Psalm 37:1-40

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Psalms 37:1-6

The instructions here given are very plain; much need not be said for the exposition of them, but there is a great deal to be done for the reducing of them to practice, and there they will look best. I. We are here cautioned against discontent at the prosperity and success of evil-doers (Ps. 37:1, 2): Fret not thyself, neither be thou envious. We may suppose that David speaks this to himself first, and preaches it to his own heart (in his communing with that upon his bed), for the suppressing... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Psalms 37:7-20

In these verses we have, I. The foregoing precepts inculcated; for we are so apt to disquiet ourselves with needless fruitless discontents and distrusts that it is necessary there should be precept upon precept, and line upon line, to suppress them and arm us against them. 1. Let us compose ourselves by believing in God: ?Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for him (Ps. 37:7), that is, be well reconciled to all he does and acquiesce in it, for that is best that is, because it is what God has... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Psalms 37:21-33

These verses are much to the same purport with the Ps. 37:1-20 of this psalm, for it is a subject worthy to be dwelt upon. Observe here, I. What is required of us as the way to our happiness, which we may learn both from the characters here laid down and from the directions here given. If we would be blessed of God, 1. We must make conscience of giving every body his own; for the wicked borrows and pays not again, Ps. 37:21. It is the first thing which the Lord our God requires of us, that we... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Psalms 37:34-40

The psalmist's conclusion of this sermon (for that is the nature of this poem) is of the same purport with the whole, and inculcates the same things. I. The duty here pressed upon us is still the same (Ps. 37:34): Wait on the Lord and keep his way. Duty is ours, and we must mind it and make conscience of it, keep God's way and never turn out of it nor loiter in it, keep close, keep going; but events are God's and we must refer ourselves to him for the disposal of them; we must wait on the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 37:1

Fret not thyself because of evildoers ,.... The saints may be grieved at them and for them, because of their evil doings, and may be angry with them for them; yet are not to show any undue warmth, at least in an indecent way, by calling them opprobrious names; for the words may be rendered, "do not show thyself warm" or "angry" F9 תתחר "ne accendaris ira", Junius & Tremellius; "ne exardescas", Gejerus, Michaelis. : in a sinful way; or fret not at their outward prosperity, as it... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 37:2

For they shall soon be cut down like the grass, and wither as the green herb. Which in the morning looks green, pretty, and flourishing, and in the evening is cut down, and then fades away; see Psalm 90:5 ; and so the wicked prosper and flourish for a while, and then they perish with all their honour, riches, and wealth; so that their happiness is a very short lived one, and therefore need not be envied and fretted at. read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 37:3

Trust in the Lord ,.... Not in men, who are fading and perishing like the green grass and tender herb; nor in riches, which are very uncertain things; but in the Lord, in whom is everlasting strength; and with whom are riches and honour, yea, durable riches and righteousness; trust in him both for things temporal and spiritual, for soul and body, for time and eternity; the way to have peace and quietness of mind under all dispensations is to exercise faith on a promising God. The Targum is,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 37:4

Delight thyself also in the Lord ,.... In the persons in God, Father, Son, and Spirit; in the perfections of God, his power, goodness, faithfulness, wisdom, love, grace, and mercy; in his works of creation, providence, and redemption; in his word, his Gospel, the truths and ordinances of it; in his house, and the worship of it; and in his people, the excellent in the earth, in whom was all the delight of the psalmist; and each of these afford a field of delight and pleasure, to attend unto,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 37:5

Commit thy way unto the Lord ,.... Or "thy works", as in Proverbs 16:3 ; that is, all the affairs and business of life, which are a man's ways in which he walks; not that men should sit still, be inactive, and do nothing, and leave all to be done by the Lord; but should seek direction of God in everything engaged in, and for strength and assistance to perform it, and go on in it, and depend upon him for success, and give him all the glory, without trusting to any thing done by them: or, as... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 37:6

And he shall bring forth thy righteousness as the light ,.... That is, the good man having committed his cause to him that judgeth righteously, he will, in his own time, clearly make it appear that it is a righteous one, both to himself and others, in whatsoever obscurity it may have lain; and thy judgment as the noonday ; the same as before, unless rather the righteousness of Christ, which is the believer's by imputation, and is a justifying one in the judgment of God, should be meant;... read more

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