I want the words of Psalm 37 to be true.
Let me soothe any fear you may have just felt while reading that sentence and say I do know that God’s Word is infallible, completely inspired by Him, and useful for teaching and correction (2Timothy 3:16).
But I’m sure you know as well as I do that some of the words in Psalm 37 sound too good to be true. In fact, my community and I have had many a life experience try to tell us that verses like, “They will not be disgraced in times of adversity” (Psalm 37:19), or even “They are kept safe forever” (v.28) are more noble anecdotes than reliable truths.
With that very real tension in mind, here’s how I’m choosing to read Psalm 37 today with authenticity and faith.
I will choose to see God’s heart revealed through Scripture. When I read Psalm 37 with a cynical headspace, I can’t help but see all the ways God has failed to deliver on what He’s promising. But I think we all know by now that’s not the best approach to Scripture! So where do I see more of who God is in Psalm 37? Well, God continually describes Himself as a watchful provider. The Lord watches, He supports, He is always generous. In these verses, I see God looking for ways to bless the faithful and stop the wicked.
I will look to see evidence of God’s design at work around me. Whether it’s the sneaky trick of the enemy or just my own prone-to-wander heart, I can very easily dig up file after file of all the things going wrong.
But there’s always more than meets the eye. A family member’s confession of sin is painful, and it proves that my prayers for repentance have been answered. A friend’s ongoing job search is getting weary, and there have been many unexpected provisions to help sustain them. So while I have certainly “seen a wicked, violent person well-rooted, like a flourishing native tree…” (v.35), Psalm 37 shows me how to find balance because, “Then I passed by and noticed he was gone; I searched for him, but he could not be found” (v.36).
I will evaluate how I can co-labor with Christ in these truths. When I feel the most disconnected from the hope of Scripture, I try to ask myself how God may be trying to work through me to make these truths a reality in my little corner of the world. I mean, “Do not be agitated by one who prospers in his way” (v.7) is definitely a full-time job for my self-control! But truly, waiting for the Lord and keeping His way (v.34) is the most difficult, unrelenting, and important work of a Christ follower.
Faithful ones, the Lord will not abandon you (v.28). How are you reading these psalms with authenticity and faith today?
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76 thoughts on "Psalms 35–37"
❤️ such a great message and reminder ❤️
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Confession, I read the scriptures on time, but then forgot to read the Devo.
Amen. ❤️❤️❤️
God is faithful and good
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Psalm 36:5-9
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Lord, your faithful love reaches to heaven, your faithfulness to the clouds.
6 Your righteousness is like the highest mountains, your judgments like the deepest sea. Lord, you preserve people and animals.
7 How pricesless your faithful love is, God! People take refuge in the shadow of you wings.
8 They are filled from the abundance of your house. you let them drink from your refreshing stream.
9 For the wellspring of life is with you. By means of your light we see light.
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Truly God’s love is absolutely priceless!
-Anyone else just love Psalm 37:13 like I do? The Lord LAUGHS at the wicked! He sees their scheming and knows they think they will face no consequences, and He laughs! Because He knows their day is coming when they will face His judgment. I take such hope in that verse because it too often feels like the wicked get away with everything. But God is a just God.
– I also have to say that even though this Psalm contains one of my favorite verses (37:4), this is my first time really seeing the context of this verse. We cannot lose hope because it seems like evil is prevailing all around us. Delight in God always, and He will protect us, provide for us, and guide us in every step we take. God is so good!
SUCH a great devotional! so real for when we go through seasons of “I know you can help me God, but it looks like you’re choosing not to”
Psalm has really helped me get a new prospective of walking through a difficult season for a while.
would you please pray for a young family we know. The car the father and son (4yo) were in was hit by a car stolen by a teenager. The father needs hip surgery and the son has a brain bleed. Please pray for healing and peace for all involved.
Praying
Praying!
Thank you Lord for this Psalm
What a great question, “How are you reading these psalms with authenticiy and faith today?” I recently have asked the Lord for new eyes to see a situation from His view, so life changing as He showed me the error of my ways so that I was able to repent and love the situation as it has helped me to grow in faith and trust in Him.
I think these are a good reminder to not desire what others have because we don’t know at what cost they come. We can trust God for our needs and our families needs. And know that people who never turn yo God will have their day of judgement. But we need to remember that even the most evil person, was created in God’s image and Christ died for them. We should pray for them. For God to bring truth to light and to stop them from hurting others. Praying protection for anyone who might be hurt by them.
Then we need to concentrate on how we can grow in Christ and take comfort in the scriptures. Remembering to love God and love others. Our Sovereign God has things in control. We just need to remember to keep our focus on Jesus and do the next right thing.
Praying over your requests and praying for peace in Minneapolis!
