Psalm 37  This psalm of David sounds so much like the book of Proverbs.. the contrast between those who trust and obey the Lord and those who do not.. Solomon's words of wisdom reflect the truth of David's songs...

David gives us sound teaching.. to "not fret because of the evildoer".  David knew a lot of those kind of men. In his experience, he tells us, these kinds of people don't last. "For they will wither quickly like the grass, and fade like the green herb."

The wicked may prosper.. but they do not last.  They may plot and scheme, but they do not hide from the Lord.  The wickedness they do is turned back upon them.  The Lord sees and He will judge.  "The posterity of the wicked will be cut off." David writes.  No one to remember them or miss them.  No one left to care.  It is really a pitiful life when you think about it.  Jesus told a parable about a rich man who had so much that he tore down his barns to build bigger ones, but God called him a fool. "This very night your soul is required of you and now who will own what you have prepared?"  The problem was one of greed and selfish living. When the life of the wicked is over.. then what?  They will finally know how foolish they were.. 

David has much more to say about those who want to live.. "Trust in the Lord and do good;" he writes... 

"cultivate faithfulness.." (v3)

"delight yourself in the Lord." (v4)

"Commit you way to the Lord." (v5)

"Rest in the Lord and wait patiently for Him." (v7)

To truly live.. we must walk in His Spirit.. stop fretting, stop anger, stop being envious of the prosperity of the wicked, stop being obsessed with "abundance"(v16)... look instead to the Lord. "Delight yourself in the Lord; and He will give you the desires of your heart." (v4)

He will "bring forth your righteousness as the light and your judgement as the noonday."(v6)

He will give you an inheritance worth far more than any wicked man could receive.  (9, 22, 29)

He will protect you from the wicked. (v12-15)

He will provide what is needed to sustain you. (v17)

He will bless you. (v22)

He will establish you. (v23)

He will hold your hand when things get shaky. (v24)

He will never forsake you. (v25, 28)

He will be your strength.. your help.. your deliverer. (v39, 40)

Oh how much better is the "narrow gate!  "Enter by the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and many are those who enter by it.  For the gate is small and the way is narrow that leads to life, and few are those who fine it." ( Matthew 7:14)

Father in heaven, You are our refuge and fortress.  You are good to us.  You have shown us such mercy and grace!  How can we ever thank You enough?  Keep our feet on Your paths, Lord. Keep our hearts full of Your Spirit as we turn to  You and trust You will all our hearts.  Thank You for Your Word and Your Spirit to teach us and lead us in paths of righteousness for Your Name's sake.  We rest in You and You alone, Lord Jesus.. our Shepherd and King. Make us bold to tell others this Good News.. there is a way to Life and it is found in Jesus!  Amen .