Continued: Psalm 37

According to verse 10 in a little while the wicked will not be; that is, they will not be in the land of the living. Thy people search for them diligently, they will not find them; because they will have been cut off out of the land of the living. David lived practically a thousand years before Christ, who came nineteen hundred years ago. Thus twenty-nine hundred years have past by and the wicked are still here. Notwithstanding this long period of time, the Lord spoke through the psalmist and said that in "a little while" the wicked would be destroyed. We think in terms of comparisons. One thing may be very small in comparison with another an extremely large when viewed beside something else. In the light of eternity and the bliss that is out before us, this period of twenty-nine hundred years is very short.

When the wicked shall be no more, the meek shall inherit the land of Canaan and will "delight themselves in the abundance of peace." Moses was the meekest of men. He was very humble, submissive, trustful. He did not feel that he had rights to defend, that he had a dignity in the sight of men to preserve. He was willing to be made a doormat for others. This method of living was the manifestation of a meek spirit. Those who are of a kindred spirit, declared the psalmist will inherit the land and will delight themselves in the abundance of peace. The expression, the abundance of peace, is a direct reference to the great Millennial Age, when there will be an abundance of all grains and edibles throughout the world. At the same time there will be great peace. This is seen in that magnificent ode concerning the great millennial reign of our Lord—Psalm 72.

In contrast with these meek ones are the wicked who plot against the just now and gnash upon them with their teeth. The unregenerated heart is desperately wicked. There is no telling what will come forth from it. Thus the wicked hate the righteous and plot against them. But the Lord, according to verse 13, will laugh at the wicked for He knows that the latter's day is coming. The stroke of judgment will one day fall upon him. "He who laughs last laughs best." Laugh, here, is used in the same sense as appears in Psalm 2:4.

According to verse 14 the wicked draw out their sword and bend their bows against the poor and needy and against those who are upright in heart. The very things which they array against the righteous will be turned against them, will prove a boomerang to them, as we see in verse 15.

David realized that the little which the righteous has is better then the abundance of many wicked. Life consists of something more than food, raiment, and material possessions. These things can never put joy in the heart. The joy of the Lord is one's strength. The wicked may accumulate and possess large holdings, but their arms will be broken, and they will leave to others what they have. But the promise is that Jehovah upholds the righteous. Israel certainly needs to learn this great truth, as well as Christians.

In verse 22 we see that those who are "blessed of God will inherit the land." The Lord knows all their days, their needs, and that which is best for them. But here the psalmist is talking about the perfect—such men as Noah, who was perfect in his generation and Job, who likewise was perfect in his day. Their inheritance is certain and sure. Such men will not be put to shame in time of calamity and will not suffer from the famine when such develops in the community. In other words, God provides for the needs of those who are thus perfect in heart and life.

But according to verse 20 the wicked will perish and the enemies of Jehovah will be consumed. This will occur, as we have learned, during the Tribulation. The Lord knows all about the actions and the motives of everyone. The wicked often borrow but do not meet their obligations; but the righteous deal graciously and give, realizing that what they have has been given to them to be used for His glory and honor.

In verse 22 we see that those who are blessed of God will inherit the land of Palestine. Of course, let us remember that the psalmist is talking about the Jewish people. Those who are accursed will be cut off at that time.

C. Jehovah's preservation of the righteous

"A man's goings are established of Jehovah; And he delighteth in his way.
Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down; For Jehovah upholdeth him with his hand.
I have been young, and now am old; Yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken,
Nor his seed begging bread.
All the day long he dealeth graciously, and lendeth; And his seed is blessed.
Depart from evil, and do good; And dwell for evermore.
For Jehovah loveth justice, And forsaketh not his saints;
They are preserved for ever: But the seed of the wicked shall be cut off.
The righteous shall inherit the land, And dwell therein for ever.
The mouth of the righteous talketh of wisdom,
And his tongue speaketh justice.
The law of his God is in his heart; None of his steps shall slide.
The wicked watcheth the righteous, And seeketh to slay him.
Jehovah will not leave him in his hand, Nor condemn him when he is judged.
Wait for Jehovah, and keep his way, And he will exalt thee to inherit the land:
When the wicked are cut off, thou shalt see it (vss. 23-34).

The prophet assured the Hebrew people that a man's goings are established of God, and that he delights in his ways. He of course is talking about the man who is following His instructions as laid down in this psalm. A person can receive nothing except as it is given to him of God. What God places in people's hands, over and above their needs, is designed for use. He wants it consumed in blessing others and in forwarding His plans and purposes among men.

