mh_parser/vol_split/19 - Psalms/Chapter 37.xml

<div2 id="Ps.xxxviii" n="xxxviii" next="Ps.xxxix" prev="Ps.xxxvii" progress="33.73%" title="Chapter XXXVII">
<h2 id="Ps.xxxviii-p0.1">P S A L M S</h2>
<h3 id="Ps.xxxviii-p0.2">PSALM XXXVII.</h3>
<p class="intro" id="Ps.xxxviii-p1">This psalm is a sermon, and an excellent useful
sermon it is, calculated not (as most of the psalms) for our
devotion, but for our conversation; there is nothing in it of
prayer or praise, but it is all instruction; it is "Maschil—a
teaching psalm;" it is an exposition of some of the hardest
chapters in the book of Providence, the advancement of the wicked
and the disgrace of the righteous, a solution of the difficulties
that arise thereupon, and an exhortation to conduct ourselves as
becomes us under such dark dispensations. The work of the prophets
(and David was one) was to explain the law. Now the law of Moses
had promised temporal blessings to the obedient, and denounced
temporal miseries against the disobedient, which principally
referred to the body of the people, the nation as a nation; for,
when they came to be applied to particular persons, many instances
occurred of sinners in prosperity and saints in adversity; to
reconcile those instances with the word that God had spoken is the
scope of the prophet in this psalm, in which, I. He forbids us to
fret at the prosperity of the wicked in their wicked ways,
<scripRef id="Ps.xxxviii-p1.1" osisRef="Bible:Ps.37.1 Bible:Ps.37.7 Bible:Ps.37.8" parsed="|Ps|37|1|0|0;|Ps|37|7|0|0;|Ps|37|8|0|0" passage="Ps 37:1,7,8">ver. 1, 7, 8</scripRef>. II. He
gives very good reasons why we should not fret at it. 1. Because of
the scandalous character of the wicked (<scripRef id="Ps.xxxviii-p1.2" osisRef="Bible:Ps.37.12 Bible:Ps.37.14 Bible:Ps.37.21 Bible:Ps.37.32" parsed="|Ps|37|12|0|0;|Ps|37|14|0|0;|Ps|37|21|0|0;|Ps|37|32|0|0" passage="Ps 37:12,14,21,32">ver. 12, 14, 21, 32</scripRef>) notwithstanding
their prosperity, and the honourable character of the righteous,
<scripRef id="Ps.xxxviii-p1.3" osisRef="Bible:Ps.37.21 Bible:Ps.37.26 Bible:Ps.37.30 Bible:Ps.37.31" parsed="|Ps|37|21|0|0;|Ps|37|26|0|0;|Ps|37|30|0|0;|Ps|37|31|0|0" passage="Ps 37:21,26,30,31">ver. 21, 26, 30,
31</scripRef>. 2. Because of the destruction and ruin which the
wicked are nigh to (<scripRef id="Ps.xxxviii-p1.4" osisRef="Bible:Ps.37.2 Bible:Ps.37.9 Bible:Ps.37.10 Bible:Ps.37.20 Bible:Ps.37.35 Bible:Ps.37.36 Bible:Ps.37.38" parsed="|Ps|37|2|0|0;|Ps|37|9|0|0;|Ps|37|10|0|0;|Ps|37|20|0|0;|Ps|37|35|0|0;|Ps|37|36|0|0;|Ps|37|38|0|0" passage="Ps 37:2,9,10,20,35,36,38">ver. 2, 9, 10, 20, 35, 36,
38</scripRef>) and the salvation and protection which the righteous
are sure of from all the malicious designs of the wicked, <scripRef id="Ps.xxxviii-p1.5" osisRef="Bible:Ps.37.13 Bible:Ps.37.15 Bible:Ps.37.17 Bible:Ps.37.28 Bible:Ps.37.33 Bible:Ps.37.39 Bible:Ps.37.40" parsed="|Ps|37|13|0|0;|Ps|37|15|0|0;|Ps|37|17|0|0;|Ps|37|28|0|0;|Ps|37|33|0|0;|Ps|37|39|0|0;|Ps|37|40|0|0" passage="Ps 37:13,15,17,28,33,39,40">ver. 13, 15, 17, 28, 33, 39,
40</scripRef>. 3. Because of the particular mercy God has in store
for all good people and the favour he shows them, <scripRef id="Ps.xxxviii-p1.6" osisRef="Bible:Ps.37.11 Bible:Ps.37.16 Bible:Ps.37.18 Bible:Ps.37.19 Bible:Ps.37.22-Ps.37.25 Bible:Ps.37.28 Bible:Ps.37.29 Bible:Ps.37.37" parsed="|Ps|37|11|0|0;|Ps|37|16|0|0;|Ps|37|18|0|0;|Ps|37|19|0|0;|Ps|37|22|37|25;|Ps|37|28|0|0;|Ps|37|29|0|0;|Ps|37|37|0|0" passage="Ps 37:11,16,18,19,22-25,28,29,37">ver. 11, 16, 18, 19,
22-25, 28, 29, 37</scripRef>. III. He prescribes very good remedies
against this sin of envying the prosperity of the wicked, and great
encouragement to use those remedies, <scripRef id="Ps.xxxviii-p1.7" osisRef="Bible:Ps.37.3-Ps.37.6 Bible:Ps.37.27 Bible:Ps.37.34" parsed="|Ps|37|3|37|6;|Ps|37|27|0|0;|Ps|37|34|0|0" passage="Ps 37:3-6,27,34">ver. 3-6, 27, 34</scripRef>. In singing this
psalm we must teach and admonish one another rightly to understand
