The Psalm that is like a Proverb

     As I was reading this Psalm, I couldn't help but think how much it sounded like a proverb.

Psalm 37:1-2;
1 Do not fret because of those who are evil

    or be envious of those who do wrong;
2 for like the grass they will soon wither,
    like green plants they will soon die away.

A. Often I have wanted to do bad things. A shocker right? Being rebellious looks cool. Somehow the idea of going out and partying all night long sounds fun. Sometimes getting drunk sounds fun, even though I know that is totally wrong. It must be that after watching so many movies were the people get drunk and act really funny, I thought it would be funny if I did it. Either way, being a bad girl has sounded desirable (as do many sins. that is why so many people fall into temptation) but after reading this scripture, I don't really have the desire to be bad anymore.

Psalm 37:3-4;

3 Trust in the Lord and do good;
    dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture.
4 Take delight in the Lord,
    and he will give you the desires of your heart.

A. If you make God your best buddy, you will want to do the things your best buddy wants and likewise.

Psalm 37:5-6;

5 Commit your way to the Lord;
    trust in him and he will do this:
6 He will make your righteous reward shine like the dawn,
    your vindication like the noonday sun.

A. If I follow what God wants for me, I will be radiant.

Psalm 37:7-9;

7 Be still before the Lord
    and wait patiently for him;
do not fret when people succeed in their ways,
    when they carry out their wicked schemes.

8 Refrain from anger and turn from wrath;
    do not fret—it leads only to evil.
9 For those who are evil will be destroyed,
    but those who hope in the Lord will inherit the land.

A. Keep Calm and let the Lord deal with the wicked.

Psalm 37:10-11;

10 A little while, and the wicked will be no more;
    though you look for them, they will not be found.
11 But the meek will inherit the land
    and enjoy peace and prosperity.

A. Don't let temptation get a hold of you. It make look like fun, but the consequences are death while the righteous get to live on in peace.

Psalm 37:12-15;

12 The wicked plot against the righteous
    and gnash their teeth at them;
13 but the Lord laughs at the wicked,
    for he knows their day is coming.

14 The wicked draw the sword
    and bend the bow
to bring down the poor and needy,
    to slay those whose ways are upright.
15 But their swords will pierce their own hearts,
    and their bows will be broken.

A. God will deal with the wicked in time.

Psalm 37:16;

16 Better the little that the righteous have
    than the wealth of many wicked;

A. With more power and more riches comes more greed and discontentment.

Psalm 37: 17-20;
17 for the power of the wicked will be broken,
    but the Lord upholds the righteous.

18 The blameless spend their days under the Lord’s care,
    and their inheritance will endure forever.
19 In times of disaster they will not wither;
    in days of famine they will enjoy plenty.

20 But the wicked will perish:
    Though the Lord’s enemies are like the flowers of the field,
    they will be consumed, they will go up in smoke.

A. You don't want to be wicked.

Psalm 37:21-28;

21 The wicked borrow and do not repay,
    but the righteous give generously;
22 those the Lord blesses will inherit the land,
    but those he curses will be destroyed.

23 The Lord makes firm the steps
    of the one who delights in him;
24 though he may stumble, he will not fall,
    for the Lord upholds him with his hand.

25 I was young and now I am old,
    yet I have never seen the righteous forsaken
    or their children begging bread.
26 They are always generous and lend freely;
    their children will be a blessing.

27 Turn from evil and do good;
    then you will dwell in the land forever.
28 For the Lord loves the just
    and will not forsake his faithful ones.

Wrongdoers will be completely destroyed;
    the offspring of the wicked will perish.

A. If you do good, the Lord will take care of you.

Psalm 37:29-40;

29 The righteous will inherit the land
    and dwell in it forever.

30 The mouths of the righteous utter wisdom,
    and their tongues speak what is just.
31 The law of their God is in their hearts;
    their feet do not slip.

32 The wicked lie in wait for the righteous,
    intent on putting them to death;
33 but the Lord will not leave them in the power of the wicked
    or let them be condemned when brought to trial.

34 Hope in the Lord
    and keep his way.
He will exalt you to inherit the land;
    when the wicked are destroyed, you will see it.

35 I have seen a wicked and ruthless man
    flourishing like a luxuriant native tree,
36 but he soon passed away and was no more;
    though I looked for him, he could not be found.

37 Consider the blameless, observe the upright;
    a future awaits those who seek peace.

38 But all sinners will be destroyed;
    there will be no future for the wicked.

39 The salvation of the righteous comes from the Lord;
    he is their stronghold in time of trouble.
40 The Lord helps them and delivers them;
    he delivers them from the wicked and saves them,
    because they take refuge in him.

~Daughter of the Light