Fret Not

We are living in very difficult times right now. Our country is so sharply divided. The wicked schemes of wicked men seem to be prospering. The outcome of the election is still up in the air, and whichever way it goes, a huge group of the population will not accept the outcome. The pandemic continues to rage on, and we all can easily worry what new challenges the new year will hold. It is at such a time as this that we need to be reminded that God is in control.

Psalm 37 is exactly what we need right now. This psalm emphasizes that we should not fret (worry) because the wicked are prospering. David gives us the secret, the behind the scenes, to what will happen to them, and God’s own reaction to them. It has been said that the future is as bright as the promises of God, and that has not changed. Instead of fretting and fearing, we need to put our faith in God. Turn off the news and open your Bible.

Let’s look at 5 reasons to fret not:

1. Evildoers will be cut down and destroyed (v. 1-2)

The word “fret” actually means “to burn with anger, to rage, to be jealous.” When we see the wicked prospering, it can cause us to become angry or jealous. After all, they shouldn’t be prospering in their iniquity. We want to see justice, we want them to get what they deserve.

The Psalmist also warns us not be envious against the workers of iniquity. Why would we envy them? Because they’re (seemingly) getting away with their sin. It looks like they can do whatever they want and there are no consequences. This isn’t true. God tells us that these evildoers, these workers of iniquity, will be cut down, just like when you cut your grass.

2. God will always meet your needs (v. 3-5)

These verses are wonderful promises of the goodness of God. Instead of fretting, we need to trust in the Lord, and also do good, which is in stark contrast to the evil that the wicked is doing. The wicked are trusting themselves and doing evil; we must trust the Lord and do good.

“Dwell in the land:” Warren Wiersbe says, “Some of God’s people were tempted to leave the land (see Ruth 1; 1 Sam. 26:19), which was tantamount to saying that God wasn’t faithful and couldn’t be trusted. But David urged them to stay in the land and trust God for what they needed (v. 27). Each tribe, clan, and family in Israel had its assigned inheritance, which was not to pass into other hands, and the Lord promised to care for the land of the faithful.”

Verse 4—Instead of fretting, delight yourself in the Lord. Make God your greatest desire. The promise here is that God will give you the desires of your heart; that means that He will put godly desires in your heart, and then He will fulfill them. Ex: Joseph.

Verse 5—Commit your way (your direction, your future) to the Lord, give it to Him. Trust Him with it, and in due time, He will bring it to pass (to fruition). Nobody is better with directions than God.

Proverbs 16:9, “A man’s heart deviseth his way: but the LORD directeth his steps.”

3. God’s promises are worth waiting for (v. 6-9)

These verses emphasize waiting. Waiting can be very hard, but God will not disappoint--He is worth waiting for.

Verse 6—This seems to be referring to the vindication of God’s servants who have been slandered by the wicked. We see this today. Those who are willing to stand up for God, or even for something that is right, are slandered and attacked. Their good is called evil. We don’t like this, and believe me, God cannot stand it. God will take up the case against them, fighting for them and prevailing. That’s a good incentive to stand up for the truth! When God is fighting for you, you will not lose.

Verse 7—The word “rest” here means “to be still.” Psalm 46:10 says, “Be still, and know that I am God…” With rest comes waiting. What are we waiting for? All those promises that God has promised. But I believe the verse is referring to waiting on God to destroy our enemies because the next part tells us not to fret because we see the wicked prospering. If you’re fretting, you’re not resting. God has said that He will take care of our enemies.

Romans 12:19, “Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.”

Verse 8—We like to take matters into our own hands, don’t we? But when we act in anger in wrath, we tend to make a mess of everything. It takes real maturity to let go of anger and wrath and let God work it out.