the providence of God and to accommodate ourselves to it, at all
times carefully to do our duty and then patiently to leave the
event with God and to believe that, how black soever things may
look for the present, it shall be "well with those that fear God,
that fear before him."</p>
<scripCom id="Ps.xxxviii-p1.8" osisRef="Bible:Ps.37" parsed="|Ps|37|0|0|0" passage="Ps 37" type="Commentary"/>
<scripCom id="Ps.xxxviii-p1.9" osisRef="Bible:Ps.37.1-Ps.37.6" parsed="|Ps|37|1|37|6" passage="Ps 37:1-6" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Bible:Ps.37.1-Ps.37.6">
<h4 id="Ps.xxxviii-p1.10">Exhortations and Promises.</h4>
<div class="Center" id="Ps.xxxviii-p1.11">
<p id="Ps.xxxviii-p2">A psalm of David.</p>
</div>
<p class="passage" id="Ps.xxxviii-p3">1 Fret not thyself because of evildoers, neither
be thou envious against the workers of iniquity.   2 For they
shall soon be cut down like the grass, and wither as the green
herb.   3 Trust in the <span class="smallcaps" id="Ps.xxxviii-p3.1">Lord</span>,
and do good; <i>so</i> shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily
thou shalt be fed.   4 Delight thyself also in the <span class="smallcaps" id="Ps.xxxviii-p3.2">Lord</span>; and he shall give thee the desires
of thine heart.   5 Commit thy way unto the <span class="smallcaps" id="Ps.xxxviii-p3.3">Lord</span>; trust also in him; and he shall bring
<i>it</i> to pass.   6 And he shall bring forth thy
righteousness as the light, and thy judgment as the noonday.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.xxxviii-p4">The instructions here given are very plain;
much need not be said for the exposition of them, but there is a
great deal to be done for the reducing of them to practice, and
there they will look best.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.xxxviii-p5">I. We are here cautioned against discontent
at the prosperity and success of evil-doers (<scripRef id="Ps.xxxviii-p5.1" osisRef="Bible:Ps.37.1-Ps.37.2" parsed="|Ps|37|1|37|2" passage="Ps 37:1,2"><i>v.</i> 1, 2</scripRef>): <i>Fret not thyself,
neither be thou envious.</i> We may suppose that David speaks this
to himself first, and preaches it to his own heart (in his
communing with that upon his bed), for the suppressing of those
corrupt passions which he found working there, and then leaves it
in writing for instruction to others that might be in similar
temptation. That is preached best, and with most probability of
success, to others, which is first preached to ourselves. Now, 1.
When we look abroad we see the world full of evil-doers and workers
of iniquity, that flourish and prosper, that have what they will
and do what they will, that live in ease and pomp themselves and
have power in their hands to do mischief to those about them. So it
was in David's time; and therefore, if it is so still, let us not
marvel at the matter, as though it were some new or strange thing.
2. When we look within we find ourselves tempted to fret at this,
and to be envious against these scandals and burdens, these
blemishes and common nuisances, of this earth. We are apt to fret
at God, as if he were unkind to the world and unkind to his church
in permitting such men to live, and prosper, and prevail, as they
do. We are apt to fret ourselves with vexation at their success in
their evil projects. We are apt to envy them the liberty they take
in getting wealth, and perhaps by unlawful means, and in the
indulgence of their lusts, and to wish that we could shake off the
restraints of conscience and do so too. We are tempted to think
them the only happy people, and to incline to imitate them, and to
join ourselves with them, that we may share in their gains and eat
of their dainties; and this is that which we are warned against:
<i>Fret not thyself, neither be thou envious.</i> Fretfulness and
envy are sins that are their own punishments; they are the
uneasiness of the spirit and the rottenness of the bones; it is
therefore in kindness to ourselves that we are warned against them.
