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“Finding Rest Amidst Troubling Times”
Text: Psalm 37:1-8
See verse 25a – David’s age, stage of life when he wrote this Psalm – “I have been young, and now am old…” (Commentators put him at around 70 yrs. old at this time – just 4 ½ years away for me)
Vs. 25b = “… yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken or His children begging for bread.” (Keep this thought in mind as we read verse 1 and 2)
Vs. 1 > Two “Don’ts” in vs. 1 – Don’t Fret and Don’t Envy
Whenever we lack confidence, we fret (worry)
Whenever we lack contentment, we envy.
1. DON’T FRET – (Mentioned 3 times in this passage)
- Fret = worry or anxiety. Meaning; don’t get all worked up . . .
- Similar to the message we learned in Philippians 4:6 & 7
Be anxious for nothing, but in everything, by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God which surpasses all understanding shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”
“Worry is like a rocking chair; it will give you something to do, but it won’t get you anywhere”
Other familiar verses:
- Matthew 6:34 – Do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself.
- 1 Peter 5:7 – Cast all your anxiety (cares) on Him, because He cares for you.
- Hebrews 13:6 – The Lord is my helper; I will not be anxious about what man can do to me.
- Psalm 94:19 – (Statement by David) When anxiety was great within me, You consoled me.
2. DON’T ENVY – “A deep longing for someone’s else’s possessions, qualities, or lot in life”
- Proverbs 14:30 – Envy rots your bones.
- James 3:16 – Where envy and selfish ambition exist, there is disorder and every vile practice.
- Mark 7:20 – Envy defiles a person.
- Proverbs 23:17-18 – Don’t let your heart envy sinners but continue in the fear of the Lord all the day.
- This Proverb parallels ideally with our passage today!
Lit. – Who hasn’t wished for another person’s situation or belongings?
But the focus here is on envying sinners – those who do evil. They are the ones to whom Psalm 37 warns us we should neither worry about or envy… especially as believers in Jesus.
Seems like evil people – wrongdoers – get away with everything, doesn’t it. Seems like they’re having more fun, have more stuff, and tend to get away with certain things that the rest of us could never get away with.
This is most prevalent when we observe the so-called “Elite” people in society – Hollywood/Entertainment Elite, Political Elite, Professional Athlete Elite – – those people who society looks up to, admires, or considers to be successful.
Truth bomb: In some ways they do have more fun, they enjoy more stuff, the do get away with certain things. You see, in this life, many evildoers will prosper… for the time being.
They will get away with a great deal, actually. But this life is all they’ve got, so they’ll do anything and everything with impunity, for now. “Eat, Drink, and be Merry…”
“What does it profit a man if he gains the whole world, yet loses his own soul.?” Mark 8:36
It won’t last long. It will all come crashing down at some point. Just ask P. Diddy Combs.
Look what Psalm 37 says as to what happens to the evildoers, See verses 2 and 7-11
So, instead of fretting about or envying these-type of people, we should follow these five “Do’s”:
1. (vs. 3) “Trust in the Lord”
Trusting in the Lord is the vaccine for worry. For, if you worry you do not trust. But, if you trust, you do not worry.
Easier said than done, right? Especially when so much around us doesn’t seem fair, is so uncertain, or is downright frightening . . .
Sadly, today people put their trust in so many things other than the Lord:
* Government * Money * People * Science * Self * Religion * Church
- Etc. – most anything other than Christ!
- Even “Christians” often put more trust elsewhere other than in The Lord.
* Proverbs 3:5,6 – “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will direct your paths.”
2. (vs. 3b) – “Do good” – live righteously, honorably, above reproach, and do good deeds. “For we are God’s workmanship created in Christ Jesus FOR GOOD WORKS, which He prepared beforehand, that we may walk in them.” (Ephesians 2:10)
- “Trust in the Lord” is a matter of the mind and heart
- “Do good” is how we live it out – WE DO GOOD IN DEMONSTRATION OF OUR TRUST IN THE LORD!
** Huge step of faith (trust) to leave JBC and start my practice & Forge
And… (vs. 3b) “befriend faithfulness” — Lit; Make Faithfulness Your Friend. Make faithfulness your companion – a character quality that is close to you – as part of your identity in Christ.
3. (vs. 4a) “Delight Yourself in the Lord” = Take pleasure in / Enjoy Him / delight in knowing Him and being known by Him.
What delights you these days?
Psalm 1:1-2 = “Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stands in the way of sinners, not sits in the seat of scoffer; but HIS DELIGHT IS IN THE LAW OF THE LORD, and on His law, he meditates day and night.”
Delight in God’s “law” and you are sure to find delight in God!
(vs. 4b) “And He will give you the desires of your heart” –
Not earthly, lustful desires, but godly, desires that align with His will and purpose.
Just as wicked take delight in their sinful ways, we should delight in God’s righteous ways. Delight in knowing Him, serving him, praising him, obeying him and following him.
This seems like a transactional formula, but it’s more of a providential formula. Meaning, if you humbly and sincerely delight yourself entirely in the Lord, He will providentially grant you His favor – and will fulfill those longings of your heart in accordance with His will and good pleasure (Philippians 2:13).
4. (vs. 5) “Commit your way unto the Lord” = this phrase literally means “to give over you” = surrender, submit, present (Romans 12:1 – present your bodies as a living sacrifice)
5. (vs. 7) “Rest in the Lord and wait patiently for him” = settled spirit, relaxed, worry free, content, at peace.
Compare: Matthew 11:28 – Come unto me all you who are weary and heavily burdened, and I will give you rest.
Consider the following:
“I am done waiting on God” or “I am done. Waiting on God”
Final thought: 2 Chronicles 7:14
If my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray, and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sins and heal their land.