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“When I feel the most disconnected from the hope of Scripture, I try to ask myself how God may be trying to work through me to make these truths a reality in my little corner of the world. I mean,
‘Do not be agitated by one who prospers in his way’ (v.7) is definitely a full-time job for my self-control! But truly,
waiting for the Lord and keeping His way (v.34)
is the most difficult, unrelenting, and important work of a Christ follower.
Faithful ones, the Lord will not abandon you (v.28).” Written by Kayla De La Torre
KAYLA De La Torre, like previous devos in this study, your heart is on this page! Thank you to each of you for your openness in sharing how these Psalms are personal and engaging your hearts in this season of Lent. God bless you all! ❤
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From Enduring Word Study Bible:35:23-26
David longed for God to actively vindicate him. It seemed that God was too passive, so David cried out for Him to stir up Himself and to awake on David’s behalf. …
David spoke much of his own need and trouble in this psalm. Yet he ended with a strong focus on praising God. He thought of the people of God magnifying the Lord in their hearts and minds and of his own continual praise to God.
37:5
To delight oneself in the Lord means to commit one’s way to Him and to trust Him. The one who has this delighted focus upon God will see God bring His promises to pass.
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And this leads to our Lent experience:
FROM NKJV Wiersbe Study Bible
“David’s experience reminds us of Jesus Christ, the Son of David, who was also hated without a cause (John 15:25) and falsely accused and attacked by those for whom He had shown nothing but kindness and love. God delivered David from his enemies, but the Father ‘did not spare His own Son’ (Rom. 8:32) but willingly gave Him to die for the sins of the world.”
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Love, hugs, and prayers! ❤❤❤
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WEARY TRAVELER by Jordan St Cyr
“Weary traveler, restless souk, you wrre never meant to walj this road alone…”
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Christina, I am also from Minneapolis and this reading has also been a comfort to my soul. I also have been asking Lord, where are you? When we see the fraud, the robbing of the poor, when we hear of the human trafficking, of children. Lord, where are you but psalm 35 gave me a prayer to pray concerning evil, and he also showed me in my heart that he sees and that this evil doing will come to an end. It will have its day. Can psalm 37 it told us three times not to be agitated by the evil and to trust the Lord and do what is good and he will make our righteousness shine like the Dawn.
I know, that I know and my Jesus will never abandon me. It’s not in His character, not even a little bit. NOW that’s OUR JESUS! During our dark times, and we will have them on this earth, BUT we can rest assured OUR Jesus is with us every step of the way, even when our human nature can’t feel it.
Yes!!
Outstanding devotion on Psalm 37!
So much in these Psalms today. Psalm 35 is heavy and the tension of hard and evil, and seemingly relentless attack is described….goodness it feels like that sometimes, doesn’t it? In our own personal lives, our family anf friend circles and certainly in the world around us. We plead and ask the Lord not to be silent on so many things and even in this lamenting, His word says The Lord be exalted and we can speak of His righteousnessness. What a heart posture David has And I would do well to move my heart there too but also, think its important for us to remember that both can happen. We can cry out for help and praise at the same time we do not have to dismiss one of these to embrace the other. We see this in David’s words. I immediately start singing The Third Day song, Your Love, Oh Lord, based on Psalm 36 and there are so many words in this chapter that speak to how God is for us.
I love Psalm 37 and the words of instruction….trust, delight, commit, be still, wait. I have notes in my margin to “live this out and to pattern my days and my life in ways that bring these words into action and example. The ways of the righteous is in contrast to the ways of the world”. There are so many stand out verses for me today. So many reminders that we desperately need a Savior and our Jesus and that He us faithfully present, that He offers the best way. As I think of the devotional authors question of how I read these chapters today, I think my previous notes are where I need to focus and its holding onto Jesus and living thst out, ❤️
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Good morning, I read many comments but rarely post anything. I’m asking for prayers though – I went to the ER for arm swelling last Thursday and found I have a blood clot behind my right collarbone. I’m 40, married and have two kiddos. I’ll follow up with some doctors in the next two weeks but praying for answers as to why I got a clot, and that hopefully it’s an “easy” fix. I know God is holding me, and walking with me. Just prayers for answers and for the clot to resolve. Happy Wednesday!
Praying for you Hannah!
Praying for you Hannah.
Praying, Hannah
Praying
Praying!
How scary for you, Hannah! Praying in agreement with you and for quick healing! ❤
Grateful for God’s unfailing love, how He delights in us and is our stronghold in times of trouble. We have eternity with Him and every tear will be wiped away. The wicked have no future with Him. Please keep my Dad in your prayers, he is having another back surgery today. The last one didn’t go well but he is stubborn and is trying again to relieve his pain. Praying for your requests.
