Psalms 37

Psalms 37:1-6

This psalm is a sermon, full of useful instruction for the people of God, and a key to the mysteries of providence. 1. David forbids us to first at the prosperity of the wicked, ver. 1, 7, 8. (1.) Because of the scandalous character of the wicked, ver. 12, 14, 21, 32. and the honourable character of the righteous, ver. 21, 26, 30, 31. (2.) Because of the destruction and ruin which the wicked are nigh in, ver. 2, 9, 10, 20, 35, 36, 38. and the substance and protection which the righteous are sure of, ver. 13, 15, 17, 28, 33, 39, 40. (3.) Because of the particular mercy God has in store for all his people, ver. 11, 16, 18, 19, 22—25, 28, 29, 37. 2. He prescribes very good remedies against it, ver. 3—6, 27, 34.

¶ A psalm of David. Heb. In truth. b 1 Pet. 1. 2.

1. 1. TRET not thyself because of evil doers, neither be thou envious against the workers of iniquity. 2. For they shall soon be cut down like the grafs, and wither as the green herb. 3. Truft in the LORD, and do good, so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed. 4. Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart. 5. Commit thy way unto the LORD: trust also in him, and he shall bring it to pass. 6. And he shall bring forth thy righteousness as the light, and thy judgment as the noon-day.

The way of duty is made very plain, and therefore we are more inexcusable, if we depart from it.

1. The Psalms cautions us against envy and tresfulness because of the prosperity of the wicked. It had been a trial that himself had been beset with, and therefore he speaks from experience, which is the most effectual way of preaching. When in the world we see the unqually prosper, and proud oppressors glorying in the injuries they inflict on God’s pernicated people, we are too apt to repine at their affluence and influence; to entertain hard thoughts of God; and for and murmur against the dispositions of providence; a temper as evil, respecting God, as tormenting to ourselves.

2. He gives a strong argument to silence our impatience. The prosperity of the sinner is short and precarious, as the withering grafs; and God’s Cythie of judgment is wretched to mow them down, and call them into the oven as fast for the flames. Mark his end, and thou shalt not envy his way.

3. He prescribes the good we should follow, as well as the evil we should avoid, and enjoying the better portion in God’s favour, have no reason to envy any worldling his possessions. Three things he advises, and supports each of them with the most forcible argument of the blessedness which would thence arise. [1.] To trust in the Lord, on his promises for support, and wait the illusor of his providences; and do good, persevering in the path of duty, however dark and discouraging it may appear; and then God will take care, you shall be fed, and not famished, as you may be ready to fear, if you act with conscientious integrity, in a world of country and blessedness; and dwell in the land, if not to great as others, yet with a peaceful conscience, and a contented mind, and that in a higher feast than luxury can give. [2.] To delight in the Lord, as the most blessed portion; in his love, as the best enjoyment; in his word, as the surest side deeds; and in his promise of glory, as the best inheritance; and he will give thee the desires of thine heart; a renewed soul, which delight us in God, can all for nothing he will not grant, because the sum total of all his requests is, thy will be done. [3.] To commit thy way unto the Lord, in prayer for direction, and with quærness expecting an answer; I doubted in every disposal, and assured that infinite wisdom and love will order all things to work for our good: and then, without any sinful expedients or contrivances of our own, he will bring it to pass; so that the event shall fully answer our expectations; and, however for a time blackened with calumny, rashly censured, or unjustly treated, he will make our righteousness evident as the light, and our judgment as the noon-day; where, either in time or eternity, he shall appear for the vindication of his people from malignant tongues, and the injustice of oppressors. If we have but faith and patience, the end must be glory and honour.

4. Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for him: free not thyself because of him who prospereth in his way, because of the man who bringeth wicked devices to pass. 8. Cease from anger, and forsake wrath: free not thyself in any wise to do evil. 9. For evil doers shall be cut off: but those that wait upon the LORD, they shall inherit the earth. 10. For yet a little while, and the wicked shall not be: yea, thou shalt diligently consider his place, and it shall not be. 11. But the meek shall inherit the earth: and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace. 12. The wicked placards against the just, and gnatheth upon him with his teeth. 13. The LORD shall laugh at him, for he seeth that his day is coming. 14. The wicked have drawn out the sword, and have bent their bow, to cast down the poor and needy, and to stay such as be of upright conversation. 15. Their sword shall enter into their own hearts, and their bows shall be broken. 16. A little that a righteous man hath, is better than the riches of many wicked. 17. For the arms of the wicked shall be broken: but the LORD upholdeth the righteous. 18. The LORD knoweth the days of the upright: and their inheritance shall be for ever. 19. They shall not be ashamed in the evil time: and in the days of famine they shall be satisfied. 20. But the wicked shall perish, and the enemies of the LORD shall be as the fat of lambs, they shall consume: into smoke shall they consume away.

Psalms 37:7-20

The foregoing precepts are here reinforced and enlarged upon, and we have need of line upon line, seeing our hearts are so corrupt, and our understanding so darkened.

