Psalms 37 provides rich advice on how to respond to evil and wickedness around us. After reminding his audience in verses one and two of the end the wicked will come to, the psalmist proceeds to tell them how they should respond as those who trust in God in the midst of life’s trials and the turmoil caused by the ungodly.
Vs. 3 – Trust in the Lord and do good. Then you will live safely in the land and prosper.
The Lord asks us to trust Him and to continue in his plans for us no matter what anyone else around us is doing and no matter what we may have to suffer for doing right. He calls us to be His hands and feet, His voice in the darkness. It changes our perspective to remember that this life is not the only reality, that unimaginable joy, peace, and freedom from suffering await believers. God is faithful. He is always working and will never be defeated. So we can trust Him to be with us and bring us out victorious.
Instead of “do good,” the New American Standard translation of the Bible says to “cultivate faithfulness.” I like the picture this gives of the farmer’s close attention to his crops, plowing, dealing with weeds or destructive pests, laying down fertilizer, irrigating. When we nurture our walk with the Lord through prayer, worship, Bible study, fellowship with other believers, and obedience, we will reap our own good harvest.
The land and the prosperity mentioned here may be a physical reality given to us in this life. Or it may be God’s call on our lives that we need to step into and “possess.” But perhaps it is spiritual in nature only, a prosperity of the heart, for the Lord teaches us of the superior nature of His kingdom and of treasures laid up in heaven. And He promises us difficulties, trials, and persecution but that we will ultimately be richly rewarded for our righteousness and faithfulness.
Vs. 4 – Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you your heart’s desires.
The world offers much that, in its right place, can be the “sprinkles” on the cake of our relationship with a loving God through His Son, Jesus. But they are nothing in comparison to the unsurpassed beauty and delightfulness, the glorious, eternal qualities of our God. When we fall in love with Jesus, and spend time in His presence and Word, obeying out of deep, abiding affection for Him, our hearts align themselves so closely with our heavenly Father’s that the desires of His heart become the desires of our hearts.
Look for more encouragement to do right in the next blog in this series as we continue to explore Psalms 37 and the hope it gives us.
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Comments