Yet that is not all; for, 3. When we look forward with an eye of
faith we shall see no reason to envy wicked people their
prosperity, for their ruin is at the door and they are ripening
apace for it, <scripRef id="Ps.xxxviii-p5.2" osisRef="Bible:Ps.37.2" parsed="|Ps|37|2|0|0" passage="Ps 37:2"><i>v.</i> 2</scripRef>.
They flourish, but as the grass, and as the green herb, which
nobody envies nor frets at. The flourishing of a godly man is like
that of a fruitful tree (<scripRef id="Ps.xxxviii-p5.3" osisRef="Bible:Ps.1.3" parsed="|Ps|1|3|0|0" passage="Ps 1:3">Ps. i.
3</scripRef>), but that of the wicked man is like grass and herbs,
which are very short-lived. (1.) They will soon wither of
themselves. Outward prosperity is a fading thing, and so is the
life itself to which it is confined. (2.) They will sooner be cut
down by the judgments of God. Their triumphing is short, but their
weeping and wailing will be everlasting.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.xxxviii-p6">II. We are here counselled to live a life
on confidence and complacency in God, and that will keep us from
fretting at the prosperity of evil-doers; if we do well for our own
souls, we shall see little reason to envy those that do so ill for
theirs. Here are three excellent precepts, which we are to be ruled
by, and, to enforce them, three precious promises, which we may
rely upon.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.xxxviii-p7">1. We must make God our hope in the way of
duty and then we shall have a comfortable subsistence in this
world, <scripRef id="Ps.xxxviii-p7.1" osisRef="Bible:Ps.37.3" parsed="|Ps|37|3|0|0" passage="Ps 37:3"><i>v.</i> 3</scripRef>. (1.) It
is required that we <i>trust in the Lord and do good,</i> that we
confide in God and conform to him. The life of religion lies much
in a believing reliance on God, his favour, his providence, his
promise, his grace, and a diligent care to serve him and our
generation, according to his will. We must not think to trust in
God and then live as we wish. No; it is not trusting God, but
tempting him, if we do not make conscience of our duty to him. Nor
must we think to do good, and then to trust to ourselves, and our
own righteousness and strength. No; we must both trust in the Lord
and do good. And then, (2.) It is promised that we shall be well
provided for in this world: <i>So shalt thou dwell in the land, and
verily thou shalt be fed.</i> He does not say, "So shalt thou get
preferment, dwell in a palace, and be feasted." This is not
necessary; a man's life consists not in the abundance of these
things; but, "Thou shalt have a place to live in, and that in the
land, in Canaan, the valley of vision, and thou shalt have food
convenient for thee." This is more than we deserve; it is as much
as a good man will stipulate for (<scripRef id="Ps.xxxviii-p7.2" osisRef="Bible:Gen.28.20" parsed="|Gen|28|20|0|0" passage="Ge 28:20">Gen.
xxviii. 20</scripRef>) and it is enough for one that is going to
heaven. "Thou shalt have a settlement, a quiet settlement, and a
maintenance, a comfortable maintenance: <i>Verily thou shalt be
fed.</i>" Some read it, <i>Thou shalt be fed by faith,</i> as the
just are said to live by faith, and it is good living, good
feeding, upon the promises. "<i>Verily thou shalt be fed,</i> as
Elijah in the famine, with what is needful for thee." God himself
is a shepherd, a feeder, to all those that trust in him, <scripRef id="Ps.xxxviii-p7.3" osisRef="Bible:Ps.23.1" parsed="|Ps|23|1|0|0" passage="Ps 23:1">Ps. xxiii. 1</scripRef>.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.xxxviii-p8">2. We must make God our heart's delight and
then we shall have our heart's desire, <scripRef id="Ps.xxxviii-p8.1" osisRef="Bible:Ps.37.4" parsed="|Ps|37|4|0|0" passage="Ps 37:4"><i>v.</i> 4</scripRef>. We must not only depend upon God,
but solace ourselves in him. We must be well pleased that there is
a God, that he is such a one as he has revealed himself to be, and
that he is our God in covenant. We must delight ourselves in his
beauty, bounty, and benignity; our souls must return to him, and
repose in him, as their rest, and their portion for ever. Being
satisfied of his loving-kindness, we must be satisfied with it, and
make that our exceeding joy, <scripRef id="Ps.xxxviii-p8.2" osisRef="Bible:Ps.43.4" parsed="|Ps|43|4|0|0" passage="Ps 43:4">Ps. xliii.
4</scripRef>. We were commanded (<scripRef id="Ps.xxxviii-p8.3" osisRef="Bible:Ps.37.3" parsed="|Ps|37|3|0|0" passage="Ps 37:3"><i>v.</i> 3</scripRef>) to do good, and then follows this
command to delight in God, which is as much a privilege as a duty.