Though a righteous one should fall he will not be utterly cast down. The reason is that Jehovah upholds him with His hand of Omnipotence. The one important thing is that a person must be righteous, righteous in the sense of this passage, and trust in God to sustain and protect him.

In verse 25 is a marvelous statement which is true and which will always prove to be correct. David affirmed that he had been young, but that at the time of writing this psalm he was old. His observation over a long period of years was that the righteous are never forsaken, nor are their seed ever found begging bread. Whenever there are want, poverty, and misery, a person may be certain that there is something wrong somewhere. The only exception to this rule is such cases as that of Job. God had a purpose in permitting the servant to pass through the trials which he experienced, but they were all designed for his purification and for his advancement—as the sequel shows. In speaking of such a righteous one, David said that he always deals graciously and lends to others. As a result his seed is blessed. God is a good paymaster. He never allows one to be in debt.

In verse 27 is the exhortation to depart from evil and to do good; and to dwell in the land continually. Here again we see the national aspect of the psalm shining forth most brightly. The reason for this exhortation is that Jehovah loves justice and never forsakes His saints. The servants of God in the Old Testament are called saints. These are the Jewish saints and are not to be confused with the saints of the New Testament. These saints are preserved continually, but the seed of the wicked shall be cut off—in the Tribulation.

Once more the promise is expressed in verse 29 that the righteous shall inherit Palestine and dwell therein continually, that is, during the thousand years' reign of our Lord. Once again the psalmist, in the following verse, shows who is the righteous one, the man whose mouth "talketh of wisdom, And his tongue speaketh justice." In his heart is the law of God. He walks in God's presence; therefore his steps do not slide. Though the wicked watch the righteous and seek to slay them, the Lord will not deliver such into their hands. Nor will He condemn them when He sits in judgment. The judging here of course is that which will be done by Jehovah, the Lord Jesus Christ, when He returns; for in verse 34 appears the exhortation, "Wait for Jehovah, and keep his way." Jehovah, at His second coming, will cause those Israelites waiting for Him to inherit the land of their fathers. Again in this connection the psalmist assures his readers that the wicked will be cut off at this time of judgment.

D. A contrast between the end of the righteous and that of the wicked

"I have seen the wicked in great power, And spreading himself like a green tree in its native soil.
But one passed by, and, lo, he was not: Yea, I sought him, but he could not be found.
Mark the perfect man, and behold the upright; For there is a happy end to the man of peace.
As for transgressors, they shall be destroyed together: The end of the wicked shall be cut off.
But the salvation of the righteous is of Jehovah: He is their stronghold in the time of trouble.
And Jehovah helpeth them, and rescueth them: He rescueth them from the wicked, and saveth them. Because they have taken refuge in him" (vss 35-40).

The wicked are thought of in verse 35 and 36 as a spreading green tree developing in its native soil. It is seen from day to day; presently one passes by and it is not there. It is sought for but not found. Thus are the wicked. They are here upon the earth prospering and seemingly doing well; suddenly they are cut off and they are no more in the land of the living.

In contrast with such wicked, unrighteous wealthy ones is the perfect man who is upright. His end will be that of peace. He may have troubles and difficulties during this life; but, when he passes out of this life, he goes into peace, having the peace of God in his heart and enjoying peace throughout all eternity of the future.

Once more, in speaking of the destruction of the wicked in the Tribulation, the psalmist in verse 38 says that all transgressors and wicked ones will be destroyed together. But in contrast with them the salvation of the righteous will be of Jehovah, and He will uphold them during the time of trouble. Those of Israel who turn to God during the Tribulation will be sustained by His grace and power throughout the judgments of the Tribulation, the time of Jacob's trouble. For, according to verse 40, "Jehovah helpeth them, and rescueth them; He rescueth them from the wicked, and saveth them, Because they have taken refuge in him."

Thus, in this running comment through our marvelous psalm, we see that it is nationalistic and is given to Israel as a people. Nevertheless there are principles that are eternally true found in this passage which are applicable to the children of God in any age of the history of the world. We can therefore take these general principles and stand upon them, looking to the Lord for the blessing. May this psalm, after we have interpreted it correctly as applying to Israel in her looking forward to the coming of the Messianic Kingdom, be to us a source of great comfort and consolation. Let us heed its exhortations and take hold of its promises, especially those that are repeated in the New Testament. But may we in the first place endeavor to get this message to Israel and tell her about the coming of Jehovah in the person of the Lord Jesus Christ who will save her and bless her if she will only accept Him and allow Him to take her case into His mighty omnipotent hands. Let us pass on the good things to others, to the Jew first and also to the Gentile, as we learn them.