Psalm 37 A Psalm of David Pt. 2
David continues to consider the reality of wickedness and the impact it has on the child of God. There is a powerful human tendency, a part of our sinful nature, to meet wickedness with wickedness, so the Evil One sends it against us to draw us into his realm and away from Communion with God.
Wicked actions make us rightfully angry on one hand but the carnal part of us wants to use the anger to excuse the return of evil upon the one(s) who have wronged us. David warns us not to fall prey to this common circumstance but to rise above it and remember that the Lord has sworn to avenge all evil. He will not miss anything.
8 Cease from anger, and forsake wrath: fret not thyself in any wise to do evil.
The first part of this is captured in the New Testament advice, “be ye angry and sin not,” (Eph 4:26). “Do not get angry and sin,” is how we would say it. It is truly amazing if one were to take a truly objective view of his life how frequently this equation shows up.
“Fret not thyself in any wise to do evil,” David advises. “Under no circumstance let yourself be so disturbed (fret) because of wickedness that you decide to meet it with a return of ungodly actions.” The Repentant Man has sworn to always do good, to always obey God and to always remember His Word. Evil has no place in his life.
However, confidence in the Lord and in His Perfect Justice is to abide as his guide and stay.
9 For evildoers shall be cut off: but those that wait upon the LORD, they shall inherit the earth.
10 For yet a little while, and the wicked shall not be: yea, thou shalt diligently consider his place, and it shall not be.
What seems to us as allowing evil people to “get away with it” is simply not a real possibility. Our choice is whether to seen to take vengeance ourselves or allow the Lord to do it. They will be “cut off” and there is no avoiding it. God is Just. There is coming a time, very soon on God’s calendar, when they will be no more. The question for us is whether we can park our anger and wait on Him.
11 But the meek shall inherit the earth; and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace.
Neither can this be prevented. Jesus quoted this if you recall in one of the most central messages of His entire ministry.
Matt 5:5 Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.
This is what the evil one would prevent if he could. Since he cannot he wants to spoil as much of the saint’s “delight” as he can. Drawing us into personal (not spiritual) conflict with evil is one of his favorite tools.
12 The wicked plotteth against the just, and gnasheth upon him with his teeth.
13 The Lord shall laugh at him: for he seeth that his day is coming.
Ah, if only we could see behind the curtain at the futility (ultimately) of those who obey and follow the instructions of their ungodly master. The futility of evil is that the Lord defends the meek. Their duty, assigned to them by their Lord, is to “be faithful (even) unto death.”
Rev 2:10 Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.
These are, no doubt, the most difficult instructions the saint has to follow. He/she needs much Grace (enablement from God) to be disciplined and faithful in this endeavor. The promise, however, is solid and sure. The Crown of Life will be worth whatever it costs. Evil, no matter how powerfully it rages, cannot prevent the blessings due to the “meek.”
14 The wicked have drawn out the sword, and have bent their bow, to cast down the poor and needy, and to slay such as be of upright conversation.
15 Their sword shall enter into their own heart, and their bows shall be broken.
There is no denying the reality of wickedness nor the purposes of wicked people. But they cannot win. God has rigged the game. He and His people will reign in the end and that eternally.
— June 10, 2020