Psalm 37:1–6 (NKJV)
1 Do not fret because of evildoers, Nor be envious of the workers of iniquity.
2 For they shall soon be cut down like the grass, And wither as the green herb.
3 Trust in the LORD, and do good; Dwell in the land, and feed on His faithfulness.
4 Delight yourself also in the LORD, And He shall give you the desires of your heart.
5 Commit your way to the LORD, Trust also in Him, And He shall bring it to pass.
6 He shall bring forth your righteousness as the light, And your justice as the noonday.
Trust! What a wonderfully difficult command, order, suggestion, or recommendation God is giving us. We are told not to fret the evil in the world, to not be envious of the workers of iniquity. We are to live in the place God has planted us and trust in His faithfulness.
How can we do this!? History is a great teacher. Every day I get a history lesson from Jacob my grandson as I take him to school. One day he will make a great historian. Last year I learned everything I could possibly want to know about Georgia history and this year I am now being refreshed on early American history. It is good to remember history. Winston Churchill in 1948 in a speech to the British House of Commons, said, “Those that fail to learn from history are doomed to repeat it.” Psalm 37 helps us to know the same God who worked in the past is the One who will work in our lives today. The Bible is replete with the history of God working in the lives of His people.
Trust God! Worrying about the evil and wicked is not trusting God. We do not overlook the evil or the wicked but trust God…His will is going to be worked out even in our lives. We are told in this Psalm in trusting God we are to do good.
We are to delight in the Lord. We are to be joyful and thankful! On the very shallow and superficial surface of my life, I find this difficult. But then I remember the history lessons God has taught me. He has been faithful in the past and will continue to be faithful.
We are to be joyful and thankful! I’ve learned when I just focus on the negative side of life there is no joy or thanksgiving. Then I read, “Trust in the Lord, and do good.”
We must “commit” our way to the Lord. We are to “trust” in Him. God has a plan and purpose for our lives. It is when we trust Him and commit our ways to Him that the doors of opportunity are opened in our lives giving God the freedom to work.