---
title: "Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible -  Psalms 37"
description: "PSALM 37   :-. A composed and uniform trust in God and a constant
course of integrity are urged in view of the blessedness of the truly
pious, contrasted"
image: "/images/missing.jpg"
url: "https://realbiblebelievers.com/commentaries/commentary-critical-and-explanatory-on-the-whole-bible/psalms/37"
---

PSALM 37

. A composed and uniform trust in God and a constant
course of integrity are urged in view of the blessedness of the truly
pious, contrasted in various aspects with the final ruin of the
wicked. Thus the wisdom and justice of God's providence are
vindicated, and its seeming inequalities, which excite the cavils of
the wicked and the distrust of the pious, are explained. David's
personal history abundantly illustrates the Psalm.

**1, 2.** The general sentiment of
the whole Psalm is expressed. The righteous need not be vexed by the
prosperity of the wicked; for it is transient, and their destiny
undesirable.

**3. Trust**—sure of safety.
**shalt thou dwell**—or,
"dwell thou"; repose quietly.
**verily . . . fed**—or,
"feed on truth," God's promise (; compare [Hosea 12:1](../../../kjv/hosea/12/1)).

**4. desires**— ([Psalms 20:5](../../../kjv/psalms/20/5);
[Psalms 21:2](../../../kjv/psalms/21/2)), what is lawful and
right, really good ([Psalms 84:11](../../../kjv/psalms/84/11)).

**5. Commit thy way**— (). *Works*—what you have to do and cannot set forth as
a burden.
**trust . . . in him**—literally,
"on Him." *He will do* what you cannot (compare
[Psalms 22:8](../../../kjv/psalms/22/8); [Psalms 31:6](../../../kjv/psalms/31/6)).
He will not suffer your character to remain under suspicion.

**7, 8. Rest in**—literally, "Be
silent to the Lord."
**and wait**—Be
submissive—avoid petulance and murmurings, anger and rash doing.

**9.** Two reasons: The prosperity
of the wicked is short; and the pious, by humble trust, will secure
all covenant blessing, denoted here by "inherit the earth"
(compare [Psalms 25:13](../../../kjv/psalms/25/13)).

**10, 11. shall not be**—literally,
"is not"—is not to be found.

**11. peace**—includes prosperity.

**12. gnasheth . . . teeth**—in
beastly rage.

**13.** (Compare ).
**seeth**—knows certainly.
**his day**—of punishment,
long delayed, shall yet come ().

**14, 15. sword, and . . . bow**—for
any instruments of violence.
**slay**—literally,
"slaughter" ([1 Samuel 25:11](../../../kjv/1-samuel/25/11)).
**poor and needy**—God's
people ([Psalms 10:17](../../../kjv/psalms/10/17); [Psalms 12:5](../../../kjv/psalms/12/5)).
The punishment of the wicked as drawn on themselves—often mentioned
(compare [Psalms 7:15](../../../kjv/psalms/7/15); [Psalms 7:16](../../../kjv/psalms/7/16);
[Psalms 35:8](../../../kjv/psalms/35/8)).

**16. riches**—literally, "noise
and tumult," as incidental to much wealth (compare ). Thus the contrast with the "little" of one man
is more vivid.

**17.** Even the members of the body
needed to hold weapons are destroyed.

**18, 19.** God, who knows His
people's changes, provides against evil and supplies all their need.

**20.** While the wicked, however
mighty, are destroyed, and that utterly, as smoke which vanishes and
leaves no trace.

**21, 22. payeth not**—not able;
having grown poor (compare [Deuteronomy 15:7](../../../kjv/deuteronomy/15/7)).
Ability of the one and inability of the other do not exclude moral
dispositions. God's blessing or cursing makes the difference.

**22. cut off**—opposed to
"inherit the earth" (compare [Leviticus 7:20](../../../kjv/leviticus/7/20);
[Leviticus 7:21](../../../kjv/leviticus/7/21)).

**23, 24. steps**—way, or, "course
of life"; as ordered by God, failures will not be permanent.

**26. his seed is blessed**—literally,
"for a blessing" ([Genesis 12:2](../../../kjv/genesis/12/2);
[Psalms 21:6](../../../kjv/psalms/21/6)). This position is still
true as the rule of God's economy ([1 Timothy 4:8](../../../kjv/1-timothy/4/8);
[1 Timothy 6:6](../../../kjv/1-timothy/6/6)).

**27-29.** The exhortation is
sustained by the assurance of God's essential rectitude in that
providential government which provides perpetual blessings for the
good, and perpetual misery for the wicked.

**30, 31.** The righteous described
as to the elements of character, thought, word, and action.

**31. steps**—or, "goings"—for
conduct which is unwavering ().

**32, 33.** The devices of the
wicked against the good fail because God acquits them.

**34.** On the contrary, the good
are not only blessed, but made to see the ruin of their foes.

**35, 36.** of which a picture is
given, under the figure of a flourishing tree (compare *Margin*),
which soon withers.

**36. he was not**—(Compare ).

**37.** By "the end" is
meant reward ([Proverbs 23:18](../../../kjv/proverbs/23/18); [Proverbs 24:14](../../../kjv/proverbs/24/14)),
or expectation of success, as in [Proverbs 24:14](../../../kjv/proverbs/24/14), which describes the *end of the wicked* in contrast,
and that is *cut off* (compare [Proverbs 24:14](../../../kjv/proverbs/24/14)).

**38. together**—at once; entirely
([Psalms 4:8](../../../kjv/psalms/4/8)).

**39, 40. strength**— ([Psalms 27:1](../../../kjv/psalms/27/1);
[Psalms 28:8](../../../kjv/psalms/28/8)).
**trouble**—straits
([Psalms 9:9](../../../kjv/psalms/9/9); [Psalms 10:1](../../../kjv/psalms/10/1)).
In trust and quietness is the salvation of the pious from all foes
and all their devices.

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