Commentary - Psalm 37:1-4

Bird's-eye view

Psalm 37 is an acrostic poem, which gives it a proverbial feel, like a chapter out of Proverbs. It is a collection of wisdom aphorisms, and David, writing as an old man, is giving counsel to the younger generation. The central problem this psalm addresses is a perennial temptation for the righteous: envying the wicked. We see them prospering, seemingly getting away with their rebellion, and our hearts begin to churn. David’s counsel is simple and profound: take the long view. Judge by the whole video, not by the snapshot. The wicked may flourish for a moment, but their end is destruction. The meek, on the other hand, are the ones who will inherit the earth. This psalm is a call to patient faith, to trust in God's timing and justice, and to find our ultimate satisfaction not in the fleeting successes of this world, but in Yahweh Himself.

The first section (vv. 1-11) lays out the character of the meek, the kind of person who will inherit the earth. This meekness is not weakness; it is a robust trust in God that refuses to be agitated by the apparent triumphs of evil. It is a quiet confidence that God is on His throne and that His purposes will prevail. This is the foundation for a life of true delight and stability, regardless of the surrounding chaos.

Outline

Context In Psalms

This psalm, attributed to David, fits within the broader category of wisdom literature in the Psalter. It reads less like a prayer or a song of lament and more like a sermon from a seasoned saint. Its acrostic structure (each stanza beginning with a successive letter of the Hebrew alphabet) lends itself to memorization and contemplation. The central theme of the prosperity of the wicked and the ultimate vindication of the righteous is a common one in Scripture, explored deeply in places like Psalm 73 and the book of Job. David, having seen much of life, from shepherd boy to king, from victory to deep personal failure, is well-positioned to give this kind of steadying counsel. He is not offering naive platitudes but hard-won wisdom forged in the crucible of a life lived before God.

Key Issues

Verse by Verse Commentary

Psalm 37:1

"Fret not thyself because of evildoers, neither be thou envious against the workers of iniquity."

David begins with a direct, twofold command that strikes at the heart of a common spiritual ailment. To "fret" means to burn, to get heated, to become vexed and agitated. It's an internal churning that eats away at peace. And what is the cause of this spiritual heartburn? Watching the evildoers. We see them cutting corners, breaking God's laws, and yet their stock portfolio swells, their influence grows, and they seem to be having a grand time of it. The natural man's response is to get hot under the collar. This heat quickly turns to envy, which is the second part of the prohibition. Envy is the sinful desire for what someone else has, coupled with a resentment that they have it. It is a sin that God takes very seriously. It is a work of the flesh (Gal. 5:21) and it is the root of all kinds of disorder (James 3:16). David is telling us to check this emotion at the door. Do not let it get a foothold. This is not a suggestion; it is a command. Meekness begins here, with a refusal to get exasperated with sinners.

Psalm 37:2

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

Here is the reason for the command, the foundation for our emotional stability. The prosperity of the wicked is temporary. It has the shelf life of cut flowers. David uses two agricultural metaphors: grass and green herbs. They look vibrant, lush, and full of life for a moment. But they have no root. A scythe comes, or the sun beats down, and they are gone. This is the long view. We are tempted to look at the wicked in their moment of flourishing and think it will last forever. God tells us to look ahead to their end. Their success is a mirage. They are building their houses on sand, and the tide is coming in. When we are tempted to envy the wicked, we must remember that we are envying a man on death row who is enjoying a fine last meal. His present comfort is utterly eclipsed by his future judgment.

Psalm 37:3

"Trust in the LORD, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed."

After the negative commands, David gives us a series of positive ones. Instead of fretting and envying, what should we do? First, "Trust in the LORD." This is the bedrock. Our trust is not in our own understanding, nor in the shifting circumstances of the world, but in the unchanging character of Yahweh. This trust is not passive resignation. It is active, for it is immediately followed by "and do good." Faith works. A genuine trust in God will always manifest itself in righteous action. You are to get on with your assigned duties. Don't be distracted by what the wicked are doing over there. You have a field to plow, a family to lead, a church to serve. Do good. The result of this faithful life is stability and provision. "Dwell in the land" speaks of a settled, secure existence. This is the inheritance of the meek. And "verily thou shalt be fed" is a promise of God's faithful provision. The original Hebrew can also be rendered "befriend faithfulness" or "shepherd faithfulness." In other words, cultivate a life of steadfastness. God will take care of the rest.

Psalm 37:4

"Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart."

This is the centerpiece of the passage, and perhaps the whole psalm. The ultimate antidote to envying the world is to be utterly captivated by God. To "delight" in the Lord means to find your supreme joy, your deepest satisfaction, your highest pleasure in Him. It is to look at all that He is and all that He has done and to say, "He is enough. He is more than enough." When this is the true disposition of your heart, the baubles and trinkets that the wicked chase after lose their luster. Why would you envy a man feasting on garbage when you are invited to the King's table? The promise attached is staggering: "and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart." This is not a blank check for our fallen, selfish whims. The promise works because the condition transforms the petitioner. When you truly delight in God, your desires are sanctified. You begin to want what God wants. Your heart's desires are shaped and molded by His Spirit, so that what you ask for is in accordance with His will. You desire His glory, the advancement of His kingdom, the good of His people, and holiness in your own life. And God is more than pleased to grant such requests.

Application

The application here is intensely practical. We are all confronted daily with the apparent success of those who disregard God. The news, our workplaces, our neighborhoods are filled with examples. The temptation to fret and envy is not an abstract theological problem; it is a daily spiritual battle.

First, we must take the command seriously. When you feel that heat of frustration or that pang of envy rising in your soul, you must recognize it as sin and repent of it. Do not coddle it or justify it. It is a spiritual cancer. Starve it.

Second, replace the sinful pattern with the righteous one David lays out. Actively cultivate trust in God by rehearsing His promises and His past faithfulness. Get busy doing the good works He has prepared for you. Don't sit around stewing; get to work.

And most importantly, cultivate delight in God. This is not something that happens automatically. You must pursue it. Spend time in His Word, not as a duty, but to know Him. Spend time in prayer, not just with a list of requests, but in adoration. Sing the psalms. Gather with the saints for worship. Fill your mind and heart with the things of God, and you will find that the allure of the world begins to fade. When God is your treasure, you will not envy the man who has a pile of shiny rocks.