Fret Not Thyself

The 37th Psalm commences with some of the most well known words in the Psalter:

Fret not thyself because of evildoers

These are words which set the scene for the entire Psalm, and which teach us how we should think in a world where the wicked seem to prosper and where truth appears to suffer. When God’s Word is scoffed, when His law is trampled upon the streets, when righteousness is a scarce commodity – What must we do?

This Psalm answers this question…herein we discover the Christian’s muse in a wicked world.

THE DISEASE OF FRETTING

Fretting is a malady that is common to humanity; a painful symbol of our frailty as finite creatures.

When we fret we worry, grieve, become disheartened, discouraged, jealous, bitter – fretting can make us ill and rob of us sleep.  

Great people in the Scriptures often fretted, not least the author of the Psalm.  In the 37th we get a glimpse of why David fretted as he saw the success of the wicked:

“…envious against the workers of iniquity” (v1)

“The wicked plotteth against the just, and gnasheth against him with his teeth” (v12)

“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” (v14)

“The wicked borroweth and payeth not again” (v21)

“I have seen the wicked in great power and spreading himself like a green bay tree” (v35)

We entirely appreciate David’s tendency to grow despondent.  The rise of injustice and the depravity of ungodly men unsettles the sensitivity of the Christian soul.

There are many matters in the world which cause us to fret.  Leaving aside the general curse of ungodliness in what is fast becoming a post Christian society, we worry about our health and our businesses, our children and our homes.  Every individual has cause to feel anxious as we suffer together from the burdens of life.  For some these burdens are especially acute.  The pain, grief, despair has the potential to not only make us sick but they also disrupt our walk with God.

Fretting is a spiritual malady; something which is dangerous for body and mind and especially the soul.

THE DELIVERANCE FROM FRETTING

By commanding us not to fret, the Word of God is teaching that this is a disease we can conquer.  

We are instructed as to how we gain the victory; by replacing the negativity with positivity.

But before identifying the positive spiritual mindset which is required, David writes words which set the tone for the entire Psalm:

“For they shall soon be cut down like the grass and wither as the green herb”

Ultimately the ungodly will have no success…this is how we must view their progress; like the rising morning mist.

David proceeds to articulate four positive mindsets the Christian should engage in a wicked world.

Trust

“Trust in the LORD, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed” (v3)

With each of these mindsets there is a promise attached and in some of them actions are exhorted also. With this mindset there is both a command a promise.

The first mindset relates to faith – “trust in the LORD”. Whatever men may think and do, whatever problems we are afflicted with – GOD is in control as the one who makes no mistakes. We trust in Him as Job did:

“Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him” (Job 13:15)

Good works flow from faith; and so we are exhorted to resist the trend of wickedness by living good lives; kind and godly in this wicked world.

To this mindset and command to do good is the promise that, we shall dwell in the land and be fed.  The wicked are never safe, their power and riches can disappear in a moment of time, but the Christian is different.  God will preserve His people.

Delight

“Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart” (Psalm 37:4)

This moves from beyond trusting to enjoying.  Faith which is morbid and joyless is not real; there’s something wrong with that kind of religion.  If our God is so great, absolutely in control, and if He loves us so much then we must find delight in Him:

As Christians we find our joy not in our circumstances but in Christ because the joy of the Lord becomes our strength. This generates within us good and wholesome desires, desires which will always be fulfilled because they are of God – to His people He gives the desires of their hearts. What more could we want for in a wicked world?

“Bad men delight in carnal objects; do not envy them if they are allowed to take their fill in such vain idols; look thou to thy better delight and fill thyself to the full with thy sublimer portion”

CH Spurgeon

Commit

“Commit thy way unto the LORD; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass. And he shall bring forth thy righteousness as the light, and thy judgment as the noonday.” (Psalm 37:5-6)

In a world which suffers the effects of God’s curse we can commit every eventuality to Him. This flows from trusting and delighting. If He is the God we rejoice in then it becomes a logical matter – that we bring all of our ways and lay them before the Lord and rely upon Him to take control. We are only ever the learner drivers on the roads of life; God has the dual controls firmly within His grasp.

“ ‘Roll thy way upon’ – as one who lays upon the shoulder of one stronger than himself a burden which he is not able to bear” 

Willam de Burgh

As we commit we trust and claim the promises that all good things will come to pass and that God will vindicate our cause.  The righteous cause that we embrace will be brought out to the light and will be proved to be right and true and honourable.  God’s truth will outlast every other idea and philosophy.  

Rest

“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. 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. To rest is to be satisfied.” (Psalm 37:7-9)

In resting on God’s, we rest on His person and on the merits of Christ’s cross.  We ought not to fret, we shouldn’t be worn out with anxiety, we wait upon Him.  

In this Gospel era we rest upon Christ and what He has done for us.  We are not under condemnation, the Spirit is bearing witness with our spirits and nothing can separate us from His love.