Praying Psalm 37

“Don’t Worry…”

 

What is the title of Psalm 37? Of David

Read Psalm 37:1-4

1 Fret not yourself because of evildoers; be not envious of wrongdoers!
² For they will soon fade like the grass and wither like the green herb.

³ Trust in the Lord, and do good; dwell in the land and befriend faithfulness.
⁴ Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.

 What is the central theme of this psalm?

Don’t fret – because of evil ones.
Trust in YHWH – dwell in land

Read Psalm 37:5-40

WICKED:

Who are they?
12 The wicked plots against the righteous and gnashes his teeth at him,
14 The wicked draw the sword and bend their bows to bring down the poor and needy, to slay those whose way is upright;
21 The wicked borrows but does not pay back
32 The wicked watches for the righteous and seeks to put him to death.
35 I have seen a wicked, ruthless man, spreading himself like a green laurel tree.
36 But he passed away,[e] and behold, he was no more; though I sought him, he could not be found.
38 transgressors
What happens to them?
9 For the evildoers shall be cut off, but those who wait for the Lord shall inherit the land.
10 In just a little while, the wicked will be no more; though you look carefully at his place, he will not be there.
13 but the Lord laughs at the wicked, for he sees that his day is coming.
15 their sword shall enter their own heart, and their bows shall be broken.
17 For the arms of the wicked shall be broken,
20 But the wicked will perish; the enemies of the Lord are like the glory of the pastures; they vanish—like smoke they vanish away
22 but those cursed by him shall be cut off.
28 but the children of the wicked shall be cut off.
38 But transgressors shall be altogether destroyed; the future of the wicked shall be cut off.

RIGHTEOUS:

Who are they?
11 Meek
21 but the righteous is generous and gives;
23 he delights in his way;
30 The mouth of the righteous utters wisdom, and his tongue speaks justice.
31 The law of his God is in his heart; his steps do not slip.
37 blameless, upright,
What happens to them?
6 He will bring forth your righteousness as the light, and your justice as the noonday.
11 But the meek shall inherit the land and delight themselves in abundant peace.
17 but the Lord upholds the righteous.
18 The Lord knows the days of the blameless, and their heritage will remain forever;
19 they are not put to shame in evil times; in the days of famine they have abundance.
22 for those blessed by the Lord shall inherit the land,
23 The steps of a man are established by the Lord, when
24 though he fall, he shall not be cast headlong, for the Lord upholds his hand.
25 I have been young, and now am old, yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken or his children begging for bread.
26 He is ever lending generously, and his children become a blessing.
28 For the Lord loves justice; he will not forsake his saints. They are preserved forever
29 The righteous shall inherit the land and dwell upon it forever.
33 The Lord will not abandon him to his power or let him be condemned when he is brought to trial.
37 Mark the blameless and behold the upright, for there is a future for the man of peace.
39 The salvation of the righteous is from the Lord; he is their stronghold in the time of trouble.
40 The Lord helps them and delivers them; he delivers them from the wicked and saves them, because they take refuge in him.

WHAT advice does the psalmist have?

5 Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him, and he will act.
7 Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him; fret not yourself over the one who prospers in his way, over the man who carries out evil devices!
8 Refrain from anger, and forsake wrath! Fret not yourself; it tends only to evil.
16 Better is the little that the righteous has than the abundance of many wicked
27 Turn away from evil and do good; so shall you dwell forever.
34 Wait for the Lord and keep his way and he will exalt you to inherit the land; you will look on when the wicked are cut off.

 WHAT DOES THIS MEAN FOR ME?

What is the purpose of this Psalm/prayer?

Describe Wicked & Righteous
Lament ITS UNFAIR!!
Comfort BUT Don’t Fret – back to 1-4. – They’ll be gone.

 How does Christ fulfill this psalm?

Promise of the land. Wait for his return – This will happen visibly.

How can we pray this?

See Wicked & Righteous, recognize difference

Lament IT IS UNFAIR!!
Comfort BUT Don’t Fret – keep focused on YHWH

Cross referen

WE PRAY:  

And lead us not into temptation.

What does this mean? God, indeed, tempts no one; but we pray in this petition that God would guard and keep us, so that the devil, the world, and our flesh may not deceive us, nor seduce us into misbelief, despair, and other great shame and vice; and though we be assailed by them, that still we may finally overcome and gain the victory.