Contentment, not Envy
Sunday, July 24
"Fret not yourself because of evil doers, neither be envious against the workers of iniquity." (Psalm 37:1)
It is very foolish to be envious at the prosperity of others. We should rejoice at the prosperity of the righteous, whatever our own circumstances; and if the wicked seem to prosper, we should remember that it cannot last.
If we envy them, we are in reality desiring to share in their downfall; for: "When the wicked spring as the grass, and when all the workers of iniquity do flourish, it is that they shall be destroyed for ever." (Psalm 92:7)
The only wise course is to be content with what we have.
Safety and Security Come From Trust
Monday, July 25
"Trust in the Lord, and do good; so shall you dwell in the land, and feed securely." (Psalm 37:3,RV,margin)
Do not think that our dwelling in the land is pay for our good deeds; we do good only as the result of trusting in the Lord; and this trust is what causes us to dwell safely in the land, with sufficient for our needs.
The land that God has promised for our inheritance is the new earth; but this is no bar to a present application of the promise; for the greater includes the less, and it is a light thing for God, who gives eternal riches and salvation; to keep us in safety and supply our wants for the little time we have here.
All Wants Supplied
Tuesday, July 26
"Delight yourself also in the Lord, and He shall give you the desires of your heart." (Psalm 37:4)
This is self-evident. Whosoever can say from the heart: "Whom have I in heaven but you? and there is none upon earth that I desire beside you," (Psalm 73:25) is sure to have every want satisfied; for God is the portion of His people. What a blessed condition, to have no want that is not supplied! Such a person is richer than any millionaire.
God is Our Plan Maker
Wednesday, July 27
"Commit your way unto the Lord; trust also in Him; and He shall bring it to pass." (Psalm 37:5) "It is not in man that walks to direct His steps;" (Jeremiah 10:23)
But "It is God that girds me with strength, and makes my way perfect." (Psalm 18:32)
If we commit our way to the Lord, it may not, and most likely will not, come out as we would have made it if we could; but it will be the right way, and we shall say that it is just as we would have it.
If we commit our way unto the Lord, we must leave it wholly with Him, and not prescribe to Him how He shall order it.
Light from Darkness
Thursday, July 28
"He shall bring forth your righteousness as the light, and your judgment as the noonday." (Psalm 37:6)
It makes no difference if the blackness of sin has blotted out all our righteousness; even then if we trust in God He will make our righteousness appear, even covering us with it, because it is God who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, that shines in our hearts.
Nothing hinders the Lord; out of the most faulty material He can produce a perfect structure.
Worry is Evil
Friday, July 29
"Cease from anger, and forsake wrath: fret not yourself in any wise to do evil." (Psalm 37:8)
This is how we usually read it; but we shall understand it better if we read it thus, as in the Revision: "Fret not yourself; it tends only to evil."
If we fret and worry, it is only to do evil. Fretting is to take our cause out of God's hands, and the end can only be evil. "In returning and rest shall you be saved; in quietness and in confidence shall be your strength." (Isaiah 30:15)
Earth Given to the Poor
Sabbath, July 30
"The meek shall inherit the earth, and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace." (Psalm 37:11)
This is the same as Matthew 5:5; but we miss much of the blessedness of the promise by not grasping fully the force of the word "meek." "He has anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek." (Isaiah 61:1)
Compare the above with Christ's quotation of it: "He has anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor." (Luke 4:16)
By comparing these, we see that the promise of the earth is to those who have nothing. God has chosen "the poor of this world, rich in faith," to be heirs of the kingdom. (James 2:5) Such persons are only seemingly poor.
God Defends the Just
Sunday, July 31
"The wicked plots against the just, and gnashes upon Him with his teeth. The Lord shall laugh at him: for He sees that his day is coming." (Psalm 37:12-13)
This text furnishes the clearest proof that whoever plots against any of God's people is plotting against God himself. God laughs at the plotter and at his rage, not because He is indifferent, but because He knows that it is all senseless.
The wicked think that they have only defenseless mortals to fight against, when the attack is on the everlasting God. It is a vain thing that they imagine; for even while they take counsel together against the just, the Lord declares the decree: "Yet have I set my king upon my holy hill of Zion." (Psalm 2:6)
That "whosoever will" may apply to himself all the promises of Psalm 2:6-9, is evident from: "And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that hears say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely." (Revelation 22:17)--Medical Missionary, Daily Bread, July 1904--Psalm 37:1-13.