Abundant reasons are here urged, why we should patiently wait upon the Lord, and without anger, envy, and discontent, behold the prosperous sinner, and bear up under every cross we may be called to suffer from him.

1. A variety of reasons for our quiet submission is here produced from the misery of sinners. [1.] Their ruin is determined, v. 9. Though for a while their evil counsels seem to succeed, v. 7. not all goes smoothly on, yet they are only raised to a higher summit, to make their full more terrible. [2.] Their destruction is near, even at the door, v. 10. Their career is short; the length life is but a step, and they are often surprised in the midst, and their soul required of them. Each moment is uncertain, each breath precarious, and then all their hopes perish, vanishing as the smoke from the altar, v. 20. [3.] Their own devices shall fall upon them, v. 12—14. This crafty, cruel, and, in their own apprehensions, confidant of success, God mocks at their impotent designs, and turns the destruction they had prepared for the defenceless poor, upon their own

own heads. Their day is coming, a terrible day, when the wicked must tremble, and at which the righteous should rejoice. [4.] When God arises to judgment, they will perish for ever; his wrath, as the fire of the altar, shall burn, and none shall quench it: the wicked, as fuel for the flames, shall be consumed, or rather consuming yet unconsumed, in these everlasting burnings.

2. The unfeasibly happier lot of the righteous, with all their troubles, should replete every murmur of discontent because of the apparent prosperity of the ungodly. [1.] They shall inherit the earth, v. 9. Their patient waiting shall not be disappointed; the present world shall afford them a sufficiency, and in the new earth, where dwellers righteousness, they have a sure possession. [2.] They shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace. Whatever portion, be it less or more, they have below, one thing they enjoy better than the wealth of both the Indies, peace with God, and, as the effect of that, peace of conscience; a delightful peace, that makes even sufferings light, and adds a double refill to every enjoyment: a peace, to which the wicked are strangers; a peace the world cannot give; and, blessed be God, cannot take away; and abundance of peace, not only willful and moon endureth, or till life shall terminate, but permanent as the ages of eternity. [3.] The little a righteous man hath, is better than the riches of many wicked, v. 16. Of this world God’s enemies have far the greater share; but without God’s blessings the sweetest draught are bitter; and the worm of discontent at the root of their gourd makes it wither, when to appearance most flourishing. But the righteous man’s little comes from God’s gift, is enjoyed in his love, and improved to God’s glory. He hath the great seasoning of contentment in wherthest flute he is, and, sensible how unworthy he is of the least, every thing he uses fills him with thanksfulness. A dry craft, with a sweet favour of Christ, furnishes a more delicious meal, than the tables of luxury ever afforded. [4.] The Lord upholoths the righteous; so that in all trials and difficulties he is supported within; and, as the everlasting arms are underneath him, he is now and for ever safe from fear of evil. [5.] The Lord transmits the days of the upright, v. 18. He takes notice of his daily service, faithful to reward him; of his trials, to support him; of his sermons, to comfort him; and gives him a sense of his love all the day long. [6.] Their inheritance shall be for ever, v. 18. Their portion, blessed as it is, shall not be circumscribed by the narrow bounds of time; but in heaven there is reserved for them an inheritance near-uptake, undefiled, which fudeth not away. [7.] They shall never be ashamed of their confidence, v. 19. In general calamities they shall be never desirous; in the evil day of death their faith and joy shall not fail them; and in the day of judgment they have boldness to appear before the awful but. Such present possessions, such eternal expectations, may well keep down every rising discontent. Why should we envy the ungodly their short-lived, embittered, unthinning, perishing enjoyments, when we have such a sufficient, satisfying, abiding portion here, and such a near prospect of a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory hereafter?

3. The wicked borroweth, and payeth not again: but the righteous sheweth mercy, and giveeth. 22. For such as he blessed of him shall inherit the earth; and they that he cursed of him shall be cut off. 23. The hope of a good man are ordered by the LORD; and he delighteth in his way. 24. Though he fail, he shall not be utterly cast down: for the LORD upholoths him with his hand. 25. I have been young, and now am old: yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread. 26. He is so ever merciful, and tendeth: and his seed is blessed. 27. Depart from evil, and do good: and dwell for evermore. 28. For the LORD loveth judgment, and forsakeneth not his saints, they are preserved for ever: but the seed of the wicked shall be cut off. 29. The righteous shall inherit the land, and dwell therein for ever. 30. The mouth of the righteous speaketh wisdom; and his tongue talketh of judgment. 31. The law of his God is in his heart, none of his steps shall slide. 32. The wicked watcheth the righteous, and seeketh to say him. 33. The LORD will not leave him in his hand, nor condemns him when he is judged.

Psalms 37:21-23

We have here, 1. The contral between the righteous and the wicked in their dealings among men. The wicked borroweth, and payeth not again: knavith and unjust, they contract debts they are neither able nor design to pay: but the righteous not only maintain justice, but exercise mercy, lending to affil the industrious, and giving to relieve the necessities of the poor. 2. Their different regards from God, and expected end. The one is blessed with his favour, enjoys a present portion, and is designed for his eternal kingdom: the other is the object of his

displeasure, under his curse in this world, and ready to be cut off from the earth, and consigned to never-ending misery in the next.

