Psalms Chapter 37 [DARBY]

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1 A Psalm of David. Fret not thyself because of evil-doers, and be not envious of them that work unrighteousness; Fret not thyself – The New Creature should not be distressed over political, financial or other wrongdoings. F592

Under the Millennial order of things right-doers are to be exalted and evildoers restrained and punished. B138


2 for they shall soon be cut down like the grass, and fade as the green herb. They shall soon be – Verses 1 to 19 give clear prophectic testimony relative to the Kingdom and its operation on behalf of the poor--its overthrow of injustice and the general equalization of human affairs. B138

Cut down – In the reign of Christ. R492:6


3 Confide in Jehovah, and do good; dwell in the land, and feed on faithfulness; Do good – So much the more as ye see the day drawing on, "strengthen ye the weak hands and confirm the feeble knees." (Isa. 35:3) R707:5

Especially when confronted with "perils among false brethren." (2 Cor. 11:26) R4540:3

Rather earn a humbler living with godliness and contentment and spend more time in his service, doing good unto all as you have opportunity. R1243:3

To forward the truth and suffer for it. R1102:5

Thou shalt be fed – Our food and water will be sure. He will never leave nor forsake his own. R1840:1

Naturally and spiritually. R2021:5

It is improper for saints to ask alms. R4101:5*


4 and delight thyself in Jehovah, and he will give thee the desires of thy heart. Delight thyself – This is a step further than trusting. "I delight to do thy will, O my God." (Psa. 40:8) R1840:1

To delight thus in the Lord is to have the affections centered on him. R1840:2

The heart that is continually looking for divine direction is continuously in a prayerful attitude. No other condition is proper to the Christian. R3806:1

The desires – If those desires are in harmony with his plan. R4983:6


5 Commit thy way unto Jehovah, and rely upon him: he will bring it to pass; Commit thy way – It is not sufficient that we merely place ourselves in the hand of the Lord. R4790:1

Before becoming entangled in multiplied cares and hampered by the outcome of our own misguided course. R1554:2

Bring it to pass – Their fervent prayers will avail much. R1840:4

Blessings and peace, even in the midst of the storms of life; and eventually glory, honor and immortality through Christ. R4506:4


6 and he will bring forth thy righteousness as the light, and thy judgment as the noonday. He shall bring forth – In his own due time. R3820:3

There is likely to be in all our affairs a time in which, if we have been misunderstood and misrepresented, the truth will ultimately be brought forth. R2888:2

Thus we can rejoice when we are accounted worthy of misrepresentation for his sake. R1193:4

Thy righteousness – Thus silencing all our opposers. R1102:5, R1816:1

As the light – Clear, cloudless and widely manifest. R5803:5

As God was ultimately glorified by Daniel's course of letting his light shine. R3639:3

Thy judgment – Character will, in every case, be revealed in due time and meet its just recompense. R801:5*


7 Rest in Jehovah, and wait patiently for him: fret not thyself because of him that prospereth in his way, because of the man that bringeth mischievous devices to pass. Rest in the LORD – Do not make the mistake of expecting him to give you the desires of your heart instantly. R1840:5

Wait patiently – We must not be disappointed and allow our faith to falter when the test of patient endurance is applied. R5802:6, R1840:5

"They that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength." (Isa. 40:31) R1840:5

Outward peace and calm are not always the conditions best suited to our needs as New Creatures. R5803:1

Our Father has not forgotten us when the answer to our prayers seems delayed. R5803:1

For the grand outworking of his plan. R1070:1


8 Cease from anger, and forsake wrath; fret not thyself: it would be only to do evil.
9 For evil-doers shall be cut off; but those that wait on Jehovah, they shall possess the land. For evil doers – All who, after coming to a clear knowledge of the truth, still wilfully disobey it. E388

Unless they attain the spirit of love, they will not be fit for the Kingdom, for God is love. SM230:2

From the mention of the character of this class it is manifest that the Second Death into which they are cast is not a death to sin, as Universalists claim. R1443:5

Shall be cut off – During the Millennial age. A67; R492:6, R443:1; HG538:2

"From among the people" (Acts 3:23) in the Second Death. E473; R2763:5, R1878:6, R1272:5

Because God has no pleasure in them that love evil. R1781:3

This rule, however, does not apply to the Gospel age. R2061:1

But those – During the Millennial age. E240

That wait upon – The Prince of life will use for servants the pure, the holy, the reverent, the godly. OV91:1


10 For yet a little while, and the wicked is not; and thou considerest his place, but he is not. Wicked shall not be – God tells us plainly that the nature of the everlasting punishment of the wicked will be death, destruction. R2607:3

Contrary to the teachings of Universalism. R3083:6

It is merciful on God's part to destroy the incorrigibly wicked. R3083:6


11 But the meek shall possess the land, and shall delight themselves in the abundance of prosperity. Meek shall inherit – Not yet. Today they seldom even get a good slice of it. CR493:5

In the reign of Christ. R492:6

Of peace – "God has called us to peace." (1Cor. 7:15) God's Word has many messages on peace. R2946:3


12 The wicked plotteth against the righteous, and gnasheth his teeth against him.
13 The Lord laugheth at him; for he seeth that his day is coming.
14 The wicked have drawn out the sword, and have bent their bow, to cast down the afflicted and needy, to slay those that are upright in the way:
15 their sword shall enter into their own heart, and their bows shall be broken.
16 The little that the righteous hath is better than the abundance of many wicked; Little that a righteous – The Christian does not strive as anxiously as others for his full rights and full share of present blessings. R1245:2

