The Book of Psalms
Psalm 37
Psalm XXXVII · Vol. II, pp. 1008–1009
David exhorteth to patience and confidence in God, by the different states of the godly and the wicked.
A psalm of David.
1 Fret nota thyself because of evil-doers, neither be thou envious against the workers of iniquity.1
B.C. cir. 1015.
a 1 Sa.1.6. Pr.23.17; 24.1,19; 3.31. Ps.73.3. Je.12.1. ver.7. Job 5.2.
1 This is one of the alphabetical psalms: the successive letters of the Hebrew alphabet being found at the commencement of the alternate verses. The main object of the psalm is to meet the argument often urged against the universality of the government of a just God, from the observed fact that the openly wicked are tolerated, and even permitted to enjoy a large amount of temporal prosperity.—P.
3 Trustc in the LORD, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily2 thou shalt be fed.
c Je.17.7,8. Ps.34.8-22;33.18-21. Is.1.16-19.
2 Heb. in truth, or stableness.
7 Rest in the LORD,4 and wait patiently for him: fret not thyself because of him who prospereth in his way, because of the man hwho bringeth wicked devices to pass.
9 Forj evil-doers shall be cut off: but those that wait upon the LORD, they shall inherit the earth.5
j Job 20.23-29; 27.13-23. Ps.55.23. Pr.2.22. Is.57.13. Mat.5.5. Re.5.10.
A.M. cir. 2989. B.C. cir. 1015.
5 The land of Canaan to the Jew— the land of his appointment to the Gentile (Ac.17.26?); that better, that heavenly country to every believer; of which country the blessings of earth are but temporary shadows. See also ver.3,11.—C.
10 Fork yet a little while,6 and the wicked shall not be: yea, thou shalt diligently consider his place, and it shall not be.
k Job 20.5,9; 7.10. Ps.73.18-20;64.7;59.13. ver.35,36,2.
6 It is so called in relation to God, with whom 'a thousand years are but as one day;' and describes not merely the speedy removal of wicked individuals, but of kingdoms and empires, of whose destruction history affords so many instructive examples.—C.
14 Thep 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.8
p Ps.10.2-11; 64.2-6. Ho.4.1,2. Mi.2.1,2;3.1-4. Jn.15.19,20.
8 Heb. the upright of way.
18 Thet LORD knoweth the days of the upright: and their inheritance shall be ufor ever.1
t Is.41.10-16; 43.12; 46.3,4. Ps.1.6;31.17;34.15. Mat.6.32.
u Is.45.17;60.21. Da.2.44. 1 Pe.1.3,4. He.9.12,15.
1 The real inheritance of believers is the Lord himself, whether in testimonies, or promises, or the fulfilment of both in Christ, Ps.119.111. He.6.12. Ro.8.17.—C.
19 They shall not be ashamed in the evil time: and vin the days of famine they shall be satisfied.
v Ps.33.19. Is.33.17. Job 5.22. Hab.3.17,18. Phi.4.19.
20 Butx the wicked shall perish, and the enemies of the LORD shall be as the 2fat of lambs:3 they shall consume; into smoke shall they consume away.
x Ps.9.16,17: 68.1,2,22. De.32.22. 1 Th.2.9.
2 Heb. the preciousness of lambs.
3 Their fat was totally consumed in the morning, evening, and other sacrifices: so continuously shall the riches of the wicked (ver. 16) be consumed, by their own luxury and extravagance, a sacrifice to the very vices to pamper which they were always so eagerly sought, and often so unjustly acquired.—C.
21 They wicked borroweth, and payeth not again: but the righteous showeth mercy, and giveth.
y De.28.12,44. Ps.112.5,9, with Pr.22.7.
22 Forz such as be blessed of him shall inherit the earth; and they that be cursed of him shall be cut off.
z ver.9,11,18. Pr.3.33. De.28.15-68.
25 I have been young, and now am old; yet chave I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread.
26 Hed is ever4 merciful, and lendeth; and his seed is blessed.
d Ps.112.2,5,9;127.5. Mat.5.7.
4 Heb. all the day.
27 Departe from evil, and do good; and dwell for evermore.5
e Ps.34.14. Is.1.16-19. Tit.2.12-14. Le.26.4-13. De.28.1-14;30.16,20.
