Rx Great Physician
The consistent theme throughout Psalm 37 is the assurance that evildoers are temporary and will be dealt with by God, and provides multiple ‘prescriptive pathways to promise’ as we walk with God.
I. Prescriptions
A. Prescriptions are only effective if they are taken as directed.
1. But don’t just listen to God’s word. You must do what it says. Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves. ~ James 1:22
2. Jesus said, If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them. ~ John 13:17
II. The Destiny of Evildoers… (spoken to numerous times in Psalm 37)
A. God will deal with them… (So ‘fret not’)
1. Fret not…Don’t worry about the wicked or envy those who do wrong. For like grass, they soon fade away. Like spring flowers, they soon wither. ~ Psm 37:1-2
2. For the wicked will be destroyed… Soon the wicked will disappear. Though you look for them, they will be gone. ~ Psm 37:9,10
3. The wicked plot against the godly; they snarl at them in defiance. But the Lord just laughs, for He sees their day of judgment coming! ~ Psm 37:12,13
4. The wicked shall perish; and the enemies of the LORD, like the splendor of the meadows, shall vanish. Into smoke they shall vanish away. ~ Psm 37:20
5. The transgressors shall be destroyed together; The future of the wicked shall be cut off. ~ Psm 37:38
III. Prescriptive Pathways to Promise
A. Some ‘don’ts…
1. Do not fret… (get ‘hot’, angry, incensed) because of evildoers… they will soon be cut down like the grass (v.1,2)
2. Stop being angry! Turn from your rage! Do not lose your temper— it only leads to harm. (v.8)
B. Pathways to promise... (Be doers of the Word)
1. Trust in the Lord and do good… (v.3)
a. Trust: To have confidence, hope, dependence
b. Those who know Your name trust in You, for You, Lord, have never forsaken those who seek You. ~ Psalm 9:10
c. Do good – (We have a choice) In everything be an example by doing what is good. ~ Titus 2:7
2. Dwell in the land and feed on His faithfulness (v.3)
a. Live in (abide in) the promises of God
b. ‘Feed on’ God’s faithfulness – not on ‘junk food’ of complaints, resentment, anger.
3. Delight yourself in the Lord and He shall give you the desires of your heart.
a. Delight: to be happy about – soft/pliable - hearted towards God (v.4)
b. Desire after God will bring peace by putting all other things in their right place. (Matthew 6:33)
4. Commit your way to the Lord, Trust also in Him… (settled determination, confidence, secure)
5. Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for Him… Cease from anger, turn from wrath (v.7,8)
C. Promises
1. But those who wait on the LORD, they shall inherit the earth. (v.9) (possess by expelling)
2. The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD, and He delights in his way. Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down; For the LORD upholds him with His hand. (v.23, 24)
3. The salvation of the righteous is from the LORD; He is their strength in the time of trouble. And the LORD shall help them and deliver them; He shall deliver them from the wicked, and save them, because they trust in Him. (v.39,40)
