Psalm 37:35-38

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 37:1-40

The psalm is wholly didactic. It begins with exhortation, which is carried on through five stanzas to the end of Psalms 37:9 . Exhortation then gives place to calm and unimpassioned instruction, of a character resembling that which makes up the bulk of the Book of Proverbs. This tone continues to the end of verse 33, when there is a return to exhortation, but exhortation (verses 34, 37) mingled with instruction (verses 35, 36, 38-40). The whole poem is grave, quiet, equable, devoid of... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 37:1-40

The good man's directory. This is a very remarkable psalm. Its theme is one throughout its entire length. Yet it is not so much drawn out consecutively as repeated proverbially. This may be partly accounted for by its alphabetical structure. £ There is no advance between the verses at the commencement and those at its close, but rather a remarkable variety of beautiful turns of expression to a thought that is the same throughout. The whole psalm may be summed up thus: "Just now, you see... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 37:1-40

Two pictures. The psalmist says, at Psalms 37:25 , "I have been young, and now am old . " We may regard him therefore as speaking in this psalm with the fulness of knowledge and the confidence of ripened wisdom. His old experience has attained to prophetic strain. Let us consider two pictures. I. THE EVILS OF ENVY . It is common. It takes its rise and works upon the lower part of our nature, blinding our minds, perverting our hearts, and stirring up all our evil passions.... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 37:27-40

Evil-doers. Evil-doers are not truly objects of envy. The more closely we contemplate this, the more clearly do we see their baseness. But it is needful that we should be urged to this salutary duty. Again and again in this psalm is the exhortation addressed to us to consider and judge rightly, to cease from evil and learn to do well. And there are good and weighty reasons given why we should have no part with evil-doers. I. THEIR CHARACTER IS ODIOUS . II. THEIR ... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 37:35

I have seen the wicked in great power, and flourishing like a green bay tree ; rather, as in the margin, like a green tree in his own (or, his native ) soil. Growing, i.e; rankly and luxuriantly, like a leafy shrub, that has never suffered transplantation (comp. Psalms 1:3 ; Ezekiel 31:3 ). read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 37:36

Yet he passed away, and lo, he was not (cf. Job 20:5 ; Psalms 73:19 , Psalms 73:20 ). Yea, I sought him, but he could not be found . The sudden disappearance of an imposing personality astonishes and confuses us. We cannot believe that one who has played so prominent a part in our drama of life is gone altogether. We look about for him; we expect him to reappear at any moment. We cannot realize the fact that he is vanished for ever. We ask ourselves, "Where is he?' ( Job 20:7 ). read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 37:37

Mark the perfect man, and behold the upright; for the end of that man is peace . This translation is much disputed. Most ancients and many moderns render the first line, "Keep innocency, and observe uprightness," while some critics maintain that acharith in the second line must mean "posterity," and not "end." Others, again, join shalom to ish , and render, "There shall be posterity (or, a future) to the man of peace." However, the rendering of the Authorized Version is retained by our... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 37:37

The perfect life. "Mark the perfect, and behold the upright: for the man of peace hath a future [or, 'posterity']." In contrast to the wicked spoken of in the next verse (38). This whole psalm is a record of human experience. I. THE STUDY OF HUMAN EXPERIENCE IN THE LIGHT OF HUMAN CHARACTER IS MOST INSTRUCTIVE . 1 . Every maws life is in the main an embodiment either of the Law of God or of the law of self. Intellectual life, a life of knowledge or of... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 37:38

But the transgressors shall be destroyed together (comp. Psalms 37:2 , Psalms 37:9 , Psalms 37:10 , Psalms 37:15 , Psalms 37:20 , and Psalms 37:34 ). The end of the wicked shall be cut off . If acharith be taken to mean "posterity" in the preceding verse, it must be given the same signification here. read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Psalms 37:35

I have seen - I have had an opportunity, in my long life Psalms 37:25, of witnessing the accuracy of the statement just made, that a righteous man may live to see a confirmation of the truth that wickedness, however prosperous the wicked man may be, will lead to ultimate ruin - as I have had an opportunity of seeing Psalms 37:25-26 the effect of a course of righteousness on the ultimate prosperity and happiness of its possessor. The same experience, with the same result, is referred to in Job... read more

Group of Brands