[:en]”Fret” means get heated or burned up with anger. “Do not fret” was a personal and practical admonition of David. “Do not fret because of evil men or be inviouse of those who do wrong” (v. 1). We envy the wicked because they seem to be prospering and happy. Do not compare yourself against someone. Instead measure yourself against the Lord Jesus and the His stature of fullness (Eph. 4:12).
Counsel of David:
- Trust in the Lord and do good (v. 3) – Trust means the confidence that God can and will act. God is the source of every good gift. So, walk by faith and not by sight. Do not look at the prosperity of the wicked which will not last. Believe in God’s Word because that is where you find the reality.
- Delight yourself in the Lord (v. 4) – Delight means doing things that will please the Lord. Find joy and pleasure in His will. Living to please the Lord sets you free from fretting about what men are doing.
- Commit your way to the Lord, trust in Him (v. 6) – Let God guide your steps. He will protect you and bless your work if you follow Him.
- Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for Him (v. 7) – Be still mean to rest and put everything under His control in order to enjoy “the peace of God” which surpasses all understanding (Phil. 4:7). Waiting gives you the opportunity to strengthen your patience (James 1:2-8)
- Refrain from anger and turn from wrath (v. 8) – Learn self-control. A Chinese proverb says: “If you can control a moment of anger, it will free you from from a hundred days of worry”
- Better the little that the righteous have than the wealth of many wicked (v. 16) Earth’s wealth and pleasures are temporary. Only God can give you the eternal treasure in haeven.
- Turn from evil and do good (vs. 27) – Refrain from associating with bad companies. They will lead you to do evil things. Abide in Him and be rooted in His Word.
Outcome of the Righteous:
- His righteousness will shine like the dawn, and the justice of his cause like the noonday sun (v. 6)
- He will inherit the land and enjoy great peace (v. 11)
- The Lord will uphold the righteous (v. 17)
- His inheritance will endure forever (v. 18)
- In times of disaster he will not wither; in days of famine he will enjoy plenty (v. 19)
- Though he stumbles, he will not fall, for the Lord upholds him with His hand (v. 24)
- The righteous will never be forsaken. Their children will not beg for bread (v. 25)
- His generousity reaps many blessings for their children (v. 26)
- He will be protected forever (v. 28)
- He will inherit the land and dwell in it forever (v. 29)
- His feet do not slip because the law of God is in his heart (v. 31)
- He will be exalted by God (v. 34)
- There is future for him – the man of peace (v. 37)
- The Lord will deliver and save him from the wicked (v. 40)
Outcome of the Evil men:
- They will sson wither like grass and die away like green plants (v. 2)
- They will be cut off (v. 9, 34)
- They will passed away. They cannot be found and be no more (v. 10, 36)
- The day of the wicked is coming (v. 13)
- Their swords will pierce their own hearts and their bows will be broken (v. 15)
- Their power will be broken (v. 17)
- They will perish and vanish like smoke (v. 20)
- Their offsrping will be cut off (v. 28)
- The Lord will not leave them in their power (v. 33)
- They will be destroyed and their future will be cut off (v. 38)
THREE ASSURANCES FROM GOD (vs. 16-28)
- God knows how much you need (v. 16)
- God knows how much you can take. He knows how great a burden you can bear and how fierce a battle you can fight. When you are in the furnace, He keeps His eye and His hand on you, for the Lord upholds you. (v. 17)
- God knows the days that you will live (v. 18). God has a plan for your life. God wants you to leave everything to Him. Refrain from worrying. Just live a day at a time. God says: “As your days so shall your strength be” (Deut. 33:25)
TWO ATTITUDES OF LIFE (vs. 21-22)
- Those who borrow and do not repay. They go through life depending on others by borrowing from them.
- Those who give generously. They look upon the welfare of others by sharing the blessings they received from God.
God has everything you need to live a happy, holy and victorious life. Do not go through life borrowing. Instead, draw on His inheritance.
THREE BODY PARTS TO LOOK AFTER:
- Mouth (v. 30) – No defiling words should come out of your mouth. The word of God needs to be on your lips. You should not be ashamed to share the gospel and witness for the Lord.
- Heart (v. 31a) – What is in your heart will determine what is in your lips. If the truth of God is in your heart, then the Word of God will be on your lips.
- Feet (vs. 31b) – When your heart is filled with God’s truth, you will be walking on the right path and you wil not slip. If your heart is right with God, your lips and feet will be in the right direction.
TWO DIFFERENT KINDS OF PEOPLE (vs. 35, 36, 38)
- The Wicked and the Ruthless – The powerful are rooted in this world. Their power looks like a tree that seems so strong and stable. Yet one day a storm comes and blows the tree over. It is then cut off and gone. Their future wil be destroyed and cut off.
- The Blameless (vs. 37, 40) – The future of the blameless is peace. “Blameless” does not mean “sinless”. It means a sincere and wholehearted person who seeks God’s kingdom and His righteousness. Then the Lord shall deliver them from the wicked and save them because they take refuge in Him.
Walk by faith. Be perfect in the Lord and He will bless you.
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