Psalms 37:33-40: a reflection

33The LORD will not leave him in his hand, nor condemn him when he is judged. 34Wait for the LORD, and keep his way, and he will exalt you to inherit the land. When the wicked are cut off, you shall see it. 35I have seen the wicked in great power, spreading himself like a green tree in its native soil. 36But he passed away, and behold, he was not. Yes, I sought him, but he could not be found. 37Mark the perfect man, and see the upright, for there is a future for the man of peace. 38As for transgressors, they shall be destroyed together. The future of the wicked shall be cut off. 39But the salvation of the righteous is from the LORD. He is their stronghold in the time of trouble. 40The LORD helps them and rescues them. He rescues them from the wicked and saves them, because they have taken refuge in him.

Psalm 37 speaks to the frustration of watching the wicked prosper while the righteous struggle, and its counsel is steady and patient: Wait for the LORD and keep his way. The psalmist has seen it himself: I have seen a wicked, ruthless man, spreading himself like a green tree in its native soil. But he passed away, and behold, he was no more; though I sought him, he could not be found. The flourishing of the wicked, so impressive for a season, proved fleeting; it faded and was gone.

Notice the twofold counsel: wait, and keep his way. Wait for the LORD, do not grow impatient or envious as the wicked flourish, because their flourishing does not last; give it time, and it fades. And keep his way, do not abandon the path of faithfulness because it seems, for the moment, to profit the wicked more; stay on God's way. The two go together: patient waiting and steady faithfulness, holding course while the fleeting prosperity of the wicked runs its short race.

And the psalm anchors that patience in a promise: the salvation of the righteous is from the LORD; he is their stronghold in the time of trouble; he helps them and delivers them because they take refuge in him. So when you are tempted to envy those who prosper by ignoring God, or to abandon the harder path of faithfulness, take the psalm's counsel: wait for the LORD, and keep his way. The wicked's flourishing is a green tree that soon withers; God is a stronghold that endures. Hold your course, take refuge in him, and wait.

Lord, when I watch the wicked flourish like a green tree while I struggle to keep your way, teach me the psalm's counsel: wait for the LORD, and keep his way. Remind me that their prosperity is fleeting, here for a season and then gone, while you are a stronghold that endures. Keep me from envy and from abandoning the harder path of faithfulness. Help me hold my course, take refuge in you, and wait for your salvation.