RRB notes on Psalm 37

Psalms 37 KJV

A Psalm of David.

1. Fret not thyself because of evildoers, neither be thou envious against the workers of iniquity. [a]

[a] Prov. 23:17, 24:1, 19; Psa. 73:3.

2. For they shall soon be cut down like the grass, and wither as the green herb.

3. Trust in the LORD, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, [b] and verily thou shalt be fed. [1]

[b] Obviously the land of Israel.

[1] This is one of the most practical Psalms in the entire book. Prophetic subjects and doctrinal matters arise in verses 6, 9-11, 13-14, 17, etc. But among these, six of them deal with the New Testament theme of “inheriting the kingdom” (see Eph. 5:5; Col. 3:24).

4. Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.

5. Commit thy way unto the LORD; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass.

6. And he shall bring forth thy righteousness as the light, and thy judgment as the noonday.

7. Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for him: fret not thyself because of him who prospereth in his way, because of the man who bringeth wicked devices to pass.

8. Cease from anger, and forsake wrath: fret not thyself in any wise to do evil.

9. For evildoers shall be cut off: but those that wait upon the LORD, they shall inherit the earth. [c]

[c] Vs. 11; Rom. 4:13.

10. For yet a little while, and the wicked shall not be: yea, thou shalt diligently consider his place, and it shall not be.

11. But the meek shall inherit the earth; [2] [d] and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace.

[2] Notice, this is the Old Testament “Sermon on the Mount.” It has to do with the Millennial Kingdom of Solomon, where peace had finally arrived (see notes on 1 Kings 4:20-21, 24). The Millennial “inheritance” of the Jew is offered to the Christian on a basis of works, in the New Testament (Col. 3:24; 2 Tim. 2:12).

[d] Matt. 5:5.

12. The wicked plotteth against the just, and gnasheth upon him with his teeth.

13. The Lord shall laugh at him: [e] for he seeth that his day is coming.

[e] Second Advent (Psa. 2:4).

14. The wicked have drawn out the sword, and have bent their bow, to cast down the poor and needy, and to slay such as be of upright conversation.

15. Their sword shall enter into their own heart, and their bows shall be broken.

16. A little that a righteous man hath is better than the riches of many wicked.

17. For the arms of the wicked shall be broken: [f] but the LORD upholdeth the righteous.

[f] A direct reference to the Antichrist (see note on Zech. 11:17).

18. The LORD knoweth the days of the upright: and their inheritance shall be for ever. [g]

[g] Millennium (see note on vs. 11).

19. They shall not be ashamed in the evil time: and in the days of famine they shall be satisfied.

20. But the wicked shall perish, [h] and the enemies of the LORD shall be as the fat of lambs: they shall consume; into smoke shall they consume away.

[h] Vss. 19-20 are Second Advent references (Psa. 91:3-7).

21. The wicked borroweth, and payeth not again: but the righteous sheweth mercy, and giveth.

22. For such as be blessed of him shall inherit the earth; and they that be cursed of him shall be cut off. [i]

[i] Millennium (Vss. 9-11 cf. 1 Cor. 6:10).

23. The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD: and he delighteth in his way.

24. Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down: for the LORD upholdeth him with his hand.

25. I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread.

26. He is ever merciful, and lendeth; and his seed is blessed.

27. Depart from evil, and do good; and dwell for evermore. [j]

[j] Cf. vs. 3 (see App. 93).

28. For the LORD loveth judgment, and forsaketh not his saints; they are preserved for ever: but the seed of the wicked shall be cut off. [k]

[k] Second Advent (Isa. 14:16-21).

29. The righteous shall inherit the land, and dwell therein for ever. [l]

[l] Vss. 3, 27, 34.

30. The mouth of the righteous speaketh wisdom, and his tongue talketh of judgment.

31. The law of his God is in his heart; none of his steps shall slide.

32. The wicked watcheth the righteous, and seeketh to slay him.

33. The LORD will not leave him in his hand, nor condemn him when he is judged. [3]

[3] Cf. Zechariah 3:4, where the saint isn’t condemned when he is judged. In contrast, see Psalm 109:7, where “the son of perdition” is condemned at a judgment.

34. Wait on the LORD, and keep his way, and he shall exalt thee to inherit the land: when the wicked are cut off, thou shalt see it. [4]

[4] This shows you the exact meaning of the Sermon on the Mount (“Sola Scriptura”: Scripture with Scripture). Nothing in the Sermon on the Mount is aimed at a Christian doctrinally. The "beatitudes" (Matt. 5:3-12) are the “Constitution” for the Kingdom. The “poor in spirit” (Matt. 5:5) are not guaranteed anything in this age; none of “the meek…inherit the earth” (Matt. 5:5) in any sense; those who are “pure in heart” (Matt. 5:8) do not “see God” at all (they walk by faith); and the “peacemakers” (Matt. 5:9) in this age are professional politicians who are lost. Neither the “Constitution” for the Kingdom nor “Kingdom” ever came at the First Advent.

35. I have seen the wicked in great power, and spreading himself like a green bay tree. [m]

[m] Vss. 35-36 are a reference to the Antichrist (cf. Job 21:7-15).

36. Yet he passed away, and, lo, he was not: yea, I sought him, but he could not be found.

37. Mark the perfect man, and behold the upright: for the end of that man is peace.

38. But the transgressors shall be destroyed together: the end of the wicked shall be cut off. [n]

[n] Jer. 25:15-38.

39. But the salvation of the righteous [o] is of the LORD: he is their strength in the time of trouble.

[o] Personal righteousness; not imputed righteousness.

40. And the LORD shall help them, and deliver them: he shall deliver them from the wicked, and save them, because they trust in him.

_______

Notes on 1 Kings 4:20-21, 24

1 Kings 4:20-21 KJV

20. ¶ Judah and Israel were many, as the sand [a] which is by the sea in multitude, eating and drinking, and making merry.

[a] Isa. 48:19.

21. And Solomon reigned over all kingdoms from the river unto the land of the Philistines, and unto the border of Egypt: they brought presents, and served Solomon all the days of his life. [1]

[1] The passage is a direct forerunner of the Millennial reign of Christ. “The son of David” is present, he is on the “throne of David,” and he has the land grant that God gave to Abraham (Gen. 15), plus “peace on earth” all of his days (vs. 24).This is the “Golden Age” about which the Greek philosophers talked. Its ridiculous, anti-biblical counterfeits are “Camelot,” the “Fifth Kingdom Monarchists,” the Triple Alliance, the Holy Alliance, the League of Nations, the United Nations, the Vatican’s Ecumenical Councils, the Treaty of Westphalia, and the ridiculous “Armistice” of November 11, 1918, which did not last twenty-one years.

1 Kings 4:24 KJV

For he had dominion over all the region on this side the river, from Tiphsah even to Azzah, over all the kings on this side the river: and he had peace on all sides round about him.