Trust in the Lord and do good. Dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture. Psalm 37:3
Saturday afternoon, I was in conversation with someone about an area of our life together as a nation that seems to be growing increasingly volatile and unstable. Many of our thoughts in this discussion began with “what if?” Other times, we admitted that we don’t know what to do. Neither could we think of anyone who had the answers.
Psalm 37 was written for times like these. It starts off with the admonishment not to fret. Don’t worry. We might witness people making foolish decisions, and we might feel the tension that results from wrongdoing, but the psalm reminds us that every person has their limitations. Like grass that flourishes for a season, the day comes when agendas and grasps at power cease. Strength wilts. Ill intentions die away.
The person living in trust of the Lord has no reason to fear. Later in the psalm, the statement is found in verses 18 and 19, “the blameless spend their days under the Lord’s care, and their inheritance endures forever. In times of disaster, they will not wither. In days of famine, they will enjoy plenty.”
The evil person withers but the person under the Lord’s care does not. That is because the Lord himself helps them and delivers them. He is their stronghold in time of trouble.
The message of Psalm 37 carries an undertone of justice. It says that the righteous will receive reward and vindication. It also says that evil has limits. It may flourish for a while, but it doesn’t bother God. His precepts are set. His word stands unchanging, righteous, and holy. His people can take great comfort in that.
Psalm 37 lays out a course of action a person can take to make sure they dwell in the land of the safe pasture verse 3 speaks of, starting with the encouragement to not worry. The Lord sees all that happens. He will take care of those who trust in him.
Take delight in the Lord. When we do this, he will give us the desires of our hearts.
Commit your way to him. When we are intentional about handing control of our lives over to God, he fights our battles for us. We can rest in the outcome because a wise and perfect Heavenly Father is on our side striving for our victory.
Wait patiently for him. Pain is uncomfortable, but if we have the endurance to keep waiting and trusting, we will receive what he has promised.
Refrain from anger. According to verse 8, anger is a result of fretting, which is another word for worry. Stay calm and trust. Let the Lord move. Give him time to bring circumstances to pass according to his plan.
Hope in the Lord. Keep his way. Don’t waver in your confidence of his care for you. Conditions can get really bad, and they might stay that way for an indefinite amount of time, but it doesn’t mean God has changed, or that he has forgotten. His love for us will eventually win the day. Every time.
If I had the chance to go back in time and redo that Saturday conversation, instead of joining in the biting of nails and the trembling of knees while asking “what if?” or “what should we do?” I would say, “Wait on the Lord. Trust in him. Delight in him. Look to him for strength and refuge.” This is the key to safety. When we don’t know what will happen and we are tempted to fear the worst, we can stand on the facts of who God is. The inheritance that comes from his lasts forever. The pasture with him as the fence as well as the gate is the safest place, and we are welcome to stay, and to abide there.
In this season of Thanksgiving, we are called to step away from the battle, the crisis, the tension, and remember. Where has God been fighting a battle for you? Where has he shown himself faithful as refuge and stronghold? How has he satisfied the desires of your heart? Consider taking time in prayer this week to thank him for these things, even as you continue to wait and trust, to hope and to endure.
