EVILDOERS-Psalm 37

Old Testament, Psalms, Sermons

EVILDOERS: “Do not fret because of those who are evil [evildoers] or be envious of those who do wrong [deviate]” (Ps 37:1; Prov 24:19). “Do not fret” is repeated 3 times (Ps 37:7, 8) and has been translated or means:
  • Do not upset yourself [Hebrew: hot, furious, burn, become angry, be kindled, {“do not ‘heat‘ yourself” in anger or vexation; do not get heated…}]…
  • Do not be angry…
  • Do not be indignant…
  • Do not fly into a passion…fly off the handle…lose your cool…
What do you do when you encounter evil/evildoers (1-11):
  1. Do not fret or be envious of evildoers (Ps 37:1).
  2. Trust in the Lord and do good (Ps 37:3).
  3. Delight yourself in the Lord (Ps 37:4).
  4. Commit your way to the Lord (Ps 37:5).
  5. Be still & wait patiently for the Lord (Ps 37:6).
  6. Refrain from anger (Ps 37:8).
  7. Hope in the Lord (Ps 37:9).
  8. Believe the promise of God (Ps 37:11).

How does Psalm 37:1-11 point to Christ?

  1. Jesus never fretted over evildoers but loved them (Ps 37:1; Jn 3:16).
  2. Jesus trusted God and did good all the days of his life (Ps 37:3; Lk 24:19).
  3. Jesus delighted in his Father (Ps 37:4; Jn 14:31).
  4. Jesus committed himself fully to God (Ps 37:5; 31:5; Lk 23:46; Jn 8:29).
  5. Jesus quietly and patiently waited on God (Ps 37:7; Jn 7:6, 9; 12:23).
  6. Jesus never lost it from anger (Ps 37:8; Isa 53:7; Jer 11:9; Mt 11:29).
  7. Jesus is the meekest, lowest, poorest, most downtrodden who conquered the world (Ps 37:11; Mt 5:5).
  • Jesus, the Righteous One, suffered the fate of the wicked for the wicked to receive the blessings of the righteous (Ps 37:32-33; 2 Cor 5:21).
What do you do when you encounter evil/evildoers and face dangers, challengers, threats, pain, hardships? The presence of evildoers is the theme announced in Ps 37:1. The psalmist is fully aware of the dangers that evil people pose, but he assures us that the wicked will not prevail over the righteous. Though the wicked are often in control their success is temporary and in the end it will be the godly and righteous who will “inherit the land” (Ps 37:9, 11, 22, 29, 34).
There is no finer exposition of the 3rd Beautitude (Mt 5:5) than this psalm (Ps 37:11). Psalm 37, an alphabetic acrostic poem, deals with the issues of life and death, wisdom and folly, and reward and punishment. The psalmist is most sensitive about the future–its rewards and sufferings. 2 major themes:
  1. the problem of the apparent prosperity of the wicked and 
  2. the need to be faithful to trust God and to find refuge in him. 
The issue is 
  1. the power, greed and prosperity of the wicked and 
  2. the suffering of the righteous. 
These 2 concerns occur throughout the psalm without any clear thematic development. Psalm 37 expands on Ps 36:12 to “see how evildoers lie fallen–thrown down, not able to rise!” But the Lord will sustain the righteous and they will fully enjoy the blessings promised to them.
The true way of life is the way of faith, which, ultimately is the way of triumph (Ps 37:1-11). Each following section opens with “the wicked” (Ps 37:12, 21, 32): the developing hostility between righteous and wicked (Ps 37:12-20); the greater wealth of the righteous whereby they can afford to be unworried (Ps 37:21-31); the final difference of destiny (Ps 37:32-34) — the life of faith is the true life now and for ever (Psalm 1).

“Take delight in the Lord, and and he will give you the desires of your heart” (Ps 37:4).

“Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him; do not fret when people succeed in their ways, when they carry out their wicked schemes” (Ps 37:7).

“But the meek will inherit the land and enjoy peace and prosperity” (Ps 37:11).

  1. Longman III, Garland. 2008. Wise Living in a Crooked Generation. Invitation to Wisdom; Longevity of the Wise.
    • A. Exhortation to Hope in the Lord’s Deliverance (Ps 37:1-6).
      • B. The Comfort of Divine Retribution (Ps 37:7-11).
        • C. The Contrastive Ways of the Righteous and the Wicked (Ps 37:12-26).
      • B’. Call for Wise Living in View of the Belief in Divine Retribution (Ps 37:27-33).
    • A’. Exhortation to Hope in the Lord’s Deliverance (Ps 37:34-40).
  2. Keller. 2015. Don’t fret (1-6). The meek shall inherit (7-11). The paradoxes of faithful living (12-20). The paradoxes, continued (21-26). The Lord loves the just (27-34). There is a future (35-40).
  3. Wilson. 2002.
    1. Call to Trust Yahweh (Ps 37:1-11).
    2. The Ultimate Fate of the Wicked (Ps 37:12-22).
    3. The Blessings of the Faithful (Ps 37:23-29).
    4. Contrasting Presents (Ps 37:30-34).
    5. Contrasting Futures (Ps 37:35-38).
    6. Confidence in Yahweh (Ps 37:39-40).
  4. Goldingay. 2013. The Lowly Will Inherit the Land (1-20). Did you have your eyes shut, then? (21-40).
  5. Kidner. 1973. Wait Patiently for Him.
    1. The quiet spirit (Ps 37:1-11).
    2. The hidden help (Ps 37:12-26).
      • Persecuted, but not forsaken (Ps 37:12-15).
      • As having nothing, yet possessing all things (Ps 37:16-20, 25).
      • Making many rich (Ps 37:21, 22, 26).
      • Cast down, but not destroyed (Ps 37:23-24).
    3. The long view (Ps 37:27-40).
  6. Motyer. 2016. An A-Z for Life‘s Tensions.
    • A. Prospering wickedness: responses (Ps 37:1-11).
      • B. Hostile wickedness: insights (Ps 37:12-20).
        • C. Insecure wickedness: who inherits? (Ps 37:21-31).
          • D. Impermanent wickedness (Ps 37:32-40).
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