Finding Yourself in the Psalms

Psalm 37

A Psalm When You Are Troubled by Evil People

CREATED in the IMAGE of GOD Desire for JUSTICE
Michael “It’s not fair”
Psalm 36 (of David) Psalm 49 (Sons of Korah) Psalm 73 (Asaph)
I. WHEN are we troubled by evil. 37:1-2
A. When we see evil in ourselves.
B. When evil people afflict God’s children. Psalm 37:1-2
1. Suffering Christians (Sudan, China, Middle East)
2. People gaining through lies and deception
3. When God is mocked and ridiculed

II. WHAT TO DO 37:3-9
A. Trust in the Lord. 34:3
B. Do good. 34:3
C. Dwell in the land. Don’t lose your joy. Don’t surrender!
NKJV “Dwell in the land and feed on His faithfulness”

D. Delight yourself in the Lord. 34:4 Delight = “enjoy, be fond, i.e., take pleasure and

enjoyment in an object, implying desirability of the object” (Swanson)

E. Commit. 37:5 “HE WILL DO IT”
Why will He do it? It is HIS reputation at stake, not yours!
F. Be still 37:7. G. Refrain. 37:8
III. WHY we can trust. 37:10-19
A. I won’t last. V. 10
B. God is just. V. 13
C. Evil schemes will be returned. 37:14
1. Haman.
a. Haman’s pride. Esther 5:9-14; 6:6-10 b. Haman’s fate. Esther 7:3-6
c. Hung on his own gallows. 7:9-10
2. Psalm 141:8-10
D. God satisfies the righteous. 37:16-17

1. Psalm 119:57 You are my portion, O LORD; I have promised to obey your words.

2. Psalm 142:5 I cry to you, O LORD; I say, “You are my refuge, my portion in the land of the living.”

3. Lamentations 3:22-24 Because of the LORD’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. I say to myself, “The LORD is my portion; therefore I will wait for him.”

IV. How should we live in light of the presence of evil? 37:18-40
A. Vulnerably. 37:22-22
B. Trustingly. 37:23-24
C. Confidently. 37:25-26
1. “The Lord doesn’t allow things to happen to us, He allows things to happen for us.
D. Righteously. 37:27-29