won’t be an issue much longer. They’ll soon fade into oblivion.

like the green herb. That is, like green plants.

 

VERSE 3. Trust in the LORD, and do good. Dwell in the land, and enjoy safe pasture.

NAB translation: Trust in the LORD and do good that you may dwell in the land and live secure.

Trust … and do. We are to:

  • trust
  • and do

It is not only trust, but also action.

We Christians say salvation is by faith. Yet the New Testament calls us to put our faith into action. Otherwise our faith is worthless. Read more »

 

VERSE 4. Also delight yourself in the LORD, and he will give you the desires of your heart.

This verse is fantastic! Would you consider memorizing it? More great verses to memorize from the Psalms and from the entire Bible.

NIV translation: Delight yourself in the LORD and he will give you the desires of your heart.

delight yourself in the LORD. We are to train ourselves to delight in the LORD. We are to shift our delight from sin to the LORD.

That is a challenge, as sin has corrupted our internal “programming” as humans.

Our tendency toward what is bad for us, toward what is forbidden, is called “concupiscence.” How can you teach yourself to find your delight in God?

the desires of your heart. Even when we don’t know what our heart’s desire is … God knows.

Delight yourself in the LORD, and he will give you the desires of your heart! Read more »

 

VERSE 5. Commit your way to the LORD. Trust also in him, and he will do this:

Trust also in him. Trust and act, like David running toward the Philistine Giant, armed only with a sling and five smooth stones.

David slung the stone, but God made it lethal.

 

VERSE 6. he will make your righteousness go out as the light, and your justice as the noon day sun.

your righteousness. That is, your integrity.

as the light. That is, as the dawn.

 

VERSE 7. Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for him. Don’t fret because of him who prospers in his way, because of the man who makes wicked plots happen.

Rest in the LORD. That is, be still before the LORD. “Be still before ADONAI” (CJB translation). This suggests Contemplative Prayer.

wait patiently for him. Do you have a regular, daily time to sit quietly and wait for the LORD?

Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for him. In the NLT translation, “Be still in the presence of the Lord, and wait patiently for him to act.”

Psalm 131:2. Surely I have stilled and quieted my soul, like a weaned child with his mother, like a weaned child is my soul within me.

 

VERSE 8. Cease from anger, and forsake wrath. Don’t fret, it leads only to evildoing.

 

VERSE 9. For evildoers shall be cut off, but those who wait for the LORD shall inherit the land.

those who wait for the LORD. Perhaps this means those who Contemplative Prayer.

 

VERSE 10. For yet a little while, and the wicked will be no more. Yes, though you look for his place, he isn’t there.

 

VERSE 11. But the humble shall inherit the land, and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace.

the humble. The Hebrew word is “anav.” It means poor, humble, afflicted, meek, needy, weak, oppressed.

inherit. The Hebrew word is “yarash.” It means to seize, to dispossess, to take possession of, to occupy, to devour.

delight. The Hebrew word is “anag.” It means to be pampered, to be happy about, to take exquisite delight, to make merry.

abundant. The Hebrew word is “rob.” It means multitude, abundance, greatness, abundantly, numerous.

prosperity. The Hebrew word is “shalowm.” It means completeness, safety, soundness, welfare, health, prosperity, peace, quiet, tranquility, contentment, friendship.

 

VERSE 12. The wicked plots against the just, and gnashes at him with his teeth.

 

VERSE 13. The Lord will laugh at him, for he sees that his day is coming.

 

VERSE 14. The wicked have drawn out the sword, and have bent their bow, to cast down the poor and needy, to kill those who are upright on the path.

The wicked have drawn out the sword. The opposition is posturing for a fight.

 

VERSE 15. Their sword shall enter into their own heart. Their bows shall be broken.

 

VERSE 16. Better is a little that the righteous has, than the abundance of many wicked.

 

VERSE 17. For the arms of the wicked shall be broken, but the LORD upholds the righteous.

the arms of the wicked. That is, the “power” of the wicked.

 

VERSE 18. The LORD knows the days of the perfect. Their inheritance shall be forever.

 

VERSE 19. They shall not be disappointed in the time of evil. In the days of famine they shall be satisfied.

The Message translation: In hard times, they’ll hold their heads high; when the shelves are bare, they’ll be full.

In the days of famine they shall be satisfied. God will provide, even in times of scarcity. God will provide, even when it is a time of lack.

 

VERSE 20. But the wicked shall perish. The enemies of the LORD shall be like the beauty of the fields. They will vanish—vanish like smoke.

 

VERSE 21. The wicked borrow, and don’t pay back, but the righteous give generously.

