Psalm 37 contains important themes like those that are found in Wisdom Literature. Take for example, Ps 37:1 appears the same as Prov 24:19 in comforting God’s people against evil and wicked people - “Fret not yourself because of evildoers and be not envious of the wicked.”

In this Psalm, one interesting expression that appears numerous times is “inherit the land” (verses 9, 11, 22, 29 and 34). For the last three occurrences, a contrasting expression, “cut off” from the land also appears together with “inherit the land” in verses 22, 28 and 34. The idea about “the land” is a big deal among the Jews. David may be referring it to how God led the Israelites from the 400 years of bondage in Egypt to the land in Canaan. After Joshua led the Israelites in crossing the river Jordan, this promised land became the land of Israel during the monarchy reign and even till today. God has spelt out His commandments and ordinations clearly to His people before they enter the land – blessing when they obey Him and punishments when they disobey. The reason for such stipulations being given is because of the dangers and risks involved in being lured away from Yahweh to worship the pagan gods whom the local people worship.

In the same way, Psalm 37 encourages and yet, at the same time, warns the people in David’s time - since they are recipients of God’s promised land, they are to remain vigilant and stay committed to God’s commandments. Verses 1-2, 12-15, 32, 35-36 and 38 describe the acts and God’s dealing with those who evil at heart. On the other hand, verses 4-6, 18-19, 23-31, 37 and 39-40 describe the deeds and God’s promise to those who are righteous. To put these two people together, verses 7, 9, 10-11, 16, 21, 28-29, 34 and 37-38 are verses that contrast what they do and what will happen to them.

Dear brothers and sisters, at your place of work and at school, there may also be these two groups of people. As God’s people, how do you deal with those who do not fear God and are evil at heart? In the same way that David exhorts his people and his readers about the condition to receive the promise of inheriting the land, we are also to walk uprightly in the ways of the Lord. In so doing, God will grant us the promise in verse 3-6, “3 Trust in the Lord, and do good; dwell in the land and befriend faithfulness. 4 Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart. 5 Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him, and he will act. 6 He will bring forth your righteousness as the light, and your justice as the noonday.”

Prayer:

Dear God, in my school or at my work today, please help me to remember that “the righteous shall inherit the land” – what it means to obey you and follow your ways despite the evil and hostile environment that I may be facing. My prayer, dear Lord, is that you will not lead me into temptation but deliver me from the evil one. Please help me also to be like what Jesus said –as wise as the serpent and as innocent as the dove. I pray this in Jesus’ name.