God’s Instruction and God’s Assurance to Believers Living in a Sin Filled World: Psalm 37 and Psalm 73
Psalm 37 and Psalm 73 are somewhat like mirror images, both tell the believers not to worry or fret. They both instruct the believer not to envy the prosperous wicked, because their prosperity is temporary and judgment belongs to God. This is because God is Sovereign, and the wicked will soon perish forever. (If at all possible, please read All of the verses found in those chapters…below are merely a sample)
Psalm 37 Security of Those Who Trust in the LORD, and Insecurity (Destruction) to the Wicked.
Psalm 37:1 “[[A Psalm of David.]] “Fret not thyself because of evildoers, neither be thou envious against the workers of iniquity.“
Psalm 37:7, “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.“
Psalms 37:8-10, “Cease from anger, and forsake wrath: fret not thyself in any wise to do evil. For evildoers shall be cut off: but those that wait upon the LORD, they shall inherit the earth. For yet a little while, and the wicked [shall] not [be]: yea, thou shalt diligently consider his place, and it [shall] not [be].“
Psalm 37:38-40, “But the transgressors shall be destroyed together: the end of the wicked shall be cut off. But the salvation of the righteous [is] of the LORD: [he is] their strength in the time of trouble. And the LORD shall help them, and deliver them: he shall deliver them from the wicked, and save them, because they trust in him.”
Psalm 73 The End of the Wicked Contrasted with That of the Righteous.
Psalm 73:3, “For I was envious at the foolish, [when] I saw the prosperity of the wicked.“
Psalm 73:6-10, “Therefore pride compasseth them about as a chain; violence covereth them as a garment. Their eyes stand out with fatness: they have more than heart could wish. They are corrupt, and speak wickedly [concerning] oppression: they speak loftily. They set their mouth against the heavens, and their tongue walketh through the earth.“
Psalm 73:12, “Behold, these [are] the ungodly, who prosper in the world; they increase [in] riches.”
Psalm 73:16&17, “When I thought to know this, it [was] too painful for me; Until I went into the sanctuary of God; [then] understood I their end.“
Psalm 73:18&19, “Surely thou didst set them in slippery places: thou castedst them down into destruction. How are they [brought] into desolation, as in a moment! they are utterly consumed with terrors.”
Psalm 73:22-28, “So foolish was I, and ignorant: I was as a beast before thee. Nevertheless I [am] continually with thee: thou hast holden [me] by my right hand. Thou shalt guide me with thy counsel, and afterward receive me [to] glory. Whom have I in heaven but thee? and there is none upon earth [that] I desire beside thee. My flesh and my heart faileth: [but] God [is] the strength of my heart, and my portion for ever. For, lo, they that are far from thee shall perish: thou hast destroyed all them that go a whoring from thee. But [it is] good for me to draw near to God: I have put my trust in the Lord GOD, that I may declare all thy works.“
Other Similar & Pertinent Verses Regarding the State of the Godless Who are Greedy for Riches and Do Not Fear God
Job 27:8, “For what [is] the hope of the hypocrite, though he hath gained, when God taketh away his soul?
…and is not this exactly what Jesus said in
- Matthew 16:26, “For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?” and
- Mark 8:36, “For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?“and
- Luke 9:25, “For what is a man advantaged, if he gain the whole world, and lose himself, or be cast away?“
Moreover, remember what Jesus said in Luke 12:15, “…Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man’s life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth.” and then Jesus immediately expounded the “Parable of the Certain Rich Man”, who accumulated many goods for himself as we read in Luke 12:19-21, “And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, [and] be merry. But God said unto him, [Thou] fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided? ¶So [is] he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.“
And while we are on the subject, Jesus said in Mat 6:19-21, “¶Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.“
We also read further in Job, Chapter 27, some other statements by God against the wicked rich hypocrites of which this is just a sample: Job 27:13&14, “This [is] the portion of a wicked man with God, and the heritage of oppressors, [which] they shall receive of the Almighty. If his children be multiplied, [it is] for the sword: and his offspring shall not be satisfied with bread.” and Job 27:19&20, “The rich man shall lie down, but he shall not be gathered: he openeth his eyes, and he [is] not. Terrors take hold on him as waters, a tempest stealeth him away in the night.”
Job 21:13, “They (the wicked) spend their days in wealth, and in a moment go down to the grave.“
Job 21:30, “That the wicked is reserved to the day of destruction? they shall be brought forth to the day of wrath.” The day of wrath is Judgment Day as we are reminded in Jude 1:5&6, “¶ I will therefore put you in remembrance, though ye once knew this, how that the Lord, having saved the people out of the land of Egypt, afterward destroyed them that believed not. And the angels which kept not their first estate, but left their own habitation, he hath reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto the judgment of the great day.“
Psalm 49:16&17, “Be not thou afraid when one is made rich, when the glory of his house is increased; For when he dieth he shall carry nothing away: his glory shall not descend after him.” (Please see below for the full context of Psalm 49.)