3. A variety of instances of God’s kindness and regard for the righteous are insisted upon. [1.] His ways are ordered of the Lord, v. 23. His written word is his constant rule; his spirit of wisdom enlightens and directs him therein; and by the leadings of his providence he makes his duty plain, when in difficulties about his conduct. [2.] He delights in his way; takes a pleasure to see him walk under the influence of his grace. [3.] Though he fail, he shall not be with his will down. Fall he may, into sin, grievous sin, through the remaining corruption of his nature; but the Lord will recover him, and not suffer him to sink under guilt and despair: or not affliction, drop affliction, but he shall not be swallowed up thereby; God’s comforts shall support him under them, and God’s wisdom and love open away for him to escape. [4.] He shall not warn. However he may be reduced, God will some way raise him up a friend, that he shall not be forsaken: and this the Phalmith by long experience could declare, that he had never seen the righteous desirous, or his seed, the followers of his holy steps, begging their bread. Now, Common beggars usually owe their necessities either to their laziness, their extravagance, or their vices, which have disdained and disabled them. [5.] He shall be protected and preferred through every difficulty. God loveth judgment; he is not un-righteous to forget the works of faith, and labours of love; and in these the gracious soul exercises himself. His lips drop wisdom, v. 30. instructed of God in the ways of his grace, he labours to spread abroad a sweet favour of Christ; and his tongue talketh of judgment; God’s method of dealing with saints and sinners, for the comfort of the one, and the conviction of the other. The law of his God is in his heart, written there by almighty grace; and being thus renewed in holiness, now of his steps shall slide. However, some throught at by wicked men, v. 32. or tempted by wicked spirits, the Lord shall preserve him from every fatal blow, restore him from every share, justify him from every accusation of earth or hell, v. 33. and preserve him safe to his everlasting kingdom.

4. When God is to rich in mercy, we are surely bound to duty. Depart from evil, and do good: daily seek to be farther removed from sin, and daily be profiling after higher measures of grace and holiness; changing sacrifices from all dishonest of flesh and spirit, and perfecting holiness in the fear of God. And as many as walk after this rule shall peace be upon them and mercy, and in the Israel of God.

5. Wait on the LORD, and keep his way, and he shall exalt thee to inherit the land: when the wicked are cut off, thou shalt see it. 35. I have seen the wicked in great power: and spreading himself like a green bay-tree. 36. Yet he pasthold away, and lo, he was not: yea, I fought him, but he could not be found. 37. Mark the perfect man, and behold the upright: for the Lord of that man is peace. 38. But the transgressors shall be destroyed together, the end of the wicked shall be cut off. 39. But the salvation of the righteous is of the LORD, he is their strength in the time of trouble. 40. And the LORD shall help them, and deliver them: he shall deliver them from the wicked, and save them, because they trust him.

Psalms 37:34-40

We cannot have the path of duty too frequently or too warmly enforced.

1. The Phalmith repeats the exhortation to wait on the Lord, in patient perseverance, infant prayer, and humble faith; and keep his way; make conscience of duty, consult his word, eye his providences, submit to his corrections, improve his mercies, then all will be well.

2. His arguments for so doing are the same as before; the misery of the impenitently wicked, and the blessedness of the righteous.

[1.] The misery of the wicked. He shall be cut off, from life, from hope, from God, from glory. David had lived to see the divine threatenings accomplished; he had beheld his spreading branches and lofty head, like a bay-tree flourishing; yet how momentary the prosperity: the ax of judgment is laid at his root; he falls, forgotten among the living; his memorial perishes, and, as fuel only for the flames, he is cast into the burning lake. Nor was this the cafe of one notoriously abandoned, but shall be the portion of all unhumbled sinners, be they never so great, never so numerous: they shall be destroyed together, sinking in one promiscuous ruin; and, having been companions in sin, must mingle their exsfoliates tears, and lie down together in that sin from which there is no deliverance.

[2.] The blessedness of the righteous, the perfect, the upright; that is, of the soul that, justified in a Redeemer’s righteousness, and renewed by a Saviour’s grace, seeks in simplicity to please God. He shall be delivered from all his enemies, and strengthened in every time of trouble, v. 39, 40.

of our own offences against God, will serve to make us patient under the provocation of men. (2.) They who have a true sight and sense of sin, cannot but be deeply sorry for having offended a God so holy, and grieved him that is so gracious.

4. He directs his prayer to God for help, for present help; forfade me not, O Lord; though left of all beside, let thy presence comfort, thy power support me: O my God, he not far from me, my God in whom, by promise, I have an interest, whose nearness to me I now peculiarly need; make hush to help me, for I am ready to halt, v. 17. under such complicated and continual sorrow, make hush then, O Lord, my substance, on thee I place my hope, from thee alone my help must come, and cheerfully I refuse myself up to thee, persuaded that thou art and will be my present, yea, my eternal salvation. Let God’s Israel then in deepest affliction still trust, and not be afraid.