A Word from Psalm 37

I don’t know about you. But just about every time I catch the news these days, I come away shaking my head. The world, it seems, is pretty messed up! And while we might disagree on exactly who’s responsible, I’d imagine that a lot of us worry from time to time about the direction in which the world is headed. And that’s why it’s important, I think, for us to hear today’s word from Psalm 37:

“Don’t worry about the wicked,” the psalmist says,

     “or envy those who do wrong.

For like grass, they soon fade away.

     Like spring flowers, they soon wither.” (vs. 1-2)

Of course, that’s God’s Word! And so, I hope that we trust it. And yet, if we’re honest, it’s not always easy to rest in it. Too often, “the wicked” and “those who do wrong” seem to be getting along pretty well. And that’s why it’s so important to pay attention to the instructions that come next in this psalm:

• “Trust in the Lord and do good.” (v. 3)
• “Take delight in the Lord.” (v. 4)
• “Commit everything you do to the Lord. Trust in Him and He will help you.” (vs. 5)
• “Be still in the presence of the Lord, and wait patiently for Him to act.” (v. 7)
• “Stop being angry! It only leads to harm.” (v. 8)

You see, the solution to the worry and frustration that we feel about the world isn’t to resign ourselves passively to all its dysfunction. No, we’re called to respond actively by walking in God’s way! We may not be able to fix the world, but we can delight in, and trust in, and obey the God who can.

And so today, let’s be aware of all the world’s challenges. But let’s find our hope in all the Lord’s goodness. Amen.