If we make conscience of obedience to God, we may then take the
comfort of a complacency in him. And even this pleasant duty of
delighting in God has a promise annexed to it, which is very full
and precious, enough to recompense the hardest services: <i>He
shall give thee the desires of thy heart.</i> He has not promised
to gratify all the appetites of the body and the humours of the
fancy, but to grant all the desires of the heart, all the cravings
of the renewed sanctified soul. What is the desire of the heart of
a good man? It is this, to know, and love, and live to God, to
please him and to be pleased in him.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.xxxviii-p9">3. We must make God our guide, and submit
in every thing to his guidance and disposal; and then all our
affairs, even those that seem most intricate and perplexed, shall
be made to issue well and to our satisfaction, <scripRef id="Ps.xxxviii-p9.1" osisRef="Bible:Ps.37.5-Ps.37.6" parsed="|Ps|37|5|37|6" passage="Ps 37:5,6"><i>v.</i> 5, 6</scripRef>. (1.) The duty is very easy;
and, if we do it aright, it will make us easy: <i>Commit thy way
unto the Lord; roll thy way upon the Lord</i> (so the margin reads
it), <scripRef id="Ps.xxxviii-p9.2" osisRef="Bible:Prov.16.3 Bible:Ps.55.22" parsed="|Prov|16|3|0|0;|Ps|55|22|0|0" passage="Pr 16:3,Ps 55:22">Prov. xvi. 3; Ps. lv.
22</scripRef>. <i>Cast thy burden upon the Lord,</i> the burden of
thy care, <scripRef id="Ps.xxxviii-p9.3" osisRef="Bible:1Pet.5.7" parsed="|1Pet|5|7|0|0" passage="1Pe 5:7">1 Pet. v. 7</scripRef>. We
must roll it off ourselves, so as not to afflict and perplex
ourselves with thoughts about future events (<scripRef id="Ps.xxxviii-p9.4" osisRef="Bible:Matt.6.25" parsed="|Matt|6|25|0|0" passage="Mt 6:25">Matt. vi. 25</scripRef>), not to cumber and trouble
ourselves either with the contrivance of the means or with
expectation of the end, but refer it to God, leave it to him by his
wise and good providence to order and dispose of all our concerns
as he pleases. <i>Retreat thy way unto the Lord</i> (so the LXX.),
that is, "By prayer spread thy case, and all thy cares about it,
before the Lord" (as Jephthah <i>uttered all his words before the
Lord in Mizpeh,</i> <scripRef id="Ps.xxxviii-p9.5" osisRef="Bible:Judg.11.11" parsed="|Judg|11|11|0|0" passage="Jdg 11:11">Judg. xi.
11</scripRef>), "and then trust in him to bring it to a good issue,
with a full satisfaction that all is well that God does." We must
do our duty (that must be our care) and then leave the event with
God. <i>Sit still, and see how the matter will fall,</i> <scripRef id="Ps.xxxviii-p9.6" osisRef="Bible:Ruth.3.18" parsed="|Ruth|3|18|0|0" passage="Ru 3:18">Ruth iii. 18</scripRef>. We must follow
Providence, and not force it, subscribe to Infinite Wisdom and not
prescribe. (2.) The promise is very sweet. [1.] In general, "<i>He
shall bring that to pass,</i> whatever it is, which thou hast
committed to him, if not to thy contrivance, yet to thy content. He
will find means to extricate thee out of thy straits, to prevent
thy fears, and bring about thy purposes, to thy satisfaction." [2.]
In particular, "He will take care of thy reputation, and bring thee
out of thy difficulties, not only with comfort, but with credit and
honour: <i>He shall bring forth thy righteousness as the light and
thy judgment as the noon-day.</i>" (<scripRef id="Ps.xxxviii-p9.7" osisRef="Bible:Ps.37.6" parsed="|Ps|37|6|0|0" passage="Ps 37:6"><i>v.</i> 6</scripRef>), that is, "he shall make it to
appear that thou art an honest man, and that is honour enough."
<i>First,</i> It is implied that the righteousness and judgment of
good people may, for a time, be clouded and eclipsed, either by
remarkable rebukes of Providence (Job's great afflictions darkened
his righteousness) or by the malicious censures and reproaches of
men, who give them bad names which they no way deserve, and lay to
their charge things which they know not. <i>Secondly,</i> It is
promised that God will, in due time, roll away the reproach they
are under, clear up their innocency, and bring forth their
righteousness, to their honour, perhaps in this world, at furthest
in the great day, <scripRef id="Ps.xxxviii-p9.8" osisRef="Bible:Matt.13.43" parsed="|Matt|13|43|0|0" passage="Mt 13:43">Matt. xiii.
