Trust in the Lord

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Scripture: Psalm 37:1-6 (NLT)

1 Don’t worry about the wicked

or envy those who do wrong.

2 For like grass, they soon fade away.

Like spring flowers, they soon wither.

3 Trust in the Lord and do good.

Then you will live safely in the land and prosper.

4 Take delight in the Lord,

and he will give you your heart’s desires.

5 Commit everything you do to the Lord.

Trust him, and he will help you.

6 He will make your innocence radiate like the dawn,

and the justice of your cause will shine like the noonday sun.

 

Devotion:

            Psalm 37 has forty verses. However, its main idea is summarized nicely in the first several verses. This psalm is categorized as a wisdom psalm because it mainly seeks to educate the reader or hearer about the ways of the Lord. It provides an optimistic outlook on life. The Lord provides us all of what is needed for enjoyment, happiness, and even joy in this life and the next. In a world where so much is wrong, and it seems that evil prospers at every turn, this psalm provides a vivid contrast.

            First, we learn that we should not worry about the seeming success of the wicked. Other translations translate the word the NLT uses here as fret. Whatever word you use must transmit the idea of getting worked up and overly concerned about the deeds of the wicked. We definitely should never envy those who do wrong. Whatever gain they seem to achieve in this life will, like dry grass, turn brown and whither away. God is sovereign over all of creation and He is in control of the fate of both the righteous and the unrighteous.

            The next pair of verses advise us to place our lives in the Lord’s hands. We are to go about doing what is right. We should spend our lives doing good deeds for others and for the Lord. The Christian’s life may not always look safe and prosperous from the outside, the Christian knows that the Lord is in control and that ultimately things will work together for the good of those who believe in the Lord and follow His ways. Our Heavenly Father seeks to give us the best things both in this life and the next.

            The third and final pair of verses we are looking at today tell us to leave everything in the Lord’s hands. The Father seeks to help His children in any and every way possible. No matter the situation the Christian can rest assured that their Heavenly Father is watching out for them. And on judgement day all their good deeds will be seen by everyone. Judgement day is coming, but the Christian need not despair. Jesus will stand up for us at the final judgement and declare us innocent of all wrongdoing.

Prayer:

            Lord, help us to live into the love we have in Jesus. Let us spread Jesus’ love and joy all around us. Let us make known to the people the ways of the Lord inviting them to take part in the heavenly banquet. Amen.

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