Do Not Fret Because of the Wicked (See the Big Picture)

Reformed Baptist Church of Kansas City

Psalm 37 is a limitless well of helps for the Christian in the midst of difficulty and affliction, especially when it seems the wicked are both persecuting and flourishing in comparison to him.Psalm 37 is an acrostic psalm with its theme seen in its first two verses. It deals with the questions: "why do the wicked succeed and the righteous do not?" And it has the practical theme of how and why not to worry about or be envious of the wicked--especially in light of the wicked's unearned prosperity and evil plotting.Psalm 37 reminds of Psalm 1's comparison of the way of the righteous to the way of the wicked. It acts as an exposition of the 3rd Beatitude, "Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth." It uniquely is like a chapter of Proverbs, with its many short, almost disjoint, sayings.Psalm 37 has the great theme of "Do not fret, but trust in the Lord, delight in the Lord, and commit to the Lord's ways"I. Blessed are the Meek: Quiet Spirit of Righteous Who Trusts God (vv1-11).II. Way of the Wicked (vv12-20).III. Contrast of Way of Wicked (vv21-26)IV. Counsel to Righteous (vv27-33)V. Conclusion of Seeing Big Picture (vv34-40)