Psalms 37, that precious portion studded at its very opening with rich gems of practical truths for the godly of every age, the saints in. Israel are warned against “fretting” themselves because of evildoers, neither to be envious against the workers of iniquity, “For they shall soon be cut down like the grass, and wither as the green herb.”
But God not only warns His people against the baneful habit of fretting, envying and murmuring (compare Psa. 73), but He also provides them with the only efficacious preventive against that ungodly habit of unbelief which, once contracted, spreads like the weed creeping up the stem of the strong oak tree, and at last killing it in its deadly embrace.
That preventive, so important in these days of ever-increasing competition, jealousy, and envy in the selfish world of commerce, is contained in the following verse, Trust in the Lord and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed.”
We know that our lines are fallen in heavenly places, and that the Christian pilgrim is not like the godly Jewish saint to look for long life in the land as a reward for godly walk; but even in the New Testament the Spirit of God (not only in Peter but also in Paul, the apostle of the church’s glory) brings in Old Testament promises as an encouragement for a godly walk (compare Eph. 6:2, 32Honor thy father and mother; (which is the first commandment with promise;) 3That it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth. (Ephesians 6:2‑3) and 1 Peter 3:10-1210For he that will love life, and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no guile: 11Let him eschew evil, and do good; let him seek peace, and ensue it. 12For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open unto their prayers: but the face of the Lord is against them that do evil. (1 Peter 3:10‑12))
These principles have been sadly neglected, and the saints have fallen under the stern but fully deserved discipline of God. May the Father’s hand work within us the peaceable fruits of righteousness, according to His gracious intention that we, as clearly-loved and dearly-bought ones, may follow righteousness, peace, charity, faith, in accordance with His Spirit’s injunction by the apostle of grace and glory. We must not lose sight of the kingdom-principles as we have them in the first three Gospels. For it has come to pass that our practice has lamentably fallen short of the truth that, during the absence of our Lord, we should so walk as if He were already reigning with us in righteousness and peace.
“Delight thyself also in the Lord and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart” (vs. 4). Faith trusts in the Lord, but the heart that knows His love delights itself in Him Who is altogether lovely, as He is the chief among the ten thousands. It is the same order in Psalms 27. After faith in verses 1-3 comes the heart in verse 4: “One thing have I desired of the Lord.... to behold the beauty of the Lord, and to inquire in His holy temple.” First His beauty attracts the eye and fills the heart, and then the inquiry follows.
“Commit thy way unto the Lord; trust also in Him, and He shall bring it to pass.” The same order of thought we observe in Paul’s epistle to the Philippians: “Rejoice in the Lord alway,” then “Be careful for nothing; but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known unto God.” If our hearts are at home in chapter 3, they may be fully at home in chapter 4.
J. A. V. P.