Psalm 37
Today's Passage: Psalm 37
“Passion is laughing now,” said Christian, “but I think Patience will have the best of it.”
As I was reading Psalm 37, I couldn’t help but think of reading the Little Pilgrims Progress to my kids last night. In our story last night, Little Christian met Passion and Patience. When we first saw them, Passion was crying, but soon treasure and toys came in and Passion was playing and mocking Patience.
Christian was told, “Passion is very happy now, but in a short time all his coins will be spent, and his pretty things will be torn and broken and spoiled, and when the King’s gifts come he will have no share in them. Then he will wish he had waited as Patience is waiting.”
Psalm 37 opens with a call to those who trust in the Lord to not fret because of evildoers, nor be envious of wrongdoers. But why? “For they will soon fade like the grass and wither like the green herb.” Like Passion from the story, the benefit for those who do wrong is immediate, but temporary. We may be envious to share in their comfort and ease, but the benefits do not outweigh the cost.
Instead, we are to obey some of the most famous verses in the whole Bible:
3 Trust in the Lord, and do good;
dwell in the land and befriend faithfulness.
4 Delight yourself in the Lord,
and he will give you the desires of your heart.
5 Commit your way to the Lord;
trust in him, and he will act.
6 He will bring forth your righteousness as the light,
and your justice as the noonday.
7 Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him;
fret not yourself over the one who prospers in his way,
over the man who carries out evil devices!
This entire Psalm is so encouraging as we consider what it means to wait patiently for the Lord. So many times, we feel overwhelmed or like we don’t know what to do. Do this!
Verse 28 reminds us that the Lord loves justice. Everything will work out for the greatest good. Our responsibility isn’t trying to control the outcome, it’s to trust, do good, delight in the Lord, commit, and again, trust. As we practice these things, the Lord sanctifies us—he makes us look more and more like Jesus.
It’s easy to fret and it’s easy to look at those who seem to have it all and want it too. However, for most of us, that’s not the path of obedience. Like Patience, we must sit and wait while trusting that the gifts of the King are greater than anything we can accumulate for ourselves. In the meantime, he has told us exactly what we should do.
Written By: Tyler Short
“Passion is laughing now,” said Christian, “but I think Patience will have the best of it.”
As I was reading Psalm 37, I couldn’t help but think of reading the Little Pilgrims Progress to my kids last night. In our story last night, Little Christian met Passion and Patience. When we first saw them, Passion was crying, but soon treasure and toys came in and Passion was playing and mocking Patience.
Christian was told, “Passion is very happy now, but in a short time all his coins will be spent, and his pretty things will be torn and broken and spoiled, and when the King’s gifts come he will have no share in them. Then he will wish he had waited as Patience is waiting.”
Psalm 37 opens with a call to those who trust in the Lord to not fret because of evildoers, nor be envious of wrongdoers. But why? “For they will soon fade like the grass and wither like the green herb.” Like Passion from the story, the benefit for those who do wrong is immediate, but temporary. We may be envious to share in their comfort and ease, but the benefits do not outweigh the cost.
Instead, we are to obey some of the most famous verses in the whole Bible:
3 Trust in the Lord, and do good;
dwell in the land and befriend faithfulness.
4 Delight yourself in the Lord,
and he will give you the desires of your heart.
5 Commit your way to the Lord;
trust in him, and he will act.
6 He will bring forth your righteousness as the light,
and your justice as the noonday.
7 Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him;
fret not yourself over the one who prospers in his way,
over the man who carries out evil devices!
This entire Psalm is so encouraging as we consider what it means to wait patiently for the Lord. So many times, we feel overwhelmed or like we don’t know what to do. Do this!
Verse 28 reminds us that the Lord loves justice. Everything will work out for the greatest good. Our responsibility isn’t trying to control the outcome, it’s to trust, do good, delight in the Lord, commit, and again, trust. As we practice these things, the Lord sanctifies us—he makes us look more and more like Jesus.
It’s easy to fret and it’s easy to look at those who seem to have it all and want it too. However, for most of us, that’s not the path of obedience. Like Patience, we must sit and wait while trusting that the gifts of the King are greater than anything we can accumulate for ourselves. In the meantime, he has told us exactly what we should do.
Written By: Tyler Short
2 Comments
While reading Psalm 37 the following phrases/words stood out to me: do not fret, be not envious, trust, dwell, delight, commit, rest, cease, helps, delivers. What a wonderful psalm of encouragement for those who place their trust in Christ. Our future is secure and the best is yet to come!
This has always been a favorite passage of mine. I love how you ties Pilgrim's Progress in-perfect! I have seen first hand that if we do not give up praying, God's will, He will answer!! Thank you, Tyler!