I am seeing this late, but I pray it went well.
Dear She’s— I’m asking you to please keep my best friend in your prayers. She lost her husband about 7 years ago and has dated here and there since then. About three months ago, she began seeing someone, and I truly was happy for her because she has such a beautiful heart and deserves to share it with someone.
Since this relationship started, though, we’ve grown out of touch. I recently learned through social media that she’s getting married in just a few weeks. I was surprised and, honestly, concerned by how quickly everything seems to be happening. We’ve always called each other for the big milestones in our lives, and the fact that she didn’t share this with me, and I found out via social media, makes me think that deep down she knows she is rushing into this.
Maybe they are deeply in love and everything will turn out wonderfully. I truly hope that’s the case. Still, I can’t shake a sense of uneasiness. After praying about it, I reached out to her and shared my feelings as gently and lovingly as I could, making sure she knew I wasn’t judging her or trying to change her mind — only that I want her to have the space and clarity to be certain about such a big decision.
She hasn’t responded yet, which adds to my concern. I may be overthinking, but I just don’t feel at peace about it. So I’m asking you to pray for her — for protection, wisdom, and clarity as she steps into this new season of her life.
Praying now for your friend and for your relationship with each other.
Praying Maria. You’re such a good friend. I understand no worries and concerns and pray that she responds with love and kindness.
Amen❤
Praying now for your friend and this relationship
I think it’s important to remind ourselves that non-believers are not held to the same standard as us. I continually find myself wondering how someone could do such awful things while watching the news or hearing stories from friends. I’m immediately angered and disappointed until I remember that God sees all. He will not forget these things and He will seek justice. He has been reminding me though that as a Christian, I am held to a higher standard. I am a representative of Jesus himself, so I must do my best to love others even when they live contrary to His ways.
Yes, that’s exactly right! We can’t judge those that don’t have Jesus to our righteous (with the Holy Spirit) standard. But I do find it challenging when I see those that do have Jesus, living as the world in so many areas of their lives. We really can’t straddle the fence and be good representatives for Jesus. Yet, sanctification takes time…but it takes an active participant. Being in the word and developing an ongoing, deepening relationship with Father God. Then they will see what we have and come to a point they want that!
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That was a needed devotional. I have been so bothered by lack of justice in my own small world, it becomes disheartening when evil seemingly does prosper. I need to remember that these Psalms and Proverbs are really a reflection of God’s heart.
Psalm 37 really ministered to me today. Over and over again we’re told not to be agitated by evil doers and to trust that God sees the wickedness around us and will deal with it in His time. He doesn’t forsake the righteous.
I live in Minneapolis and the past few months in my city have been heart-wrenching. I have so many times cried out to God to ask how long He will continue to let evil prevail in my city. When will He step in and hold those people who are gleefully doing harm to innocent people accountable? It hasn’t happened yet, but today was such a balm for my heart as I was reminded that He does see it. He sees it all and He will act.
My heart has been breaking for your city and what has been going on there. Saying prayers for all of you and praying these Psalms over you.
Christina, what happened in Minneapolis was indeed heart wrenching. I too was reminded in that God does see the evil and He will act! I live in Michigan and ICE wants to build a detention facility about 20 mile from our city. It sickens me that this is possible. I will hold on to the faith that God sees the evil. It is hard not to be angry when such violence is committed against innocent people and children. May I (we) hold God’s word in our hearts.
The events in your city have motivated me to support you in prayer, become politically active, and rejoice in the acts of goodness demonstrated in your residents.
My heart breaks for you and all those in Minneapolis.
Psalm 37 comforts my soul in that while we wait for the Lord to vanish- vanish like smoke, those who do wrong, we are to:
Trust in the Lord and do good
Commit our way to the Lord
Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for Him
Thank you, God, for these reminders
Praying for us all in these tumultuous times ❤️
Cristina, I hear your cry and although live far from you understand. How many more cities will face what you are going through? My husband is retired and a spare school bus driver. They have been told, do not open your door to ICE, ask for ID from your window, ask to see a warrant and if they are at a bus stop, keep going. Kids in some of our cities (RI) are fearful to go to school. I pray your city and others can experience peace and that what God has asked us to do “Love thy Neighbor” is practiced.❤️
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I believe You Lord -You are always faithful. Even when I don’t understand, I know You’re working!
I think a surface level read of the psalms (without an eternal mindset) does read very “black and white.” There’s good and there’s evi. God protects the good and we should expect Him to destroy the evil.
In the here and now on Earth, however, it’s much more nuanced. The greatest “evil” I have ever experienced personally was committed by Christians. And, if I look at my own life, I am far from being perfectly blameless and upright. I’ve done my share of things that would be considered downright shameful in the eyes of God. I am a sinner just like everyone else.
