Psalm 37:1-9 (NRSV)
Read Psalm 37:1-9 on biblegateway.com
Verse 1Do not fret because of the wicked; do not be envious of wrongdoers,
Verse 2for they will soon fade like the grass, and wither like the green herb.
Verse 3Trust in the Lord, and do good; so you will live in the land, and enjoy security.
Verse 4Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.
Verse 5Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him, and he will act.
Verse 6He will make your vindication shine like the light, and the justice of your cause like the noonday.
Verse 7Be still before the Lord, and wait patiently for him; do not fret over those who prosper in their way, over those who carry out evil devices.
Verse 8Refrain from anger, and forsake wrath. Do not fret-it leads only to evil.
Verse 9For the wicked shall be cut off, but those who wait for the Lord shall inherit the land.
Devotion
I imagine David in the latter years of his life, writing the words of this poem/song, and sharing what life has taught him about his relationship with God. I’m glad he saw fit to put down the words of this psalm so that others who could read Hebrew might be inspired by his faith. He provides a rich assortment of synonyms for his faith in the Lord: trust, take delight, commit your way, be still, hope. One of those words or phrases might resonate strongly in the lives of those who would later read his words. And while I am grateful that David wrote the original, I am also grateful for people like Jerome (whom the church commemorates today). His translation of the Bible was one of many efforts to make sure that even if you don’t read Hebrew, you can be inspired by David’s faith by reading his wise counsel in a familiar language.
Prayer
Holy God, you sent Jesus to inspire us to faith. But he shows us over and again that faith is not one-size-fits-all. Thank you that your embrace is wide enough to encompass my faith, by whatever words I use to describe it. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
Interested in digging deeper into today’s text?
Read more here.