Psalm 37:
Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for him:
fret not thyself because of him who prospereth in his way,
because of the man who bringeth wicked devices to pass.
Cease from anger, and forsake wrath:
fret not thyself in any wise to do evil.
vs.7,8
"The psalm is written in the form of an acrostic, although our numbering is out of step with the Hebrew. There is no logical outline to the psalm, so it is best studied according to its topics.
The major point of the psalm seems to be that the wicked’s prosperity is short-lived. Though David was troubled by the prosperity of the unrighteous, he knew by faith that their undeserved bounty would be cut off.
An Introductory Overview (37:1-2).
The wicked watcheth the righteous, and seeketh to slay him. vs.1
An Initial Expansion (37:3-11).
For yet a little while, and the wicked shall not be: vs.10
Some Proverbial Perspectives (37:12-24).
A little that a righteous man hath is better than the riches of many wicked. vs.16
An Initial Testimony (37:25-26).
I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread. vs.25
A Final Expansion (compare verses 3-11 with 37:27-34).
Depart from evil, and do good; vs.27
A Final Testimony (compare verses 25-26 with 37:35-40).
Mark the perfect man, and behold the upright: for the end of that man is peace. vs.37
--It is better to trust our character with God than with the ablest counselor.
--A fretful spirit soon comes to be an angry spirit, and when we begin to be jealous of evildoers, we are very apt to become evildoers ourselves.
--But “fret not thyself in any wise to do evil.”
--There is an old proverb that it is hard for an empty sack to stand upright. Therefore, when you are in temporal trouble, ask the Lord to fill you with his grace, for then you will stand upright, and by-and-by you shall be delivered."
BooksOfTheBible/CharlesSpurgeon
I have seen the wicked in great power,
and spreading himself like a green bay tree.
Yet he passed away, and, lo, he was not:
yea, I sought him, but he could not be found.
vs.35,36
