Psalm 37:7-11 - April 22, 2009

Ps 37:7-11 "Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for him; do not fret when men succeed in their ways, when they carry out their wicked schemes. 8 Refrain from anger and turn from wrath; do not fret — it leads only to evil. 9 For evil men will be cut off, but those who hope in the LORD will inherit the land. 10 A little while, and the wicked will be no more; though you look for them, they will not be found. 11 But the meek will inherit the land and enjoy great peace." NIV

Can we get in God’s way? Can unbelief manifest as striving in our own strength to do those things that God has said He will do? Yes. David sets a pastoral tone in this next portion of Psalm 37. Once again his Father heart is shining through his writing as he states much like a parent to a child, “Be still, wait patiently!” When the pressure is on most of us don’t like it very much. Most of us are inclined to do rather than to rest. Yet God commands us through this passage to lean into Him and wait in patience for Him to move on our behalf. Many times our compulsion to move is really fueled by a deep rooted fear that God isn’t going to. We try to wait and be still for a season but when the answer doesn’t come in our time frames we panic and begin to try to do things in our own strength. Consider Abraham. He has an angelic promise of a son that will be born to him but he gets tired of waiting for the promise. First he conceives a plan then he conceives a child. The problem is that it was the wrong plan and the wrong child! As a result the world has witnessed generations of conflict between the promised son who did come in due season and the rejected son who was the fruit of Abraham’s impatience.
As David continues to write he reminds us that though the wicked may seem to prosper for a season it is only an illusion. Through David God calls us to keep our eyes fixed on Him, not on the works of men. The simple principle that is conveyed in verse 7-9 is once again, “Don’t worry about it” but the message does not stop there. David goes on to describe in very clear and simple fashion the fruit of worry. “When you worry it leads to evil.” How profound a connection, when we worry about something it produces sinful behavior in our life. Too often we are compelled by our worry to become angry and vengeful at the evil actions of people around us but James declares in James 1:19-20 “Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, 20 for man's anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires.” My anger does not accomplish God’s purpose!
Instead of allowing ourselves to be dominated by these carnal emotions we are invited by the lord to a place of rest and trust. David reminds us that in just a little while the wicked will be cut off and the righteous will inherit the purposes of God. The invitation that the Lord extends through this passage is a call to meekness, a call to rest. When we fall into the snare of vengeful self-empowered actions we are really opening the doors of our heart for the sins of accusing God and of pride as if to say, “God you are not fixing this so I will have to!” How arrogant of us to think that we can stand before God and provide something that He is not providing. In doing this we forfeit the place of peace that leaves our hearts open to God. As we choose humility and surrender we are restored to a joyful peace that keeps us living with a pure heart while we wait for God to be our vindication.