Psalm 37 – Do Not Fret & Feed on His Faithfulness
By Bunni Pounds
*This blog is part of our weekly, virtual Bible Study through the book of Psalms. For information on how to participate, please visit this page.
There is so much goodness in Psalm 37. So many verses I have loved for years but so many more that are popping off the page because of the times we are living in.
After a week of carrying burdens for our nation – peace flooded my heart as I read these words. This feeling on contentment in His promises is exactly why I need Jesus and the communion with Him in His Word.
This is true living!
Over and over again in Psalm 37 – God speaks these powerful words to our souls – “Do not fret!”
“Do not fret because of evildoers nor be envious of the workers of iniquity.” (verse 1)
“Do not fret because of him who prospers in his way.” (verse 7)
“Do not fret – it only causes harm.” (verse 8)
The meaning of this Hebrew word (according to the Strong’s Concordance) – to blaze up, of anger, zeal, jealousy: - to be angry, burn, be displeased, X earnestly, fret self, grieve, be (wax) hot, be incensed, kindle, X very, be wroth.”
That description pretty much tells you where I was the last few weeks – more upset than I have ever been about what is happening in our nation and our world.
Then I almost literally felt these words - hit my spirit (the place that is alive to God) to cause rest to enter my soul – my mind, will, and emotions.
1 – do not fret.
2 – do not fret.
3rd punch to my heart – do not fret.
Then God gives us all the recipe for the posture of our hearts in the time of trouble – “Trust in the Lord, and do good, Dwell in the land, and feed on His faithfulness. Delight yourself also in the Lord, And He shall give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the Lord, Trust also in Him, And He shall bring it to pass.” (verses 3-4)
How many times have we seen the last part of that section of scripture on a plaque at Mardels or LifeWay Christian Stores – and thought – how encouraging is that?
What we didn’t realize is that those words were not spoken over a people as they headed off to their expensive college worried about who their roommate might be or what their latest boyfriend might look like or a young person taking their first job at a Fortune 500 company with all the benefits – healthcare, vacation time,401K retirement plans….
No – these words were sung out by David as the wicked looked like they were overcoming the righteous.
It was a dark time where prosperity and freedom looked far away.
This psalm has been understood throughout history as a psalm of the persecuted who have taken refuge in a hideaway with God.
In the middle of that pain – the exhortation of the Lord is this: “Feed on His faithfulness.” (verse 3)
In John 6:35 Jesus said “I am the bread of life. He who comes to Me shall never hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never thirst.”
In the Beatitudes in Matthew 5 - Jesus spoke and said – “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, For they shall be filled.” (Matthew 5:6)
This year I have been speaking in churches around Texas about the difference laid out in Revelation 3 between the dead church, the lukewarm church, and the faithful church and it comes down simply to this – the faithful church opens the doors of their heart to Jesus.
Here are the words to the faithful church that should give us hope for our own lives.
“See, I have set before you an open door, and no one can shut it: for you have a little strength, (but you) have kept My word, and have not denied My name.” (Revelation 3:8)
To the lukewarm church He says at the end of His exhortation – “Behold I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me.” (Revelation 3:20)
This message from Revelation 3 is not to the lost in the world – it is to the church – Jesus’s church. Jesus reiterates what David says so clearly in Psalm 37 – Feed on MY faithfulness.
No one. No prison, no rules or no corporate commands, or government edicts – can keep us from feeding on His faithfulness. His love for us cannot be contained.
As we read in Psalm 36 – “His faithfulness reaches to the clouds.”
I am convicted strongly that we have to look at Psalm 37 in a different light then maybe our traditional feel-good American culture way of looking at scripture. It should give us more courage that just the fact that God will show us our purpose and lead us down the right career path.
Charles Spurgeon called Psalm 37 - "the great riddle of the prosperity of the wicked and the affliction of the righteous"
The contrast is real and clear – but then comes the hope.
“For evildoers shall be cut off;
But those who wait on the Lord,
They shall inherit the earth.
For yet a little while and the wicked shall be no more;
Indeed, you will look carefully for his place,
But it shall be no more.
And shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace.” (verses 9-11)
The wicked will be cut off.
The meek shall inherit the earth.
What great promises for us to cling to.
Even when the “wicked” are plotting “against the just” (verse 12) – “the Lord laughs at him, For He sees that his day is coming.” (verse 13)
This should remind us of reading and studying Psalm 2 –
“He who sits in the heavens shall laugh; The Lord shall hold them in derision.” (Psalm 2:4)
Just imagine the Father God and the victorious Son of God laughing over their wicked schemes and what they know is coming. That should give us a ton of comfort and joy.
This is NOT the end of the story. Jesus will have His full reward.
“The righteous shall inherit the land, And dwell in it forever.” (verse 29)
Over and over again in this Psalm – David lays out the ultimate truth – the righteous WILL INHERIT THE LAND (verses 22, 29, 34).
Now comes our final promises that will keep us strong in the middle of pain and suffering – “For the Lord loves justice, And does not forsake His saints.” (verse 28)
David says – “I have been young, and now am old; Yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken, Nor his descendants begging bread.” (verse 25)
That promise doesn’t mean too much to us when our pantries are full, and our freezers are stocked with food – but when we are threatened with the destruction of our livelihoods - then that promise comes alive.
Repeatedly in this Psalm – God repeats His love and faithfulness to us. He will not leave us even in the season when the wicked look like they are winning.
He speaks courage to us through His Word and asks us to be content in His faithfulness – continually feeding on His promises and His love.
Every word in this Psalm is so rich and important to our lives in this moment, but let’s end with this promise of satisfaction.
As we “feed on His faithfulness” daily we discover that we can live on “little” but it will feel like much -
“A little that a righteous man has
Is better than the riches of many wicked.
For the arms of the wicked shall be broken,
But the Lord upholds the righteous.” (verse 16-17)
Do not fret!
Feed on His faithfulness.
Our families will be okay in the end – He has promised. “The meek will inherit the earth.”
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