Psalm 37:1-20

“Be still in the presence of the LORD and wait patiently for him to act. Don’t worry about evil people who prosper or fret about their wicked schemes.” (Psalm 37:7, NLT)

Psalm 37 is most remarkable, for David gives us an effective battleplan for dealing with the enemy. As a victorious warrior and king of Israel, he had many overt enemies. He also had people around him who feigned friendship but who were jealous of him. They harbored malice and spoke evil of him behind his back. To make matters worse, these people seemed to be safe and prospering! So what was David to do?

David learned to wait on the LORD and not to take matters into his own hands. To be sure, waiting on the LORD is difficult—especially when God is not responding as quickly as we think He should. But in verse 7, David tells us to do three things to triumph over evil people.

First, we must learn to be still in the presence of the LORD (and we are always in His presence). When we are anxious, angry or resentful we cannot think straight. We are like James and John wanting to call down fire from heaven to consume the Samaritans. But Jesus said that they did not know what spirit they were of (Luke 9:51-56). To be still in His presence means to actively trust God. It means to calm and quiet our soul like a weaned child with his mother (Psalm 131:2).

Second, we must learn to wait patiently for the LORD to act. That is the major theme of this psalm. If we wait on the LORD in meekness and humility, then we will inherit the earth (vv. 9, 11). Do we need to point out how contrary this is to the spirit of the world?

Third, we must not worry about evil people who seem to prosper in their way. Yes, it seems like they are getting away with it. It seems that nothing is being done to curb their wickedness and the harm they are doing. But God is the Judge, and His wrath is revealed against all the ungodliness and unrighteousness of people (Romans 1:18).

“Cease from anger and forsake wrath. Do not fret—it only causes harm.” (Psalm 37:8, NKJV)

God may have us say or do something in His time. However, it won’t arise from our own anger and scheming but from the filling, leading and empowerment of the Holy Spirit. And our attitude won’t be one of worry, anger or fear but of love, joy and peace—the fruit of the Spirit.

If we will do these three things—be still before God, wait patiently for Him, and get rid of anxiety, bitterness and fretting—then evil people will be removed, and God will bring forth our righteousness as the noonday sun. Wait for it!