43</scripRef>. Note, If we take care to keep a good conscience, we
may leave it to God to take care of our good name.</p>
</div><scripCom id="Ps.xxxviii-p9.9" osisRef="Bible:Ps.37.7-Ps.37.20" parsed="|Ps|37|7|37|20" passage="Ps 37:7-20" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Bible:Ps.37.7-Ps.37.20">
<h4 id="Ps.xxxviii-p9.10">Exhortations and Promises.</h4>
<p class="passage" id="Ps.xxxviii-p10">7 Rest in the <span class="smallcaps" id="Ps.xxxviii-p10.1">Lord</span>, 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.   8 Cease from anger,
and forsake wrath: fret not thyself in any wise to do evil.  
9 For evildoers shall be cut off: but those that wait upon the
<span class="smallcaps" id="Ps.xxxviii-p10.2">Lord</span>, they shall inherit the earth.
  10 For yet a little while, and the wicked <i>shall</i> not
<i>be:</i> yea, thou shalt diligently consider his place, and it
<i>shall</i> not <i>be.</i>   11 But the meek shall inherit
the earth; and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace.
  12 The wicked plotteth against the just, and gnasheth upon
him with his teeth.   13 The Lord shall laugh at him: for he
seeth that his day is coming.   14 The wicked have drawn out
the sword, and have bent their bow, to cast down the poor and
needy, <i>and</i> to slay such as be of upright conversation.
  15 Their sword shall enter into their own heart, and their
bows shall be broken.   16 A little that a righteous man hath
<i>is</i> better than the riches of many wicked.   17 For the
arms of the wicked shall be broken: but the <span class="smallcaps" id="Ps.xxxviii-p10.3">Lord</span> upholdeth the righteous.   18 The
<span class="smallcaps" id="Ps.xxxviii-p10.4">Lord</span> knoweth the days of the
upright: and their inheritance shall be for ever.   19 They
shall not be ashamed in the evil time: and in the days of famine
they shall be satisfied.   20 But the wicked shall perish, and
the enemies of the <span class="smallcaps" id="Ps.xxxviii-p10.5">Lord</span> <i>shall
be</i> as the fat of lambs: they shall consume; into smoke shall
they consume away.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.xxxviii-p11">In these verses we have,</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.xxxviii-p12">I. The foregoing precepts inculcated; for
we are so apt to disquiet ourselves with needless fruitless
discontents and distrusts that it is necessary there should be
precept upon precept, and line upon line, to suppress them and arm
us against them. 1. Let us compose ourselves by believing in God:
"<i>Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for him</i> (<scripRef id="Ps.xxxviii-p12.1" osisRef="Bible:Ps.37.7" parsed="|Ps|37|7|0|0" passage="Ps 37:7"><i>v.</i> 7</scripRef>), that is, be well
reconciled to all he does and acquiesce in it, for that is best
that is, because it is what God has appointed; and be well
satisfied that he will still make all to work for good to us,
though we know not how or which way." <i>Be silent to the Lord</i>
(so the word is), not with a sullen, but a submissive silence. A
patient bearing of what is laid upon us, with a patient expectation
of what is further appointed for us, is as much our interest as it
is our duty, for it will make us always easy; and there is a great
deal of reason for it, for it is making a virtue of necessity. 2.
Let us not discompose ourselves at what we see in this world:
"<i>Fret not thyself because of him who prospers in his wicked
way,</i> who, though he is a bad man, yet thrives and grows rich
and great in the world; no, nor because of him who does mischief
with his power and wealth, and brings wicked devices to pass
against those that are virtuous and good, who seems to have gained
his point and to have run them down. If thy heart begins to rise at
it, stroke down thy folly, and <i>cease from anger</i> (<scripRef id="Ps.xxxviii-p12.2" osisRef="Bible:Ps.37.8" parsed="|Ps|37|8|0|0" passage="Ps 37:8"><i>v.</i> 8</scripRef>), check the first
stirrings of discontent and envy, and do not harbour any hard
thoughts of God and his providence upon this account. Be not angry
at any thing that God does, but forsake that wrath; it is the worst
kind of wrath that can be. <i>Fret not thyself in any wise to do
evil;</i> do not envy them their prosperity, lest thou be tempted
to fall in with them and to take the same evil course that they
take to enrich and advance themselves or some desperate course to
avoid them and their power." Note, A fretful discontented spirit
lies open to many temptations; and those that indulge it are in
danger of doing evil.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.xxxviii-p13">II. The foregoing reasons, taken from the
approaching ruin of the wicked notwithstanding their prosperity,
and the real happiness of the righteous notwithstanding their
troubles, are here much enlarged upon and the same things repeated
in a pleasing variety of expression. We were cautioned (<scripRef id="Ps.xxxviii-p13.1" osisRef="Bible:Ps.37.7" parsed="|Ps|37|7|0|0" passage="Ps 37:7"><i>v.</i> 7</scripRef>) not to envy the wicked
either worldly prosperity or the success of their plots against the
righteous, and the reasons here given respect these two temptations
severally:—</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.xxxviii-p14">1. Good people have no reason to envy the
worldly prosperity of wicked people, nor to grieve or be uneasy at
it, (1.) Because the prosperity of the wicked will soon be at an
end (<scripRef id="Ps.xxxviii-p14.1" osisRef="Bible:Ps.37.9" parsed="|Ps|37|9|0|0" passage="Ps 37:9"><i>v.</i> 9</scripRef>):
<i>Evil-doers shall be cut off</i> by some sudden stroke of divine
justice in the midst of their prosperity; what they have got by sin
will not only flow away from them (<scripRef id="Ps.xxxviii-p14.2" osisRef="Bible:Job.20.28" parsed="|Job|20|28|0|0" passage="Job 20:28">Job xx. 28</scripRef>), but they shall be carried away
with it. See the end of these men (<scripRef id="Ps.xxxviii-p14.3" osisRef="Bible:Ps.73.17" parsed="|Ps|73|17|0|0" passage="Ps 73:17">Ps.
