May 26, 2025 - Psalms 36-41

Psalm 37 reads almost like the Proverbs.  David instructs, over and over, as to how we should live:  Fret not . . . Trust in the Lord and do good . . . Delight yourself in the Lord . . . Commit your way to the Lord . . . Be still before the Lord . . . Refrain from anger . . . And, then, there is this:  “Better is the little that the righteous has than the abundance of many wicked” (37:6).  David’s son, Solomon, has a helpful take on this matter of wealth:  “Two things I ask of you; deny them not to me before I die:  Remove far from me falsehood and lying; give me neither poverty nor riches” (Proverbs 30:7-9).  To possess great wealth tempts one to forget God and to trust in riches.  To experience great poverty can lead one to profane the name of God.  Better to have just what we need, day to day, and to be satisfied.  In fact, Jesus implies such satisfaction when he teaches us to pray, “Give us this day our daily bread” (Matthew 6:11).  And so, with David, with Solomon, and with Jesus we fret not but trust in the Lord, committing our way to him.

O Lord, I would delight in thee,

and on thy care depend;

to thee in ev’ry trouble flee,

my best, my only friend.

He that has made my heav’n secure

will here all good provide;

while Christ is rich can I be poor?

What can I want beside?

O Lord, I cast my care on thee;

I triumph and adore;

henceforth my great concern shall be

to love and please thee more.   –John Ryland (1777)