Note how this verse is corroborated in James 1:9, “¶Let the brother of low degree rejoice in that he is exalted: But the rich, in that he is made low: because as the flower of the grass he shall pass away. For the sun is no sooner risen with a burning heat, but it withereth the grass, and the flower thereof falleth, and the grace of the fashion of it perisheth: so also shall the rich man fade away in his ways.“
Proverbs 1:19, “So [are] the ways of every one that is greedy of gain; [which] taketh away the life of the owners thereof.“
1 Timothy 6:10, “For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.“
The Wicked Are Condemned by God
What do we see in our world today? Do we see respect for the law and order as set forth by God in the Bible? Or do we see mankind making up its own laws, and doing that which is right in its own eyes. Psalm 36:1-4 says, “The transgression of the wicked saith within my heart, that there is no fear of God before his eye. For he flattereth himself in his own eyes, until his iniquity be found to be hateful. The words of his mouth are iniquity and deceit: he hath left off to be wise, and to do good. He deviseth mischief upon his bed; he setteth himself in a way that is not good; he abhorreth not evil.” Criminals are freed and law enforcement officers are vilified and condemned.
Psalm 7:11, “God judgeth the righteous, and God is angry [with the wicked] every day.”
Psalm 10:3, “For the wicked boasteth of his heart’s desire, and blesseth the covetous, [whom] the LORD abhorreth.”
Job 31:3, “[Is] not destruction to the wicked? and a strange [punishment] to the workers of iniquity?“
Psalm 32:10, “Many sorrows [shall be] to the wicked: but he that trusteth in the LORD, mercy shall compass him about.“
Proverbs 23:17, “Let not thine heart envy sinners: but [be thou] in the fear of the LORD all the day long.“
Proverbs 24:1&2, “¶Be not thou envious against evil men, neither desire to be with them. For their heart studieth destruction, and their lips talk of mischief.”
Proverbs 24:19&20, “Fret not thyself because of evil men, neither be thou envious at the wicked; For there shall be no reward to the evil [man]; the candle of the wicked shall be put out.“
Ecclesiastes 5:8, “¶If thou seest the oppression of the poor, and violent perverting of judgment and justice in a province, marvel not at the matter: for [he that is] higher than the highest regardeth; and [there be] higher than they.” We must always remember what God is in complete charge. God not only sees everything, but God does allow what happens for His purposes. God makes clear that no matter what power anyone has in this life, God will Judge and punish the wicked for their deeds in due time, if not in this life, then definitely on Judgment Day. God tells us in Romans 12:19, “Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but [rather] give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance [is] mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.” So once again Fret Not!
A Day of Reckoning Is Coming
Isaiah 2:11&12, “The lofty looks of man shall be humbled, and the haughtiness of men shall be bowed down, and the LORD alone shall be exalted in that day.For the day of the LORD of hosts [shall] be upon every [one that is] proud and lofty, and upon every [one that is] lifted up; and he shall be brought low:“
Isaiah 13:11“And I will punish the world for [their] evil, and the wicked for their iniquity; and I will cause the arrogancy (גָּאוֹן (gā’ôn) H1347) of the proud (זֵד (zēḏ)H2086) to cease, and will lay low the haughtiness of the terrible.”
1 Corinthians 15:33, “¶Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners.“
Ecclesiastes 12:13&14, “¶Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this [is] the whole [duty] of man. For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether [it be] good, or whether [it be] evil.”
In Jeremiah 5:25, we read “Your iniquities have turned away these [things], and your sins have withholden good [things] from you. For among my people are found wicked [men]: they lay wait, as he that setteth snares; they set a trap, they catch men. As a cage is full of birds, so [are] their houses full of deceit: therefore they are become great, and waxen rich. They are waxen fat, they shine: yea, they overpass the deeds of the wicked: they judge not the cause, the cause of the fatherless, yet they prosper; and the right of the needy do they not judge. Shall I not visit for these [things]? saith the LORD: shall not my soul be avenged on such a nation as this?“
Ecclesiastes 7:20, tells us plainly “For [there is] not a just man upon earth, that doeth good,and sinneth not.” and the same in Romans 3:10-18, “¶ As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God. They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one. Their throat [is] an open sepulchre; with their tongues they have used deceit; the poison of asps [is] under their lips: Whose mouth [is] full of cursing and bitterness:Their feet [are] swift to shed blood: Destruction and misery [are] in their ways: And the way of peace have they not known: There is no fear of God before their eyes.“ and Romans 7:18, “For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but [how] to perform that which is good I find not.“
Psalm 10:4, “The wicked, through the pride of his countenance, will not seek [after God]: God [is] not in all his thoughts.“
This is and always has been the state of natural man apart from the Saving Grace and Mercy of God through the Sacrifice of the LORD Jesus Christ.
Romans 6:23, “For the wages of sin [is] death; but the gift of God [is] eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.“
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