Psalm 37
Winnie the Pooh talks about a "sustaining snack" of honey and a "sustaining book." Certain psalms feel that way to me--like a wash of cool fall air, refreshing.
After reading the scriptures and loving many translations through the years, I've determined that the language of the King James is incontestably superior in the psalms---no other translation will do.
"Fret not thyself because of evildoers, neither be thou envious against the workers of iniquity. For they shall soon be cut down like the grass, and wither as the green herb" -Psalm 37:1-2
It encourages me to think that King David had his own head games. In one sense, of course he did, running around the country avoiding Saul or his own son. It's too easy though to think that great men do not struggle with their own ghosts and shadows. The message I get out of this is---keep your head screwed on straight. Don't be anxious about what others are doing. Trust God and you do you, says David:
"Trust in the LORD, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed.
Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.
Commit thy way unto the LORD; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass."
Psalm 37:3-6
Matthew Henry's elaboration here is worthwhile:
"It is required that we trust in the Lord and do good, that we confide in God and conform to him. The life of religion lies much in a believing reliance on God, his favour, his providence, his promise, his grace, and a diligent care to serve him and our generation, according to his will. We must not think to trust in God and then live as we list. No; it is not trusting God, but tempting him, if we do not make conscience of our duty to him. Nor must we think to do good, and then to trust to ourselves, and our own righteousness and strength. No; we must both trust in the Lord and do good."
His point is well taken--we'd much rather reduce it to one or the other. But, he's right in concluding it requires confiding and conforming.
And this---just this all day long:
"It is promised that we shall be well provided for in this world: So shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed. He does not say, “So shalt thou get preferment, dwell in a palace, and be feasted.” This is not necessary; a man's life consists not in the abundance of these things; but, “Thou shalt have a place to live in, and that in the land, in Canaan, the valley of vision, and thou shalt have food convenient for thee.” This is more than we deserve; it is as much as a good man will stipulate for (Gen_28:20) and it is enough for one that is going to heaven. " -Matthew Henry
Our consumeristic world continues to set new bars as to our "needs" and what we deserve, to the point where the lines blur and our judgement becomes questionable.
More is not more in all senses. It takes time to realign my thoughts in this sense when I want new countertops and dining room chairs that are not peeling. But, I have a counter; it functions fine. Maybe it doesn't wipe as clean as granite, but it functions mostly the same. My chairs are not rickety, just flaking. Aesthetics are not all though. I have counters to cook on and chairs to sit in--why is this shameful then in our culture?
The movement of light in these lines is comforting; it feels like the confidence of bright sun on my face:
"And he shall bring forth thy righteousness as the light, and thy judgment as the noonday." Psalm 37:6
Later we are told,
"But the meek shall inherit the earth; and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace."
Psalm 37:11
Our eyes are to be on the godly:
"Mark the perfect man, and behold the upright: for the end of that man is peace." -Psalm 37:37
The final line indicates that our active trust is instrumental in God's deliverance:
"And the LORD shall help them, and deliver them: he shall deliver them from the wicked, and save them, because they trust in him." -Psalm 37:40
After reading the scriptures and loving many translations through the years, I've determined that the language of the King James is incontestably superior in the psalms---no other translation will do.
"Fret not thyself because of evildoers, neither be thou envious against the workers of iniquity. For they shall soon be cut down like the grass, and wither as the green herb" -Psalm 37:1-2
It encourages me to think that King David had his own head games. In one sense, of course he did, running around the country avoiding Saul or his own son. It's too easy though to think that great men do not struggle with their own ghosts and shadows. The message I get out of this is---keep your head screwed on straight. Don't be anxious about what others are doing. Trust God and you do you, says David:
"Trust in the LORD, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed.Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.
Commit thy way unto the LORD; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass."
Psalm 37:3-6
Matthew Henry's elaboration here is worthwhile:
"It is required that we trust in the Lord and do good, that we confide in God and conform to him. The life of religion lies much in a believing reliance on God, his favour, his providence, his promise, his grace, and a diligent care to serve him and our generation, according to his will. We must not think to trust in God and then live as we list. No; it is not trusting God, but tempting him, if we do not make conscience of our duty to him. Nor must we think to do good, and then to trust to ourselves, and our own righteousness and strength. No; we must both trust in the Lord and do good."
His point is well taken--we'd much rather reduce it to one or the other. But, he's right in concluding it requires confiding and conforming.
And this---just this all day long:
"It is promised that we shall be well provided for in this world: So shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed. He does not say, “So shalt thou get preferment, dwell in a palace, and be feasted.” This is not necessary; a man's life consists not in the abundance of these things; but, “Thou shalt have a place to live in, and that in the land, in Canaan, the valley of vision, and thou shalt have food convenient for thee.” This is more than we deserve; it is as much as a good man will stipulate for (Gen_28:20) and it is enough for one that is going to heaven. " -Matthew Henry
Our consumeristic world continues to set new bars as to our "needs" and what we deserve, to the point where the lines blur and our judgement becomes questionable.
More is not more in all senses. It takes time to realign my thoughts in this sense when I want new countertops and dining room chairs that are not peeling. But, I have a counter; it functions fine. Maybe it doesn't wipe as clean as granite, but it functions mostly the same. My chairs are not rickety, just flaking. Aesthetics are not all though. I have counters to cook on and chairs to sit in--why is this shameful then in our culture?
The movement of light in these lines is comforting; it feels like the confidence of bright sun on my face:
"And he shall bring forth thy righteousness as the light, and thy judgment as the noonday." Psalm 37:6
Later we are told,
"But the meek shall inherit the earth; and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace."
Psalm 37:11
Our eyes are to be on the godly:
"Mark the perfect man, and behold the upright: for the end of that man is peace." -Psalm 37:37
The final line indicates that our active trust is instrumental in God's deliverance:
"And the LORD shall help them, and deliver them: he shall deliver them from the wicked, and save them, because they trust in him." -Psalm 37:40
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