lxxiii. 17</scripRef>), how dear their ill-got gain will cost them,
and you will be far from envying them or from being willing to
espouse their lot, for better, for worse. Their ruin is sure, and
it is very near (<scripRef id="Ps.xxxviii-p14.4" osisRef="Bible:Ps.37.10" parsed="|Ps|37|10|0|0" passage="Ps 37:10"><i>v.</i>
10</scripRef>): <i>Yet a little while, and the wicked shall not
be</i> what they now are; <i>they are brought into desolation in a
moment,</i> <scripRef id="Ps.xxxviii-p14.5" osisRef="Bible:Ps.73.19" parsed="|Ps|73|19|0|0" passage="Ps 73:19">Ps. lxxiii. 19</scripRef>.
Have a little patience, for <i>the Judge stands before the
door,</i> <scripRef id="Ps.xxxviii-p14.6" osisRef="Bible:Jas.5.8-Jas.5.9" parsed="|Jas|5|8|5|9" passage="Jam 5:8,9">Jam. v. 8, 9</scripRef>.
Moderate your passion, <i>for the Lord is at hand,</i> <scripRef id="Ps.xxxviii-p14.7" osisRef="Bible:Phil.4.5" parsed="|Phil|4|5|0|0" passage="Php 4:5">Phil. iv. 5</scripRef>. And when their ruin comes
it will be an utter ruin; he and his shall be extirpated; the day
that comes shall <i>leave him neither root nor branch</i>
(<scripRef id="Ps.xxxviii-p14.8" osisRef="Bible:Mal.4.1" parsed="|Mal|4|1|0|0" passage="Mal 4:1">Mal. iv. 1</scripRef>): <i>Thou shalt
diligently consider his place,</i> where but the other day he made
a mighty figure, but <i>it shall not be,</i> you will not find it;
he shall leave nothing valuable, nothing honourable, behind. him.
To the same purport (<scripRef id="Ps.xxxviii-p14.9" osisRef="Bible:Ps.37.20" parsed="|Ps|37|20|0|0" passage="Ps 37:20"><i>v.</i>
20</scripRef>), <i>The wicked shall perish;</i> their death is
their perdition, because it is the termination of all their joy and
a passage to endless misery. <i>Blessed are the dead that die in
the Lord;</i> but undone, for ever undone, are the dead that die in
their sins. The wicked are the enemies of the Lord; such those make
themselves who will not have him to reign over them, and as such he
will reckon with them: <i>They shall consume as the fat of lambs,
they shall consume into smoke.</i> Their prosperity, which
gratifies their sensuality, is like the fat of lambs, not solid or
substantial, but loose and washy; and, when their ruin comes, they
shall fall as sacrifices to the justice of God and be consumed as
the fat of the sacrifices was upon the altar, whence it ascended in
smoke. The day of God's vengeance on the wicked is represented as a
<i>sacrifice of the fat of the kidneys of rams</i> (<scripRef id="Ps.xxxviii-p14.10" osisRef="Bible:Isa.34.6" parsed="|Isa|34|6|0|0" passage="Isa 34:6">Isa. xxxiv. 6</scripRef>); for he will be
honoured by the ruin of his enemies, as he was by the sacrifices.
Damned sinners are sacrifices, <scripRef id="Ps.xxxviii-p14.11" osisRef="Bible:Mark.9.49" parsed="|Mark|9|49|0|0" passage="Mk 9:49">Mark ix.
49</scripRef>. This is a good reason why we should not envy them
their prosperity; while they are fed to the full, they are but in
the fattening for the day of sacrifice, <i>like a lamb in a large
place</i> (<scripRef id="Ps.xxxviii-p14.12" osisRef="Bible:Hos.4.16" parsed="|Hos|4|16|0|0" passage="Ho 4:16">Hos. iv. 16</scripRef>), and
the more they prosper the more will God be glorified in their ruin.
