April 6, 2023 at 4:49 pm | Posted in Uncategorized | 2 Comments
Tags: Biblical righteousness, commentary on Psalms, country music line dancing, Psalm 37, Sunday School lessons on Psalms, the Freeze, the righteous, the Wicked
And he shall bring forth thy righteousness as the light, and thy judgment as the noonday.
Psalm 37:6
The righteousness that the Lord shall bring forth shall be very apparent: as noticeable and obvious as the sun on a cloudless day at noon.
Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for him: fret not thyself because of him who prospereth in his way, because of the man who bringeth wicked devices to pass.
Psalm 37:7
It is difficult to “rest” in the face of dominating evil.
Cease from anger, and forsake wrath: fret not thyself in any wise to do evil.
Psalm 37:8
Controlling anger and giving up the opportunity to vent wrath is a difficult challenge.
For evildoers shall be cut off: but those that wait upon the Lord, they shall inherit the earth.
Psalm 37:9
This was more than inheriting the land of Canaan. This was a promise that those who trusted patiently in the Lord would inherit the whole earth.
For yet a little while, and the wicked shall not be: yea, thou shalt diligently consider his place, and it shall not be.
Psalm 37:10
The time of the apparent prospering of the wicked will seem like a short time to them, and their complete annihilation will seem sudden.
But the meek shall inherit the earth; and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace.
Psalm 37:11
What is shown on a cosmic scale in Psalm 2 is described here on a more personal level:
12 The wicked plotteth against the just, and gnasheth upon him with his teeth. 13 The Lord shall laugh at him: for he seeth that his day is coming.
Psalm 37:12-13
Perhaps you have warned someone that was mistreating you that there would eventually be a day of reckoning, by saying, “Just wait and see. Your time is coming.” Here, the Lord is able to laugh at the wicked because He knows their day is coming.
The wicked have drawn out the sword, and have bent their bow, to cast down the poor and needy, and to slay such as be of upright conversation.
Psalm 37:14
The wicked rule by intimidation and force.
Their sword shall enter into their own heart, and their bows shall be broken.
Psalm 37:15
Deliverance often happens when defeat seems imminent, because then God is the one Who obviously gets the glory.
A little that a righteous man hath is better than the riches of many wicked.
Psalm 37:16
This is reiterated throughout the Bible: righteousness is its own reward.
For the arms of the wicked shall be broken: but the Lord upholdeth the righteous.
Psalm 37:17
The arms of the wicked aren’t everlasting, but the Lord’s arms are.
The Lord knoweth the days of the upright: and their inheritance shall be for ever.
Psalm 37:18
Quiet, humble, “ordinary” obedience – unnoticed by others – is observed closely by the Lord.
19 They shall not be ashamed in the evil time: and in the days of famine they shall be satisfied. 20 But the wicked shall perish, and the enemies of the Lord shall be as the fat of lambs: they shall consume; into smoke shall they consume away.
Psalm 37:19-20
We shouldn’t be too pious to acknowledge that there will be some satisfaction when things are rectified.
The wicked borroweth, and payeth not again: but the righteous sheweth mercy, and giveth.
Psalm 37:21
Here we can contrast greed and its dissatisfaction, versus generosity and the contentment it breeds.
For such as be blessed of him shall inherit the earth; and they that be cursed of him shall be cut off.
Psalm 37:22
Now the psalm shifts from focusing on the condemnation of the wicked to the blessings of the Godly, which include guidance, perseverance, the provision of material needs, and the ability to bless others and to influence them for God:
23 The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord: and he delighteth in his way. 24 Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down: for the Lord upholdeth him with his hand. 25 I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread. 26 He is ever merciful, and lendeth; and his seed is blessed.
Psalm 37:23-26
However, we must not get complacent.
27 Depart from evil, and do good; and dwell for evermore. 28 For the Lord loveth judgment, and forsaketh not his saints; they are preserved for ever: but the seed of the wicked shall be cut off. 29 The righteous shall inherit the land, and dwell therein for ever.
Psalm 37:27-29 (emphasis added)
This idea of dwelling means active dwelling: exercising dominion.
The mouth of the righteous speaketh wisdom, and his tongue talketh of judgment.
Psalm 37:30
We have a duty to impart this wisdom to others.
The law of his God is in his heart; none of his steps shall slide.
Psalm 37:31 (This is the verse I intend to show my wife the next time she tries to cajole me into participating in a country music line dance, so that we don’t have a repeat of the time I inadvertently turned “The Freeze” into a mosh pit.)
The Deep End 
Your Time is Gonna Come
April 6, 2023 at 4:49 pm | Posted in Uncategorized | 2 CommentsTags: Biblical righteousness, commentary on Psalms, country music line dancing, Psalm 37, Sunday School lessons on Psalms, the Freeze, the righteous, the Wicked
Psalm 37:6
The righteousness that the Lord shall bring forth shall be very apparent: as noticeable and obvious as the sun on a cloudless day at noon.
Psalm 37:7
It is difficult to “rest” in the face of dominating evil.
Psalm 37:8
Controlling anger and giving up the opportunity to vent wrath is a difficult challenge.
Psalm 37:9
This was more than inheriting the land of Canaan. This was a promise that those who trusted patiently in the Lord would inherit the whole earth.
Psalm 37:10
The time of the apparent prospering of the wicked will seem like a short time to them, and their complete annihilation will seem sudden.
Psalm 37:11
What is shown on a cosmic scale in Psalm 2 is described here on a more personal level:
Psalm 37:12-13
Perhaps you have warned someone that was mistreating you that there would eventually be a day of reckoning, by saying, “Just wait and see. Your time is coming.” Here, the Lord is able to laugh at the wicked because He knows their day is coming.
Psalm 37:14
The wicked rule by intimidation and force.
Psalm 37:15
Deliverance often happens when defeat seems imminent, because then God is the one Who obviously gets the glory.
Psalm 37:16
This is reiterated throughout the Bible: righteousness is its own reward.
Psalm 37:17
The arms of the wicked aren’t everlasting, but the Lord’s arms are.
Psalm 37:18
Quiet, humble, “ordinary” obedience – unnoticed by others – is observed closely by the Lord.
Psalm 37:19-20
We shouldn’t be too pious to acknowledge that there will be some satisfaction when things are rectified.
Psalm 37:21
Here we can contrast greed and its dissatisfaction, versus generosity and the contentment it breeds.
Psalm 37:22
Now the psalm shifts from focusing on the condemnation of the wicked to the blessings of the Godly, which include guidance, perseverance, the provision of material needs, and the ability to bless others and to influence them for God:
Psalm 37:23-26
However, we must not get complacent.
Psalm 37:27-29 (emphasis added)
This idea of dwelling means active dwelling: exercising dominion.
Psalm 37:30
We have a duty to impart this wisdom to others.
Psalm 37:31 (This is the verse I intend to show my wife the next time she tries to cajole me into participating in a country music line dance, so that we don’t have a repeat of the time I inadvertently turned “The Freeze” into a mosh pit.)