Psalm 37:1-2

Do not fret because of evildoers,
Be not envious toward wrongdoers.
² For they will wither quickly like the grass
And fade like the green herb.

Dear Reader,

These two verses, I believe are setting up the psalm. It addresses the concerns of the psalmist, David. He confronted a lot of evil in his day. He was also a man who knew God and wanted to be in right relationship with Him. Sometimes he failed, like all of us. Many times he was strong and courageous trusting in what he knew of God. What follows is the council of the Lord.  Many things are covered.

Looking at the first two verses, we can relate, first of all, to the writer’s concern regarding evil and the effects of evil on society in general and upon a person in particular. In this case, David. He is sharing with us what God has revealed to him over the years.

When I look at the understanding of “evil doers” according to Scripture (we want scripture to define scripture, not our 21^st century perceptions, feelings or experience). Using the cross references, I find the characteristics are as follows:

1.     Later in Psalm 37: 7 evildoers are described as successful in their ways because of wicked schemes. The success causes envy, which those of God need to turn away from, don’t “cozy up to them” to benefit. They are not the source of the blessings and provision for the people of God. God is the source of our provision and blessing, and this will edify and endure because it is supernatural in nature at its source.

2.     In Samuel, the story of Hannah, her rival is one who does evil by taunting her. The taunting would cause Hannah to not eat, to be depressed and withdraw from those who want to help her. It was hard for her to see the blessings she enjoyed, namely, the love of Elkanah.

3.     In other Psalms, the evildoers end up ruining their way and they “rage against the Lord”

4.     In the New Testament, Paul admonishes the Church in Galatia to reject envy, drunkenness, carousing and things like this. When a person compromises with evildoers to benefit from some “wisdom” or overflow of provision offered, or sharing in any emotional support, it denies what God is offering through Christ, and it will not last. It is not a part of what it means to live under the Law of the Spirit of Life and the freedom it offers. These verses tell me that we have a choice whether to trust in the world system( go after mammon as in Matt 6:24), or believe and place all our trust in God, our Good Father.

5.     James mentions that God gives a greater grace [than one manufactured by people, my words] God is opposed to the proud. Why? Because pride compromises, pride is idolatry, pride does not give a lasting benefit, only the Grace of God can do that.

Psalm 37 resource link for above observations.

So, what does this mean regarding the world around us? First, to me is reminds me there is nothing “new” in what we encounter around us. The world system has always had evildoers. That’s why the Church that Jesus is building needs to be about ONE MESSAGE, ONE FAITH, ONE GOSPEL PREACHED (Eph 4:4-6). Conversion needs to be complete with confession, baptism and infilling of the Holy Spirit so we may live according to the Law of the Spirit of Life rather than according to the Law of sin and death, chasing after the world system. We are effected by the world system, subject to laws etc, but we are not a part of the worlds system. It does not define us or order our understanding in Christ. It does not save us or empower us to overcome a sinful nature or live a truly abundant life in the freedom God intended His people to live.

 In addition, God gave the Church He is building, the assignment to confront evil and bring it into alignment with the Kingdom of God. This is the same assignment given to Adam and Eve, to the people of God in the Old Testament. Only now the church He is building is empowered supernaturally to fulfill this assignment. That is if we were not so fragmented, preaching different gospels and forming alliances around personalities and pulpits. Only through the proclamation of the Gospel of Christ, the whole Gospel, not the typical "say the right prayer and get to heaven" elevator version of the message often used to day.

When Peter preached in Acts 2, the whole gospel, the crowd was convicted. A decision was demanded: Receive, convert and be saved or not. Those who did not receive it were left to their own devices (see verse 2 above). It did not go well with them, they wore out (perished) like an old rubber band left in the sun too long. Those who received the message and fully converted into the Kingdom and were granted eternal life, yes, but  that was not the focus, the focus was on the promise in Christ: they were empowered by the law of the Spirit of Life  to live an abundant and blessed life and confronted evil. (Romans 8, John 10:10).

More next time,

Grace and Peace,

Anne