This is precisely where we must remember Jesus’s sacrifice and the grace He has bestowed on us because of His great love for us.
No, we don’t live in a black and white world. There is pain and suffering everywhere, and the good, upright people of the world are not immune to it.
But perfection is coming in the New Heaven and the New Earth. God’s promises of restoration are true, and, even if not in this life, we will see good prevail and evil fail. God does win. His faithful followers will be rewarded. One day we will experience no more night, no more pain, no more tears, and no more suffering.
Because of Jesus, I can know for certain there will be trials of many kinds, but God’s perfect plan WILL prevail. We will be saved. We will enter perfect communion with Him. We need not fear evil because God holds us in His hands.
The psalms require an eternal perspective.
Yes yes yes! Thankful for our future in glory!
Yes, AMEN Megan!! We always need to look from that perspective!
Thank you for sharing this perspective. It helps make sense of what we see evidenced in this life
❤ I shared this yesterday. So fitting!
John MacArthur note on Psalm 34:19-22-
“The side-by-side realities of human persecution and divine preservation once again vividly depict real life in the real world.”
“I have been young and now I am old,
yet I have not seen the righteous abandoned …” Psalm 37: 25
These words haunt me. I have lived long. Or as a poet once wrote, I have known many rivers.
I have had periods of less godly behavior. I have repented & found release. Only to start over.
I think that is what most Psalms embrace. The duality of human existence. Clearly we can admit. We
contain good & evil. We are wicked & we are innocent. We are evil-doers & we are co-laborers with Christ.
David was not without fault. But David found peace & protection through trust & submission to his God.
As the devotional reads, “… waiting for the Lord & keeping His way is the most difficult, unrelenting, and important work of a Christ follower”.
We are called to have faith in His unfailing love. To keep returning to Him. Even with our little crooked hearts.
Amen
Amen
Amen!!!
Amen!
“Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him, and he will act”
May I always trust in your will Lord and find your blessings even when things don’t seem to be going the way I think they should. Give me faith in ALL times! Amen.
Father I choose to believe Your promises are Yes and Amen!
BG verses for today – great reminder.
Matthew 22:37-39
Jesus said to him, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’
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This verse reminds me of where my focus should be.
Ps 35:28
And my tongue shall speak of Your righteousness
And of Your praise all the day long.
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I am reminded by David’s words – that the wicked and ungodly may prosper for a while, but it is temporary. Don’t let myself get distracted by my perception of their undeserved prosperity.
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MERCY ❤️ continuing to pray
ANNA FAITH – I am so sorry, and praying for your lack of transportation to be resolved soon – that a dependable, affordable car will be found. Some churches in our area have a transportation service on Sundays – maybe there are some in your area too.
GRAMSIESUE ❤️ so glad to see you, but am SO sorry for the devastating news of Steve’s cancer returning and the limited treatment options you’ve found so far. Praying for the Lord’s comfort and wisdom for Steve’s health, and for a turn around in the business.
Praying over these requests!
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Thank you Kayla. Can totally relate to what you were saying today.
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Going along those lines, Psalm 35:1 “Oppose my opponents, Lord; fight those who fight me,” would be one that I would like to see more evidence of! But in reality I don’t have anyone who truly “opposes” me, just those who have a different way of doing things that can make things inconvenient for me. In other words, that shows my lack of patience and pride that my way is the “right” way.
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FOSTER MAMA – praying for the situation with your foster son, that the Lord will expose anything that may bring harm to him in the potential adoptive parents.
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MERCY – praying for your daughter’s quick recovery and peace in your household.
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ANNA FAITH – so sorry that your car was totaled! Praying the Lorid leads you to a replacement ASAP.
Thank you KELLY(NEO)❤️…and echoing all your prayers.
MERCY❤️, I went to bed feeling you deeply and praying for you and peace in your heart and home. I pray that God would also send creative ideas for everyone’s peace (e.g. maybe a few focused hours in a library?)
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I see that we may have trials now and God promises perfect goodness in the future
In the midst of all David’s enemies and false friends, we find a great worship song! Who else besides me had to race to Third Day’s Your Love O Lord song from way back and sing Psalm 36:5-9? His love truly is faithful, deep and available to us in the midst of whatever hard things are coming our way. Halleluiah and Praise the Lord!
Yup, song was in my head too
That song was in my head, too!
The song going through my head this morning is an old hymn, “I Know Whom I Have Believed”. I don’t know why things happen, I don’t know why He loves me so much, I don’t know when He will return, but I know Whom I believe and I know He is able to take my problems and care for me.
Well I hadn’t thought of that great song, but started singing it when you reminded me!
That song came to my mind as well.