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Expanded Comments |
Security of those who trust in Jehovah, and Insecurity of the Wicked.
A Psalm of David. |
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1 Fret not thyself because of the evil-doers,
Neither be thou envious against them that work unrighteousness.
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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
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2 For they shall soon be cut down like the grass,
And wither as the green herb.
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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
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3 Trust in Jehovah, and do good;
Dwell in the land, and feed on his faithfulness.
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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*
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4 Delight thyself also in Jehovah;
And he will give thee the desires of thy heart.
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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
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5 Commit thy way unto Jehovah;
Trust also in him, and he will bring it to pass.
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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
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6 And he will make thy righteousness to go forth as the light,
And thy justice as the noonday.
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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*
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7 Rest in Jehovah, and wait patiently for him:
Fret not thyself because of him who prospereth in his way,
Because of the man who bringeth wicked devices to pass.
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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
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8 Cease from anger, and forsake wrath:
Fret not thyself, it tendeth only to evil-doing.
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9 For evil-doers shall be cut off;
But those that wait for Jehovah, they shall inherit the land.
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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
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10 For yet a little while, and the wicked shall not be:
Yes, thou shalt diligently consider his place, and he shall not be.
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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
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11 But the meek shall inherit the land,
And shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace.
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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
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12 The wicked plotteth against the just,
And gnasheth upon him with his teeth.
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13 Jehovah will laugh at him;
For he seeth that his day is coming.
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14 The wicked have drawn out the sword, and have bent their bow,
To cast down the poor and needy,
To slay such as are upright in the way.
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15 Their sword shall enter into their own heart,
And their bows shall be broken.
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16 Better is a little that the righteous hath
Than the abundance of many wicked.
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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
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17 For the arms of the wicked shall be broken;
But Jehovah upholdeth the righteous.
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18 Jehovah knoweth the days of the perfect;
And their inheritance shall be for ever.
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19 They shall not be put to shame in the time of evil;
And in the days of famine they shall be satisfied.
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20 But the wicked shall perish,
And the enemies of Jehovah shall be as the fat of lambs:
They shall consume; in smoke shall they consume away.
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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
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21 The wicked borroweth, and payeth not again;
But the righteous dealeth graciously, and giveth.
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22 For such as are blessed of him shall inherit the land;
And they that are cursed of him shall be cut off.
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23 A man's goings are established of Jehovah;
And he delighteth in his way.
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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
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24 Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down;
For Jehovah upholdeth him with his hand.
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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
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25 I have been young, and now am old;
Yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken,
Nor his seed begging bread.
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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*
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26 All the day long he dealeth graciously, and lendeth;
And his seed is blessed.
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27 Depart from evil, and do good;
And dwell for evermore.
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28 For Jehovah loveth justice,
And forsaketh not his saints;
They are preserved for ever:
But the seed of the wicked shall be cut off.
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29 The righteous shall inherit the land,
And dwell therein for ever.
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30 The mouth of the righteous talketh of wisdom,
And his tongue speaketh justice.
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31 The law of his God is in his heart;
None of his steps shall slide.
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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
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32 The wicked watcheth the righteous,
And seeketh to slay him.
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33 Jehovah will not leave him in his hand,
Nor condemn him when he is judged.
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34 Wait for Jehovah, and keep his way,
And he will exalt thee to inherit the land:
When the wicked are cut off, thou shalt see it.
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35 I have seen the wicked in great power,
And spreading himself like a green tree in its native soil.
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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
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36 But one passed by, and, lo, he was not:
Yes, I sought him, but he could not be found.
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37 Mark the perfect man, and behold the upright man;
For there are latter times for the man of peace.
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38 As for transgressors, they shall be destroyed together:
The end of the wicked shall be cut off.
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39 But the salvation of the righteous is of Jehovah:
He is their stronghold in the time of trouble.
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40 And Jehovah helpeth them, and rescueth them:
He rescueth them from the wicked, and saveth them,
Because they have taken refuge in him. |
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