Throughout history there have been times where evil not only is leading but is prosperous and is doing well. Certain types of evil are easy to despise, but the kind that is hard is that those who do evil seem to get it all–wealth, relationships, stability, family, respect, etc…
“do not envy those who do wrong” (Ps 37:1) is at the beginning of this psalm.
“do not be agitated by one who prospers in his way” (Ps 37:7) is the message continued.
And then there’s verse that seems like a picture of what is happening in the world right now, today:
“The wicked have drawn the sword and strung the bow to bring down the afflicted and needy and to slaughter those whose way is upright. Their swords will enter their own hearts, and their bows will be broken” (Ps 37:14-15).
This is the message of God and the message of this psalm. Continue to do good and what is right as eventually in the end picture, “the wicked person will be no more” (v. 10) but “the man of peace will have a future” (v. 37).
The admonition of David is this:
“Trust in the LORD and do what is good; dwell in the land and live securely [cultivate faithfulness]. Take delight in the LORD, and He will give you your heart’s desires” (Ps 37:4).
For some this last verse is one that is posted and framed and placed on kitchen walls. For others it is a point of pain wondering why God gives the desires of the heart to others and not oneself.
I think for Westerners, we forget that the Hebrew culture was a group culture and not an individualistic culture. It means that the words and promises of God were more geared towards the group and not just the individual.
Also there is the understanding and different reference points of time. For Westerners, there is often a spectrum of things need to be fulfilled within one’s lifetime. But for other cultures is about fulfillment in the generations.
For example I once read that there is an ancient Eastern proverb that if you get revenge on your enemies within 40 years you are jumping the gun. This was reiterated yesterday in a clip where the ‘Kalibon’ reiterates that cultural value of patience (Here at 2:39 mark). The Eastern world understands and knows the power of lengthy patience both in bad and good ways. Patience is the power of continuous dripping water that changes the face of the hardest rock.
I know that isn’t the most uplifting example, but we have to understand the reference point of the teachings of Scripture. Fulfillment wasn’t just about for me alone but for groups of people, and not always for right now in my generation but for the people as a whole in the generations to come.
What David is saying in this psalm is don’t cave into to envy (Ps 37:1) or anger (Ps 37:8) but continue to do what is right, trusting the Lord. Eventually evil will be no more (Ps 37:10) but the righteous will inherit the land (Ps 37:34).
