Fret Not
I read Psalm 37 on Wednesday as part of my daily reading this week. Though I have read this psalm many times before, something was different this time. It came to life in a fresh way, perhaps due to how much of the news seems to progressively reveal the endless ways depravity is leaking out into our world.
Read a few of the Wednesday news headlines: Riley Gaines demolishes Biden after he vows to veto measure protecting women’s sports; Woman fatally shot by homeowner after car pulled into wrong driveway; Christian faces prison time for reading Bible outside of drag queen story time; Teen overdoses on common household drug in deadly TikTok challenge; Transgender athlete ruled ineligible to compete in women’s basketball league; Supreme Court will decide whether religious employees deserve a religious accommodation in the workplace; Disturbing video shows terrified woman attacked by mob ‘Teen Takeover’ of downtown Chicago; Criminals using AI to clone voices in a bid for ransom, and on it goes.
It’s distressing, it’s frustrating, it’s unjust, it’s sad, it’s maddening, it’s scary, it’s shocking…throw in whatever adjective or adverb you feel. The bottom line is we seem to be watching a swift and tragic decline in our cities and nation. And times like this seem to prompt the age-old questions: “Why do the wicked always seem to prosper and the righteous suffer so much?” and “How long, O Lord?”
Psalm 37 gives us some ways to think through these crazy days in which we live. This psalm is one of nine psalms (9, 10, 25, 34, 37, 111, 112, 119, 145) written as an acrostic poem. It is composed in alphabetical order according to the Hebrew alphabet and used as a memory device to remind us of circumspect truths.
In this psalm, David reemphasizes one major truth: “do not fret” (v. 1, 7, 8) as we watch what’s going on in our world. The word “fret” means “to blaze” or “to get hot.” It’s easy to get into a fever of rage over the things we see and are repulsed by. David teaches us four truths that help us keep perspective and tamp down our rage about all that is wrong in the world.
Remember what is foreign to the wicked (v. 1–11). We know and see things the unrighteous do not. What they enjoy really won’t endure (v. 1–2). Trusting God and being faithful is what matters (v. 3). Don’t be occupied with the problem, but with the Problem-solver (v. 4). God can handle our burdens, so roll them over (“commit”) to Him (v. 5–6). Our best resource is just resting in the Lord (v. 7). In the end, we win, so wait for the Lord and stay humble (v. 8–11).
Remember what is foolish about the wicked (v. 12–22). You can’t stop God’s ultimate justice (v. 12–13). The unrighteous sword of the wicked is overcome by the righteous sword of God (v. 14–15). The prosperity of the wicked is illusionary (v. 16–17). The defenses of the wicked against misfortune are worthless (v. 18–20). There is no treasure in the unprincipled pursuits of the wicked (v. 21–22).
Remember what is fruitless to the wicked (v. 23–31). The Lord is with the righteous every step and fall along the way (v. 23–24). The Lord provides all the way to the end for the righteous (v. 25). The Lord blesses the merciful and moral works of the righteous (v. 26–27). The Lord preserves His people and cuts off the wicked (v. 28–29). God’s wisdom provides success (v. 30–31).
Remember what is forgotten by the wicked (v. 32–40). Truth is on the side of the righteous (v. 32–34). Time is on the side of the righteous (v. 35–36). Trust is on the side of the righteous (v. 37–40).
Maybe Proverbs 29:16 summarizes it best: “When the wicked increase, transgression increases; but the righteous will see their fall” unless they are transformed by the gospel.
Keep the long view in mind as we all endure the madness and “fret not”!
Pastor Jeff