(2.) Because the condition of the righteous, even in this life, is
every way better and more desirable than that of the wicked,
<scripRef id="Ps.xxxviii-p14.13" osisRef="Bible:Ps.37.16" parsed="|Ps|37|16|0|0" passage="Ps 37:16"><i>v.</i> 16</scripRef>. In general,
<i>a little that a righteous man has</i> of the honour, wealth, and
pleasure of this world, <i>is better than the riches of many
wicked.</i> Observe, [1.] The wealth of the world is so dispensed
by the divine Providence that it is often the lot of good people to
have but a little of it, and of wicked people to have abundance of
it; for thus God would show us that the things of this world are
not the best things, for, if they were, those would have most that
are best and dearest to God. [2.] That a godly man's little is
really better than a wicked man's estate, though ever so much; for
it comes from a better hand, from a hand of special love and not
merely from a hand of common providence,—it is enjoyed by a better
title (God gives it to them by promise, <scripRef id="Ps.xxxviii-p14.14" osisRef="Bible:Gal.3.18" parsed="|Gal|3|18|0|0" passage="Ga 3:18">Gal. iii. 18</scripRef>),—it is theirs by virtue of
their relation to Christ, who is the heir of all things,—and it is
put to better use; it is sanctified to them by the blessing of God.
<i>Unto the pure all things are pure,</i> <scripRef id="Ps.xxxviii-p14.15" osisRef="Bible:Titus.1.15" parsed="|Titus|1|15|0|0" passage="Tit 1:15">Tit. i. 15</scripRef>. A little wherewith God is served
and honoured is better than a great deal prepared for Baal or for a
base lust. The promises here made to the righteous secure them such
a happiness that they need not envy the prosperity of evil-doers.
Let them know to their comfort, <i>First,</i> That <i>they shall
inherit the earth,</i> as much of it as Infinite Wisdom sees good
for them; they have the promise of the <i>life that now is,</i>
<scripRef id="Ps.xxxviii-p14.16" osisRef="Bible:1Tim.4.8" parsed="|1Tim|4|8|0|0" passage="1Ti 4:8">1 Tim. iv. 8</scripRef>. If all the
earth were necessary to make them happy, they should have it. All
is theirs, even <i>the world,</i> and <i>things present,</i> as
well as <i>things to come,</i> <scripRef id="Ps.xxxviii-p14.17" osisRef="Bible:1Cor.3.21-1Cor.3.22" parsed="|1Cor|3|21|3|22" passage="1Co 3:21,22">1
Cor. iii. 21, 22</scripRef>. They have it by inheritance, a safe
and honourable title, not by permission only and connivance. When
evil-doers are cut off the righteous sometimes inherit what they
gathered. <i>The wealth of the sinner is laid up for the just,</i>
<scripRef id="Ps.xxxviii-p14.18" osisRef="Bible:Job.27.17 Bible:Prov.13.22" parsed="|Job|27|17|0|0;|Prov|13|22|0|0" passage="Job 27:17,Pr 13:22">Job xxvii. 17; Prov. xiii.
22</scripRef>. This promise is here made, 1. To those that live a
life of faith (<scripRef id="Ps.xxxviii-p14.19" osisRef="Bible:Ps.37.9" parsed="|Ps|37|9|0|0" passage="Ps 37:9"><i>v.</i> 9</scripRef>);
<i>Those that wait upon the Lord,</i> as dependents on him,
expectants from him, and suppliants to him, <i>shall inherit the
earth,</i> as a token of his present favour to them and an earnest
of better things intended for them in the other world. God is a
good Master, that provides plentifully and well, not only for his
working servants, but for his waiting servants. 2. To those that
live a quiet and peaceable life (<scripRef id="Ps.xxxviii-p14.20" osisRef="Bible:Ps.37.11" parsed="|Ps|37|11|0|0" passage="Ps 37:11"><i>v.</i> 11</scripRef>): <i>The meek shall inherit the
earth.</i> They are in least danger of being injured and disturbed
in the possession of what they have and they have most satisfaction
in themselves and consequently the sweetest relish of their
creature-comforts. Our Saviour has made this a gospel promise, and
a confirmation of the blessings he pronounced on the meek,
<scripRef id="Ps.xxxviii-p14.21" osisRef="Bible:Matt.5.5" parsed="|Matt|5|5|0|0" passage="Mt 5:5">Matt. v. 5</scripRef>. <i>Secondly,</i>
That they <i>shall delight themselves in the abundance of
peace,</i> <scripRef id="Ps.xxxviii-p14.22" osisRef="Bible:Ps.37.11" parsed="|Ps|37|11|0|0" passage="Ps 37:11"><i>v.</i> 11</scripRef>.
