The steps of a man are established by the LORD, when he delights in his way; though he fall, he shall not be cast headlong, for the LORD upholds his hand.
Psalm 37:23-24
Psalm 37 is David’s wisdom-filed encouragement to God’s people who struggle when they see the wicked prosper while the righteous suffer. He urges believers to trust in God’s justice, wait on His timing, and pursue faithfulness rather than being envious or anxious about worldly success.
He begins with a direct command to “fret not yourself because of evildoers” (v. 1). When we see those who reject God thriving, it’s tempting to envy them or question God’s justice, but David reminds us that whatever success the wicked has is temporary as the wicked will “soon fade like the grass and wither like the green herb” (v. 2). In contrast, those who wait for the Lord will inherit the land (vv. 9, 11, 29).
Instead of worrying, believers are called to delight in the Lord (v. 4), trust in Him to do good (v. 3), and commit their ways to Him (v. 5). These are active faith responses that shape our desires and keep us aligned with God’s will. He never promised instant gratification, but He assures us that righteousness will be vindicated in His time (v. 6).
The second half of Psalm 37 emphasizes God’s care for His people: He upholds them (vv. 17, 24), He provides for them (vv. 19, 25-26), and He preserves them forever (v. 28). This shows us that God, in His justice, will ultimately remove the wicked and establish the righteous in their eternal inheritance with Him.
David’s final exhortation (a Bible word that is a mix of encouragement and warning) is for believers to wait for the Lord and keep His way (v. 34). Justice will come in His timing. The wicked may seem to be deeply rooted in the moment (v. 35), but in the end the wicked will pass away and be “no more” (v. 36). The future is reserved for those who trust in the Lord.
Seeing Jesus in Psalm 37
Jesus echoes this psalm in His Sermon on the Mount when He said, “Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth” (Matthew 5:5).
Jesus Himself was the perfect example of one who trusted His Father rather than fighting for (or against) worldly power. Though He suffered, God exalted Him (Philippians 2:6-11).
And through Jesus believers will receive an eternal inheritance – a greater “land” than David imagined (1 Peter 1:3-4).
Reflection
It is easy to be tempted to envy those who reject God because they seem to prosper, but Psalm 37 gives us a better, more eternal perspective. We need to ask ourselves a few questions to test whether our perspective is formed from earthly things or from the Word.
Do you truly delight in the Lord, or do your desires focus on temporary things?
What would it look like for you to trust, commit to, and wait on the Lord?
God is faithful. Learn to trust Him and rest in the beautiful truth that He has established your steps!
Just Keith Harris 