Psalms 37:35

FINAL CONTRAST OF THE RIGHTEOUS AND WICKED

"I have seen the wicked in great power,

And spreading himself like a green tree in its native soil.

But one passed by, and, lo, he was not:

Yea, I sought him, but he could not be found.

Mark the perfect man, and behold the upright;

For there is a happy end to the man of peace,

As for transgressors, they shall be destroyed together:

The end of the wicked shall be cut off.

But the salvation of the righteous is of Jehovah:

He is their stronghold in the time of trouble..

But Jehovah helpeth them and rescueth them:

He rescueth them from the wicked, and saveth them,

Because they have taken refuge in him."

The history of mankind is loaded with one "big bad wolf" after another; but where are they now? No wicked man, who by definition is on a collision course with disaster, due to his rebellion against God, can rightfully anticipate anything else, other than destruction. It is only a matter of time, and not very much time at that, until someone may say, "I sought him, but he could not be found."

Mark the perfect man (Psalms 37:37). Here again, we are aided in determining the meaning of `perfect.' It is explained in the next clause, "Behold the upright." Every saint of God is perfect in relation to the wicked among whom he lives. "In this respect, it is said of Noah that, "He was a perfect man in his generation."[17]

On Psalms 37:37-40, McCaw pointed out that, "All transgressors are to be destroyed; there is no possible future for any wicked man. But let everyone take note of what happens to the man who is upright and godly; there is indeed a future for him, and for his posterity."[18]

"The end of the wicked shall be cut off" (Psalms 37:38). This means that "The posterity of the wicked shall also be cut off."[19]

According to Maclaren, this naturally forms the end of this psalm right here, "But the poet will not leave the stern words of destruction as his last. Therefore, he adds a sweet, long, drawn-out close, like the calm extended clouds, that lie motionless in the western sky after a day of storm."[20]

"Jehovah helpeth ... rescueth ... saveth ... because they have taken refuge in him" (Psalms 37:39,40). How glorious are the promises of the Lord to them who love him!