October 13 - Psalm 37

October 13 - Psalm 37:1-40

Oh, those wicked, wicked people. David says that one day they will be dealt with. It seems to me that when he was writing many of these Psalms, he was more than frustrated with the fact that the wicked seemed to be achieving all of their earthly goals while continually giving him trouble.

This Psalm seems like it is a teaching Psalm. He is encouraging the reader in many different ways to hold out, even when the wicked around them seem to be winning.

Trust in the Lord and do good ... (Psalm 37:3)
Delight yourself in the Lord ... (Psalm 37:4)
Commit your way to the Lord ... (Psalm 37:5)
Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him... (Psalm 37:7)
Refrain from anger and turn from wrath ... (Psalm 37:8)

When it feels like you are on the losing side, these things are not easy to do. I often want to trust in my own work - I know how to get things done though it might seem as if the people around me are left in a wake of destruction. Delight myself in the Lord? Come on - I have work to do, goals to achieve. There is much to do so that I can set these wicked people in their place. Commit my way to the Lord? But, He might not like my way and ask me to actually follow His will instead. Right now, I'm confident that my way will work. What if His way doesn't work the way I want it to?

Be still before the Lord? I'm much too busy to take the time for that. Refrain from anger? It just isn't happening. I'm so furious that everyone else seems to be winning and I am only working like crazy to hold my head above water.

Isn't it interesting how David was given insight into our lives!

When I was in high school, I had a friend (I use that term loosely). I was extreme jealous of her. She seemed to have it all - all the money she needed, good grades, easy access to her musical talent, on and on - yet she was as sneaky and mean as a snake. She sucked up to the teachers and treated those around her like dirt as she used them as stepping stones to achieve her goals. It seemed as if her wickedness would never be found out and she would always win, while others fell behind. No, I don't have a great story to tell you that she finally got her comeuppance. To this day, she has managed to carve out a life that seems to be great. Is she happy? I have no idea.

But, this passage isn't about her - or the wicked - it's about me - or David. The wicked are going to have to deal with their life choices at some point, but right now, I deal with mine.

Psalm 37:23, "The Lord delights in the way of the man whose steps he has made firm..."

I want the Lord to delight in me. It may take some time for me to see that the righteous win the day, but David says "Wait for the Lord and keep his way. He will exalt you to possess the land.." (Psalm 37:34)

It's not about the wicked. It's about me. I look for salvation ... for eternity.

"The salvation of the righteous comes from the Lord; he is their stronghold in time of trouble. The Lord helps them and delivers them; he delivers them from the wicked and saves them, because they take refuge in him." (Psalm 37:39-40)