Jesus values meekness as an essential quality of Christian character (Matthew 5:5). The world loves self-promotion, believing that we must hide our flaws, exaggerate our strengths, putting them out for all to see.
In Psalm 37 the psalmist recognizes our natural tendency to get upset when we see others prosper in the self-promotion we wish for ourselves, especially those we consider to be wicked and evil. Thus, the psalmist explains that the way to avoid jealous anger is to look to the Lord. In verses 1-11 we have several exhortations to help us to do this.
First, we are to “fret not,” which means “not to get heated up” (v. 1, 7, 8). In the context, it refers to anger and resentment that one has in seeing others prosper in areas where he has not but wants to. His anger and frustration are a response to his own powerlessness—his inability to achieve something in that desired area.
Fretting exposes one’s true nature and value system—a system that is not godly. In verses 3-7 we have the counter-measures for fretting, which are not mere alternative behavioral sugges-tions. Rather, they are exhortations, which, if obeyed, give evidence of a new nature—one of meekness. Reformation will not produce meekness; only regeneration can. The meek see the worth of the Lord and desire to promote Him, not self. When this focus is in place, one’s reaction to setbacks and frustrating circumstances is not anger but quiet confidence.
Meekness is often confused for weakness by those who do not understand it. When a meek person fails to assert himself, manipulate, issue threats, or domineer, he is considered a coward and a weakling. The psalmist paints a different portrait. The meek trust the Lord, having full con-fidence in His purpose (v. 3). Trust leads one to delight in the Lord (v. 4), finding the Lord to be everything he could desire. This, in turn, leads him to commit his way to the Lord (v. 5). He finds that the Lord is equal to any situation he might encounter. Thus, when faced with overwhelming concerns, the meek will be still (v. 7), waiting patiently for the Lord to work in His own way, in His own time, and for His own glory.
The last exhortation “bookends” the section with something that sounds like a repetition of the first exhortation: “Refrain from anger . . . fret not yourself” (v. 8). However, the construction of the sentence leads us to understand that we are to refrain from anger directed against the Lord. We love quick fixes. We are willing to let the Lord fix our problems if He will do so promptly. When nothing happens, we get angry with Him and begin to doubt His goodness. This reveals that He is not our sole delight. Our pleasure is actually happy circumstances, and we have sought to manipulate the Lord to get what we value more. When He doesn’t come through for us, we become angry with Him.
Oh, but we should know that it is the meek who are to inherit the earth.
In Psalm 37 the psalmist recognizes our natural tendency to get upset when we see others prosper in the self-promotion we wish for ourselves, especially those we consider to be wicked and evil. Thus, the psalmist explains that the way to avoid jealous anger is to look to the Lord. In verses 1-11 we have several exhortations to help us to do this.
First, we are to “fret not,” which means “not to get heated up” (v. 1, 7, 8). In the context, it refers to anger and resentment that one has in seeing others prosper in areas where he has not but wants to. His anger and frustration are a response to his own powerlessness—his inability to achieve something in that desired area.
Fretting exposes one’s true nature and value system—a system that is not godly. In verses 3-7 we have the counter-measures for fretting, which are not mere alternative behavioral sugges-tions. Rather, they are exhortations, which, if obeyed, give evidence of a new nature—one of meekness. Reformation will not produce meekness; only regeneration can. The meek see the worth of the Lord and desire to promote Him, not self. When this focus is in place, one’s reaction to setbacks and frustrating circumstances is not anger but quiet confidence.
Meekness is often confused for weakness by those who do not understand it. When a meek person fails to assert himself, manipulate, issue threats, or domineer, he is considered a coward and a weakling. The psalmist paints a different portrait. The meek trust the Lord, having full con-fidence in His purpose (v. 3). Trust leads one to delight in the Lord (v. 4), finding the Lord to be everything he could desire. This, in turn, leads him to commit his way to the Lord (v. 5). He finds that the Lord is equal to any situation he might encounter. Thus, when faced with overwhelming concerns, the meek will be still (v. 7), waiting patiently for the Lord to work in His own way, in His own time, and for His own glory.
The last exhortation “bookends” the section with something that sounds like a repetition of the first exhortation: “Refrain from anger . . . fret not yourself” (v. 8). However, the construction of the sentence leads us to understand that we are to refrain from anger directed against the Lord. We love quick fixes. We are willing to let the Lord fix our problems if He will do so promptly. When nothing happens, we get angry with Him and begin to doubt His goodness. This reveals that He is not our sole delight. Our pleasure is actually happy circumstances, and we have sought to manipulate the Lord to get what we value more. When He doesn’t come through for us, we become angry with Him.
Oh, but we should know that it is the meek who are to inherit the earth.
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