God's instructions in Psalm 37:1-2 are as appropriate for us today as they were for His people then!
1FRET NOT yourself because of evildoers, neither be envious against those who work unrighteousness (that which is not upright or in right standing with God). 2For they shall soon be cut down like the grass, and wither as the green herb.
The word "fret" is the Hebrew word "charah". Strong's Concordance says: to glow or grow warm; to blaze up, of anger, zeal, jealousy. Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon says: to be hot; to be furious; to burn; to become angry; to be kindled; to be incensed; to heat oneself in vexation. We know by the context that this is referring to zeal AGAINST something and not FOR something! Have you found yourself lately experiencing these emotions in hearing about, speaking about, or dealing with our government, economy, and politics in general? Many have, including me at times! BUT, we ALL must certainly know the meaning of "NOT" without having to check the Concordance! As angry as we sometimes feel, God does NOT want us to focus on these things! He does NOT want us ignorant or them or ignoring them, but He DOES want us to handle them in HIS way! Amen! His instructions to US are found in verses 4-8:
4Delight yourself also in the Lord, and He will give you the desires and secret petitions of your heart. 5Commit your way to the Lord [roll and repose each care of your load on Him]; trust (lean on, rely on, and be confident) also in Him and He will bring it to pass. 6And He will make your uprightness and right standing with God go forth as the light, and your justice and right as [the shining sun of] the noonday. 7Be still and rest in the Lord; wait for Him and patiently lean yourself upon Him; fret not yourself because of him who prospers in his way, because of the man who brings wicked devices to pass. 8Cease from anger and forsake wrath; fret not yourself--it tends only to evildoing.
We are to recognize the problem, but look to the ANSWER Himself instead of allowing anger and bitterness cloud our ability to hear His voice and operate His plan! The future of those who do wickedly is revealed in this Psalm as well. Verses 9-10:
9For evildoers shall be cut off, but those who wait and hope and look for the Lord [in the end] shall inherit the earth. 10For yet a little while, and the evildoers will be no more; though you look with care where they used to be, they will not be found.
Then again in verses 12-15:
12The wicked plot against the [uncompromisingly] righteous (the upright in right standing with God); they gnash at them with their teeth. 13The Lord laughs at [the wicked], for He sees that their own day [of defeat] is coming. 14The wicked draw the sword and bend their bows to cast down the poor and needy, to slay those who walk uprightly (blameless in conduct and in conversation). 15The swords [of the wicked] shall enter their own hearts, and their bows shall be broken.
There are more as you continue to read this Psalm. Then the promises of God are found in verses 23-25:
23The steps of a [good] man are directed and established by the Lord when He delights in his way [and He busies Himself with his every step]. 24Though he falls, he shall not be utterly cast down, for the Lord grasps his hand in support and upholds him. 25I have been young and now am old, yet have I not seen the [uncompromisingly] righteous forsaken or their seed begging bread.
And then again is verses 39-40:
39But the salvation of the [consistently] righteous is of the Lord; He is their Refuge and secure Stronghold in the time of trouble. 40And the Lord helps them and delivers them; He delivers them from the wicked and saves them, because they trust and take refuge in Him.
Shalom in Him!