17 for the arms of the wicked shall be broken, but Jehovah upholdeth the righteous.
18 Jehovah knoweth the days of the perfect; and their inheritance shall be for ever:
19 they shall not be ashamed in the time of evil, and in the days of famine they shall be satisfied.
20 For the wicked shall perish, and the enemies of Jehovah shall be as the fat of lambs: they shall consume, like smoke shall they consume away. Wicked shall perish – All who, after coming to a clear knowledge of the truth, wilfully disobey it. R1878:6

Suffer the loss of everlasting life and all of its privileges, joys and blessings. E388

Perish does not mean preserve. SM521:T

"All the wicked will he destroy." (Psa. 145:20) R2607:3, R891:5

We do not find one verse in the Bible saying that the wicked can have life in torment or in any other condition. R2607:3, R1039:6


21 The wicked borroweth, and payeth not again; but the righteous is gracious and giveth:
22 for those blessed of him shall possess the land, and they that are cursed of him shall be cut off.
23 The steps of a man are established by Jehovah, and he delighteth in his way: The steps – Walking in the right paths. R4628:6, R3155:6

"The Lord knoweth the way of the righteous." (Psa.1:6) R3155:6

Of a good man – A righteous man, reconciled to God through the death of his Son. R4628:6, R3156:1

Are ordered – The Lord will surely direct the path of such. R5711:5, R4628:6

Especially in respect to the service of the truth. R3157:2

Sometimes in sending financial or social disappointments or sickness to bring back his wandering sheep. R3157:2

The providence of God over his sons is a very particular providence. R1561:2

Therefore, the Christian should never view any experience as being lucky or unlucky. R4628:6

God does not arbitrarily interfere in the affairs of his people, set aside their free agency, and force them to move as mere machines. R3156:5

We must scrutinize the circumstances of life, lest that which is only a device of Satan be mistaken for the providence of God, and an indication of his will. R614:2,3

By the LORD – Who exercises supervision over his individual affairs. R3155:6

And he delighteth – Because of confidence in God's love and wisdom. R2762:6

In his way – In God's way; because, be it ever so thorny, narrow and rocky, he knows the end is best. R2762:6


24 though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down, for Jehovah upholdeth his hand. Though he fall – The feet class. R1268:2

Err in judgment and bring upon himself the consequences of his error. R3156:6

The noblest characters you have ever known in the racecourse have made failures at times. CR153:1

A just man will not fall into sin. The very most that could happen to him would be to stumble. R5218:3

While all the Bride will not fall with Babylon, yet some, really children of God, will fall, yet not be utterly cast down. R177:5

He shall not be – But, in due time, by constant effort, be able at least measurably to overcome the weaknesses of his nature. R628:5*

Utterly cast down – Which would mean Second Death. CR153:1; R3157:5

LORD upholdeth him – By making his blunders and weaknesses react so as to establish him in righteousness and fit him for joint-heirship in the Kingdom. R3156:6, R5218:3

With his hand – He will not let go of us as long as we are striving to walk in his way. R3157:5

His hand is still held by the Lord. R3157:4


25 I have been young, and now am old, and I have not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed seeking bread: The righteous forsaken – The Lord's children and work will get along without us; but a loss of opportunity and blessing will be sustained by us if we do not assist. R548:3,4

Begging bread – Each has confidence regarding the bread, water and plain clothing. What they fear is the loss of some of the comforts, the luxuries that God has not guaranteed us. R832:5

Does not exclude the providing of means for their deliverance. R1963:1 *

The Lord may provide through their own industry, through the generosity of friends, or by public provision. R2021:5

Accepting proffered help is not begging. R2021:5

It is improper for saints to ask alms. R4101:5*


26 all the day he is gracious and lendeth, and his seed shall be a blessing.
27 Depart from evil, and do good, and dwell for evermore;
28 for Jehovah loveth judgment, and will not forsake his saints: They are preserved for ever; but the seed of the wicked shall be cut off.
29 The righteous shall possess the land, and dwell therein for ever.
30 The mouth of the righteous proffereth wisdom, and his tongue speaketh judgment;
31 the law of his God is in his heart; his goings shall not slide. Is in his heart – Symbolized by the breastplate's being bound to the High Priest's heart. R72:1

None of his steps – The Word of God furnishes principles, precepts, and examples broad enough to indicate the Lord's will in the minutest affairs of life. R614:4


32 The wicked watcheth the righteous, and seeketh to slay him:
33 Jehovah will not leave him in his hand, nor condemn him when he is judged.
34 Wait for Jehovah, and keep his way, and he will exalt thee to possess the land: when the wicked are cut off, thou shalt see it2.
35 I have seen the wicked in great power, and spreading like a green tree in its native soil: Seen the wicked – At the present evil time. CR493:4; HG538:3

In great power – It is seldom indeed that God visits punishment upon the world in the present time. He has appointed a day in which he will judge the world by Christ Jesus. R569:5

Spreading himself – During the time in which evil has been permitted. A68; R492:3


36 but he passed away, and behold, he was not; and I sought him, but he was not found.
37 Mark the perfect, and behold the upright, for the end of that man is peace;
38 but the transgressors shall be destroyed together; the future of the wicked shall be cut off.
39 But the salvation of the righteous is of Jehovah: he is their strength in the time of trouble.
40 And Jehovah will help them and deliver them: he will deliver them from the wicked, and save them; for they trust in him.
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