Psalm 37:7-9

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 37:7

Rest in the Lord ; literally, be silent ; i.e. do not murmur; make no complaint; be silently acquiescent and resigned. And wait patiently for him . Be content to await his time, which is sure to be the right time. Meanwhile possess your soul in patience. Fret not thyself because of him who prospereth in his way (comp. Psalms 37:1 , of which this brings out the sense). It is when the ungodly prosper that the righteous are apt to repine. Because of the man who bringeth wicked... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 37:7

The rest of the soul. "Rest in the Lord." If any age ever needed a gospel of rest, it is this in which we live. We often call it "this busy age." But it is more than busy—it is restless. Men pride themselves on "living fast." They seek excitement, not refreshment, in their very pleasures. Amusement becomes not recreation , reinvigoration, restful play, fitting you to return with fresh strength and vigour to work, but often an exhausting demand and strain. You are weary after your... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 37:7-11

Confidence in God. The text of the whole psalm is in the first two verses. We are not to be discouraged in the service of God by the prosperity of the wicked; for it is more apparent than real, and is a short-lived prosperity. At the seventh verse the psalm takes a fresh start from the same key-note. I. SILENT TRUST IN GOD , WAITING FOR HIM , IS THE ONLY TRUE SOLUTION OF THE DIFFICULTY . ( Psalms 37:7 .) Do not vainly argue the question; be silent to... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 37:8

Cease from anger, and forsake wrath; i.e. such anger and such wrath as the prosperity of the wicked calls forth. Fret not thyself in any wise to do evil; rather, fret not thyself , only to do evil. No result could be looked for from the sort of "fretting" spoken of, but an evil one. If men will dwell unduly on the fact of the prosperity of the wicked, and brood upon it in their hearts, they will be apt, in the first instance, to envy the wicked, which is at once "to do evil;" and... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 37:9

For evil-doers shall be out off . It is foolish to "fret" and rage and storm against the ungodly whom we see prospering, since they will certainly be "cut off " sooner or later—sooner rather than later, according to the belief of the writer (see Psalms 37:2 , Psalms 37:10 ). But those that wait upon the Lord (see Psalms 37:7 ), they shall inherit the earth. It is doubly foolish, since when the wicked are "cut off," as they will be assuredly some day, the godly will find themselves... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Psalms 37:7

Rest in the Lord - Margin, “Be silent to the Lord.” The Hebrew word means to be mute, silent, still: Job 29:21; Leviticus 10:3; Lamentations 3:28. Hence, to be silent to anyone; that is, to listen to him in silence; and the idea in the phrase here, ““be silent to Jehovah,”” is that of waiting in silent patience or confidence for his interposition; or, in other words, of leaving the whole matter with him without being anxious as to the result.And wait patiently for him - For his bringing the... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Psalms 37:8

Cease from anger - That is, in reference to the fact that there are wicked people, and that they are permitted to carry out their plans. Do not allow your mind to be excited with envious, fretful, wrathful, or murmuring feelings against God because he bears patiently with them, and because they are allowed a temporary prosperity and triumph. Be calm, whatever may be the wickedness of the world. The supreme direction belongs to God, and he will dispose of it in the best way.And forsake wrath -... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Psalms 37:9

For evil-doers shall be cut off - See Psalms 37:2. This will be the termination of their course. They shall not ultimately prosper. God will order all things in equity, and though such men now seem to be prosperous, and to be the objects of the divine favor, yet all this is temporary. The day of retribution will certainly come, and they will be dealt with as they deserve. The reference here probably is to judgment in this life, or to the fact that God will, as a general law, show his... read more

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