28 For the Lord loves justice And does not forsake His godly ones ; They are preserved forever , But the descendants of the wicked will be cut off . 29 The righteous will inherit the land And dwell in it forever . 30 The mouth of the righteous utters wisdom , And his tongue speaks justice . 31 The law of his God is in his heart ; His steps do not slip . 32 The wicked spies upon the righteous And seeks to kill him. 33 The Lord will not leave him in his hand Or let him be condemned when he is judged .
34 Wait for the Lord and keep His way , And He will exalt you to inherit the land ; When the wicked are cut off , you will see it. 35 I have seen a wicked , violent man Spreading himself like a luxuriant tree in its native soil. 36 Then he passed away , and lo , he was no more ; I sought for him, but he could not be found . 37 Mark the blameless man , and behold the upright ; For the man of peace will have a posterity . 38 But transgressors will be altogether destroyed ; The posterity of the wicked will be cut off .
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Psalm 37:28-38
Commentary on Psalm 37:21-33
(Read Psalm 37:21-33)
The Lord our God requires that we do justly, and render to all their due. It is a great sin for those that are able, to deny the payment of just debts; it is a great misery not to be able to pay them. He that is truly merciful, will be ever merciful. We must leave our sins; learn to do well, and cleave to it. This is true religion. The blessing of God is the spring, sweetness, and security of all earthly enjoyments. And if we are sure of this, we are sure not to want any thing good for us in this world. By his grace and Holy Spirit, he directs the thoughts, affections, and designs of good men. By his providence he overrules events, so as to make their way plain. He does not always show them his way for a distance, but leads them step by step, as children are led. God will keep them from being ruined by their falls, either into sin or into trouble, though such as fall into sin will be sorely hurt. Few, if any, have known the consistent believer, or his children, reduced to abject, friendless want. God forsakes not his saints in affliction; and in heaven only the righteous shall dwell for ever; that will be their everlasting habitation. A good man may fall into the hands of a messenger of Satan, and be sorely buffeted, but God will not leave him in his enemy's hands.
Commentary on Psalm 37:34-40
(Read Psalm 37:34-40)
Duty is ours, and we must mind it; but events are God's, we must refer the disposal of them to him. What a striking picture is in verses 35,36, of many a prosperous enemy of God! But God remarkably blights the projects of the prosperous wicked, especially persecutors. None are perfect in themselves, but believers are so in Christ Jesus. If all the saint's days continue dark and cloudy, his dying day may prove comfortable, and his sun set bright; or, if it should set under a cloud, yet his future state will be everlasting peace. The salvation of the righteous will be the Lord's doing. He will help them to do their duties, to bear their burdens; help them to bear their troubles well, and get good by them, and, in due time, will deliver them out of their troubles. Let sinners then depart from evil, and do good; repent of and forsake sin, and trust in the mercy of God through Jesus Christ. Let them take his yoke upon them, and learn of him, that they may dwell for evermore in heaven. Let us mark the closing scenes of different characters, and always depend on God's mercy.