Psalm 37
In Psalm 37 the great theme is waiting for God to act, and not being alarmed or fretting because of the wicked. The workers of unrighteousness shall soon be cut down.
A striking object lesson in this is found in Elijah in 1 Kings 19, after his wonderful victory for God at Mount Carmell. He had been very faithful and steadfast for God, but that was when he knew he was wholly dependent on Him (chapters 17, 18). At the beginning of chapter 19, Queen Jezebel frightened Elijah with a few words, and with his mind on Jezebel instead of God, he shamefully and needlessly fled for his life.
The Christian cannot answer to the directions in verses 3 and 4, except by daily reading the Word of God, and meditating upon it; this is "dwelling in the land"—getting acquainted with the believer's portion in Christ, and "delighting thyself in the Lord" is a result of such a course.
The prosperity of the wicked (verse 7) is not an unusual thing in the world, but yet a little while and the wicked is not (verse 10).
The meek (note that word) shall inherit, or more properly, shall possess the land. It is the meek, the humble, that God blesses; seven times they are spoken of in the Psalms: (in 22:26, 25:9 (twice);:17:11; 76:9; 147:6; 149:4). In all these cases they are the blessed, and the only blessed ones.
How striking are verses 12 and 13; the wicked plot, and gnash their teeth; the Lord laughs at them, for He sees that the day' of reckoning is near. "Their sword shall enter their own heart" (verse 15); (see Matthew 26:5252Then said Jesus unto him, Put up again thy sword into his place: for all they that take the sword shall perish with the sword. (Matthew 26:52)).
Every verse of this psalm calls for our attention; written for the believers among the Jews after the heavenly people, the Church, so much occupying the Holy Spirit in the New Testament, is removed from the earth to heavenly glory. The Christian can nevertheless draw deeply from the truths here set out.
Messages of God’s Love 8/24/1930