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This is a wisdom psalm in an alphabet/acrostic form (Analyze [your] Bible Continually, Daily Exegeting [it] Fully & Gracefully w/ Holy Intensity & Journaling, Kingdom Living Modeling). When one uses this form, the material is not always in logical order, but is in alphabetical order. This wisdom psalm is also like Psalm 1, 49, 73, and the book of Proverbs. This week we will also consider an important rule for Bible study.
RULE #1: Interpret each passage based on its context. The context is King for most interpretation problems. Context is the verses before and after the verse you are studying. Read them and think. Pay attention to the flow of ideas in each paragraph.
(For more insights see Willem VanGemeren, Derek Kidner, and Charles Spurgeon on Psalm 37)
Theme: How can a just God allow the wicked to prosper and the righteous to be afflicted?
I. A call to hope in Yahweh’s deliverance (vs. 1–6)
A. Be careful with how you respond to the wicked—no anger, resentment, or jealousy
B. Keep eternity in view, get the big picture. What is their future?
C. Instead trust in Yahweh. Love Him, have faith in Him. Fretting kills faith
D. Do good to those afflicting you (rather than self-pity and hatred)
E. Submit to God’s will while praying for deliverance
F. Delight yourself in Yahweh and find the fullness of joy in Him while suffering
G. If a close relationship with God is your desire, seek Him, and you will have it (Mat 5:6)
H. Real faith involves a dependent trust and surrender or commitment to Him
and casting our burdens on Him in prayer (Prov 16:3; 1 Pet 5:7)
I. Trust in His character: He is holy, just, and righteous and the Judge
J. Patiently wait for God’s deliverance even if it is until Judgment Day
II. Comfort from divine retribution (vs. 7–11)
A. Be still, rest, wait on Yahweh to act (Mat 5:7)
B. The wicked have an agenda, a plan against the righteous
C. Replace the negative emotions that can destroy you with deep trust and worship
D. God’s justice will involve the removal and everlasting punishment of the wicked
E. The wicked will soon be forgotten, the righteous will be blessed (Mat 5:5)
III. A contrast between the ways of the righteous and the wicked (vs. 12–26)
A. The wicked plots against the just, grinds his teeth in anger, prepared weapons to use on the righteous
B. Yahweh will laugh, look to the day of deliverance and the Day of Judgment, justly turn the
wicked weapons on themselves
C. The poor righteous are far better off than the rich wicked
D. Yahweh punishes the wicked and sustains the righteous
E. Yahweh protects the righteous and gives them an everlasting reward
F. The wicked will perish and be gone from the land
G. The wicked borrows and steals, the righteous gives and shows mercy
H. The blessed enjoy the land of Israel, the cursed are removed from the land
I. The Sovereign LORD protects and aids those who belong to Him
IV. A call for wise living because of divine retribution (vs. 27–33)
A. Depart from evil do good, Yahweh does not forsake His holy ones
B. The families of the wicked reap the consequences of his sin
C. Yahweh loves righteousness and hates wickedness
D. Everlasting blessing are for the wise righteous ones
E. The righteous speak wisdom because God’s moral law is in his heart
F. Yahweh will cause the wicked plans for murder to fail
V. A call to hope in Yahweh’s deliverance (vs. 34–40)
A. Wait on Yahweh, trust Him, gratefully obey Him
B. He is a God of justice, and one day His justice will come
C. His mercy is holding off His wrath, but not forever
D. The future of the obedient is complete wholeness and rest
E. The future of the wicked is destruction and punishment
F. The salvation of the righteous is from Yahweh
He is their strength during difficult days
He delivers them from the wicked
He saves those who trust in Him
Application: Why should we live in the light of eternity, rather than just for the moment? What good will anger, complaining, fretting, whining, about the prosperity of the wicked do for us? What will trusting God, living by faith, even doing good to our enemies do for us? Which is the wise path, living for eternity, or living for the now only? What is the price tag for sin? Is it ever worth it? Do you desire a close relationship with God? Do you delight in the God of the Bible? Do you believe in the Judgment Day to come that the Bible repeatedly reveals? How, then, should we live, if today counts for eternity? Which is the real path of wisdom, living for the temporary pleasures of today, with all it consequences, or living for the future glory in heaven?