This verse is fantastic! Would you consider memorizing it? More great verses to memorize from the Psalms and from the entire Bible.

borrow, and don’t pay back. People who borrow but don’t repay: this verse calls them “wicked.”

the righteous give generously. This is the hidden spirituality of the Old Testament people.

They are generous in giving.

Jewish people have always excelled at giving generously, and they excel at keeping it hidden.

Generous financial stewardship is essential to our identity as followers of the One God. Are you giving away enough?

 

VERSE 22. For such as are blessed by him shall inherit the land. Those who are cursed by him shall be cut off.

shall inherit the land. Is it a given that godly people will own property?

Matthew 5:5. Blessed are the gentle, for they shall inherit the earth.

 

VERSE 23. A man’s goings are established by the LORD. He delights in his way.

NLT translation. The LORD directs the steps of the godly. He delights in every detail of their lives.

NIV translation: If the LORD delights in a man’s way, he makes his steps firm;

He delights in every detail of their lives. Many Christians labor under a heavy burden that God is against them. However, the Bible tells us God delights in his people! Read more »

 

VERSE 24. Though he stumble, he shall not fall, for the LORD holds him up with his hand.

 

VERSE 25. I have been young, and now am old, yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his children begging for bread.

This verse is fantastic! Would you consider memorizing it? More great verses to memorize from the Psalms and from the entire Bible.

 

VERSE 26. All day long he deals graciously, and lends. His offspring is blessed.

This verse is fantastic! Would you consider memorizing it? More great verses to memorize from the Psalms and from the entire Bible.

he deals graciously. Are you gracious with people who are in financial trouble?

The Bible calls us to support the people who teach us in the faith. Read more »

 

VERSE 27. Depart from evil, and do good. Live securely forever.

 

VERSE 28. For the LORD loves justice, and doesn’t forsake his holy ones. They are preserved forever, but the children of the wicked shall be cut off.

 

VERSE 29. The righteous shall inherit the land, and live in it forever.

 

VERSE 30. The mouth of the righteous talks of wisdom. His tongue speaks justice.

 

VERSE 31. The law of his God is in his heart. None of his steps shall slide.

This verse is fantastic! Would you consider memorizing it? More great verses to memorize from the Psalms and from the entire Bible.

The law … is in his heart. This can be taken as a command to memorize Scripture.

None of his steps shall slide. That is, “his feet do not slip.”

 

VERSE 32. The wicked watches the righteous, and seeks to kill him.

watches the righteous. That is, “spies on the righteous.”

 

VERSE 33. The LORD will not leave him in his hand, nor condemn him when he is judged.

in his hand. That is, “in their power.”

 

VERSE 34. Wait for the LORD, and keep his way, and he will exalt you to inherit the land. When the wicked are cut off, you shall see it.

Wait for the LORD … and he will. We are to wait for the LORD to deliver a miraculous solution. It does NOT tell us to …

  • Keep nagging the LORD
  • The LORD is stingy with his gifts
  • Pray and then go make it happen yourself
  • God isn’t there, so don’t waste your time.

 

VERSE 35. I have seen the wicked in great power, spreading himself like a green tree in its native soil.

 

VERSE 36. But he passed away, and behold, he was not. Yes, I sought him, but he could not be found.

 

VERSE 37. Mark the perfect man, and see the upright, for there is a future for the man of peace.

the perfect man. That is, the “blameless” man, or the “honest” man.

 

VERSE 38. As for transgressors, they shall be destroyed together. The future of the wicked shall be cut off.

transgressors. That is, “sinners.”

 

VERSE 39. But the salvation of the righteous is from the LORD. He is their stronghold in the time of trouble.

 

VERSE 40. The LORD helps them, and rescues them. He rescues them from the wicked, and saves them, because they have taken refuge in him.

rescues them. That is, “delivers” them.

 


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PSALMS

CHAPTERS: 01, 02, 03, 04, 05, 06, 07, 08, 09, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 1617, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 3435, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 5253, 5455, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 7071, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81, 82, 83, 84, 85, 86, 87, 888990, 91, 92, 93, 94, 95, 96, 97, 98, 99, 100, 101, 102, 103, 104105, 106, 107108, 109, 110, 111, 112, 113, 114, 115, 116, 117, 118, 119120, 121, 122, 123, 124, 125, 126, 127, 128, 129, 130, 131, 132, 133, 134135, 136, 137, 138, 139, 140, 141, 142, 143, 144, 145, 146, 147, 148149, 150

Deuterocanonical chapter: 151

RESOURCES: Summary, Outline, MemorizeDavid’s Fasting

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