5 This is the grand lesson of the psalm. Righteousness alone can secure for man true and lasting prosperity and peace. The meaning of the last clause is that, as a general rule, the prosperity of the righteous will be permanent; it will descend from parent to child, and from generation to generation. In this respect it contrasts strongly with the comet-like career of the successful worldling.—P.
28 Forg the LORD loveth judgment, and forsaketh not his saints; they are preserved for ever: hbut the seed of the wicked shall be cut off.
g Is.30.18. Ps.11.7. Je.32.40,41. He.13.5. 1 Pe.1.5. Is.59.21.
h Ps.21.10. Is.14.20-22.
29 Thei righteous shall inherit the land, and dwell therein for ever.
i De.30.16,20. Pr.2.21. Is.1.19. 2 Pe.3.13. ver.11.
34 Waitp on the LORD, and keep his way, and he shall exalt thee to inherit the land: qwhen the wicked are cut off, thou shalt see it.
35 I have seen the wicked rin great power, and spreading himself like a green bay-tree.8
r Is.14.14-19. Es.iii. Je.12.1. Ps.73.3-11. Job 5.3;21.4-16;12.6.
8 Or, a green tree that groweth in his own soil.
36 Yets he passed away, and, lo, he was not; yea, I sought him, but he could not be found.
s Ex.15.9,10,19. 1 Sa.xxxi. 2 Sa.v. viii. x. xviii. xx. Ju.iii. iv. vii. xi. 1 Ki.xx. 2 Ki.xviii. xix. Job xviii. xx. xxvii. Ac.12.22,23.
Notes
Ver. 1. The preceptive parts of this psalm select an individual as the object of instruction—the Spirit speaking forth the observation and experience of an aged prophet. That the Spirit directly addresses Christ, will be evident from ver. 6, for there never was any other who had righteousness to bring forth. See Ro. 3. 10: 1 Jn. 2. 1. And through the perfect instructions addressed to him his members learn the nature and obligations of universal holiness. C.
Ver. 23. Good man. 'Good' is not in the original, and the Hebrew signifies 'a mighty man,' even the mighty Lord, the King of glory, described Ps. 24. 8, the man Christ Jesus, who with 'clean hands and a pure heart,' ascends into the 'hill of God,' and abides in the 'holy place' a Priest for ever, He. 6. 20; 7. 24-28. C.
Ver. 25. Many have stumbled at this unlimited statement, for they have seen the children of believers reduced to want. But children are not mentioned, but seed—which signifies an entire race—a stream of life from the fountain of the righteous. Now, in this sense, the true sense, all experience verifies the statement. The lazzaroni of Naples are a race of beggars; their birth, their heirship, their education, their inheritance, is begging. So are many of the hapless people called gipsies. But, during all their dispersion and calamities, the Jews have never become a seed, a race of beggars; their employments, alas! are often low and ignoble, but still they are a race of workers, and as a seed they beg not. The same important fact is ever verified in the history of true Christians. There is not, there never was, there cannot be, a seed, a race of Christian beggars. C.
Ver. 38. 'Keep in innocence, and regard uprightness: for the perfect man hath a posterity, but the rebellious shall be destroyed together; the posterity of the wicked shall be cut off' (Horsley). This amendment seems necessary, for that 'the end of the wicked shall be cut off,' is scarcely intelligible. C.
Reflections.—Even eminent saints are apt to fret at the prosperity of the wicked—and yet how little reason is there for it! Be the apparent happiness of the wicked what it will in this world, it is mingled with the poisoning curse of God: it gives no solid satisfaction while it lasts, and it is quickly at an end. And never is their ruin nearer than when their prosperity spreads and flourishes like a green bay-tree. It brings them to everlasting wrath, and hastens them rapidly to the suffering of endless woe. But godliness hath great gain, having the promise of this life and of that which is to come. If rooted and grounded in Christ, we trust and delight in the Lord, and wait on him in the faith of his promises and obedience to his laws, extensive and glorious shall be our inheritance—pleasure, support, honour, safety, plenty, protection, peace, happy death, and everlasting salvation.