Waiting on the Lord

Reflections on Psalm 37

Psalm 37 is a psalm of quiet confidence, urging believers to trust in God rather than be consumed by envy or anxiety over the apparent prosperity of the wicked. It speaks to the deep struggles of the faithful who wonder why evildoers flourish while the righteous suffer. Through a series of exhortations, promises, and reassurances, David calls us to a patient and enduring faith—one that rests in God’s ultimate justice and providential care.

A Call to Trust and Patience

Martin Luther captures the heart of this psalm when he describes it as “a psalm of comfort that teaches and exhorts us to have patience in the world and warns us, especially, against envy.” He highlights the difficulty of watching the wicked prosper while the godly face trials, noting how it takes great spiritual strength to avoid bitterness. “Learn to have endurance. Take your heart to God and do not let yourself be vexed.”

Walter Brueggemann, in his reflections on the psalm, emphasizes that it provides a counter-narrative to the world’s apparent injustice. He sees Psalm 37 as an act of resistance against despair:

“Psalm 37 offers an alternative script to the dominant narrative of power and control. It insists that those who live faithfully before God will inherit the land, despite all evidence to the contrary.”

David, writing in his old age, reassures us that the righteous will ultimately be vindicated:

“I have been young, and now am old, yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken or his children begging for bread.” (Psalm 37:25)

Stafford Wright suggests that this verse, rather than being a blanket promise of automatic provision, reflects David’s experience in leading a just society. In his time, the godly poor were cared for, and the wicked were restrained. However, this does not mean that life is always fair. Instead, Psalm 37 serves as “a blueprint for how God’s people should operate in a difficult world.”

The Meek Shall Inherit the Earth

One of the most well-known verses from this psalm is verse 11:

“But the meek shall inherit the land and delight themselves in abundant peace.”

Jesus Himself echoes these words in the Beatitudes:

“Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.” (Matthew 5:5)

Patrick Miller notes that this inheritance is not just about future reward but about a present way of living:

“The meek are not passive doormats; they are those who have learned the wisdom of surrender to God’s will, trusting in His justice rather than seizing power for themselves.”

Charles Spurgeon likewise reflects on the patience of the meek in contrast to the restless striving of the wicked:

“The meek have the best of the earth even now. They are content, peaceful, and free from the fretfulness that gnaws at the heart of the covetous.”

Meekness, then, is not weakness—it is the strength of one who trusts in the Lord rather than striving anxiously for control.

Committing Our Way to the Lord

Psalm 37:5 provides a powerful exhortation:

“Commit your way to the LORD; trust in Him, and He will act.”

Derek Prince beautifully explains this as a threefold process:

1. Commit – This is a decisive act, like depositing money in a bank.

2. Trust – This is an ongoing attitude, refusing to worry after we have placed our concerns in God’s hands.

3. Wait for God to act – Once we have entrusted something to Him, we must rest in the assurance that He will bring about His perfect will.

Prince likens this trust to receiving a “receipt”—the inner witness of the Holy Spirit that God has accepted our commitment. This kind of faith is not passive resignation but active dependence on the Lord.

God’s Justice Will Prevail

The psalm repeatedly assures us that the wicked will not ultimately prevail:

“The wicked plot against the righteous and gnash their teeth at them, but the Lord laughs at the wicked, for He sees that their day is coming.” (Psalm 37:12-13)

Spurgeon comments on this divine laughter, saying:

“The Lord sees the end of the ungodly, and, therefore, He views their temporary exaltation with divine derision. It is as the mirth of one who marks a bubble rising and knows that it will burst.”

This perspective is crucial. We often focus on the momentary success of the wicked, but God sees the full picture. His justice may seem delayed, but it is never denied.

A Secure Inheritance

Psalm 37 frequently mentions “inheriting the land” (verses 9, 11, 22, 29, 34). While this had immediate meaning for Israel, it also carries a broader spiritual promise. Timothy Keller observes:

“The promise of inheritance points beyond this life. The ultimate ‘land’ we inherit is the kingdom of God, where every wrong is made right, and the meek truly dwell in peace.”

This assurance allows us to live with patient endurance, knowing that God’s justice will one day be fully realized.

Living Psalm 37 Today

What does it look like to live in the spirit of Psalm 37 today?

1. Refuse to fret – Anxiety over the wicked only drains our peace (verse 1).

2. Trust in the Lord and do good – Our calling is not to fix the world ourselves but to remain faithful in our sphere of influence (verse 3).

3. Delight in the Lord – When our desires align with His, He fulfills them (verse 4).

4. Commit our way to Him – Surrendering our plans brings freedom from fear (verse 5).

5. Wait patiently – God’s justice is certain, even when it seems slow (verse 7).

As Luther reminds us, patience in suffering is a “great and difficult art.” Yet Psalm 37 offers comfort: God is not blind to injustice. He is not absent. He is working His purposes, and our call is to trust Him.

So, like David, let us say with confidence:

“The salvation of the righteous is from the LORD; He is their stronghold in the time of trouble.” (Psalm 37:39)