Perhaps they have not abundance of wealth to delight in; but they
have that which is better, abundance of peace, inward peace and
tranquility of mind, peace with God, and then peace in God, that
great peace which those have that love God's law, whom <i>nothing
shall offend</i> (<scripRef id="Ps.xxxviii-p14.23" osisRef="Bible:Ps.119.165" parsed="|Ps|119|165|0|0" passage="Ps 119:165">Ps. cxix.
165</scripRef>), that abundance of peace which is in the kingdom of
Christ (<scripRef id="Ps.xxxviii-p14.24" osisRef="Bible:Ps.72.7" parsed="|Ps|72|7|0|0" passage="Ps 72:7">Ps. lxxii. 7</scripRef>), that
peace which the world cannot give (<scripRef id="Ps.xxxviii-p14.25" osisRef="Bible:John.14.27" parsed="|John|14|27|0|0" passage="Joh 14:27">John xiv. 27</scripRef>), and which the wicked cannot
have, <scripRef id="Ps.xxxviii-p14.26" osisRef="Bible:Isa.57.21" parsed="|Isa|57|21|0|0" passage="Isa 57:21">Isa. lvii. 21</scripRef>. This
they shall delight themselves in, and in it they shall have a
continual feast; while those that have abundance of wealth do but
cumber and perplex themselves with it and have little delight in
it. <i>Thirdly,</i> That God <i>knows their days,</i> <scripRef id="Ps.xxxviii-p14.27" osisRef="Bible:Ps.37.18" parsed="|Ps|37|18|0|0" passage="Ps 37:18"><i>v.</i> 18</scripRef>. He takes particular
notice of them, of all they do and of all that happens to them. He
keeps account of the days of their service, and not one day's work
shall go unrewarded, and of the days of their suffering, that for
those also they may receive a recompence. He knows their bright
days, and has pleasure in their prosperity; he knows their cloudy
and dark days, the days of their affliction, and as the day is so
shall the strength be. <i>Fourthly,</i> That <i>their inheritance
shall be for ever;</i> not their inheritance in the earth, but that
incorruptible indefeasible one which is laid up for them in heaven.
Those that are sure of an everlasting inheritance in the other
world have no reason to envy the wicked their transitory
possessions and pleasures in this world. <i>Fifthly,</i> That in
the worst of times it shall go well with them (<scripRef id="Ps.xxxviii-p14.28" osisRef="Bible:Ps.37.19" parsed="|Ps|37|19|0|0" passage="Ps 37:19"><i>v.</i> 19</scripRef>): <i>They shall not be
ashamed</i> of their hope and confidence in God, nor of the
profession they have made of religion; for the comfort of that will
stand them in stead, and be a real support to them, in evil times.
When others droop they shall lift up their heads with joy and
confidence: Even <i>in the days of famine,</i> when others are
dying for hunger round about them, <i>they shall be satisfied,</i>
as Elijah was; in some way or other God will provide food
convenient for them, or give them hearts to be satisfied and
content without it, so that, if they should be hardly bestead and
hungry, they shall not (as the wicked do) <i>fret themselves and
curse their king and their God</i> (<scripRef id="Ps.xxxviii-p14.29" osisRef="Bible:Isa.7.21" parsed="|Isa|7|21|0|0" passage="Isa 7:21">Isa. vii. 21</scripRef>), but rejoice in God as the God
of their salvation even when <i>the fig-tree does not blossom,</i>
<scripRef id="Ps.xxxviii-p14.30" osisRef="Bible:Hab.3.17-Hab.3.18" parsed="|Hab|3|17|3|18" passage="Hab 3:17,18">Hab. iii. 17, 18</scripRef>.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.xxxviii-p15">2. Good people have no reason to fret at
the occasional success of the designs of the wicked against the
just. Though they do bring some of their wicked devices to pass,
which makes us fear they will gain their point and bring them all
to pass, yet let us cease from anger, and not fret ourselves so as
to think of giving up the cause. For,</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.xxxviii-p16">(1.) Their plots will be their shame,
<scripRef id="Ps.xxxviii-p16.1" osisRef="Bible:Ps.37.12-Ps.37.13" parsed="|Ps|37|12|37|13" passage="Ps 37:12,13"><i>v.</i> 12, 13</scripRef>. It is
true <i>the wicked plotteth against the just;</i> there is a rooted
enmity in the seed of the wicked one against the righteous seed;
their aim is, if they can, to destroy their righteousness, or, if
that fail, then to destroy them. With this end in view they have
acted with a great deal both of cursed policy and contrivance (they
plot, they practice, against the just), and of cursed zeal and
fury—<i>they gnash upon them with their teeth,</i> so desirous are
they, if they could get it into their power, to eat them up, and so
full of rage and indignation are they because it is not in their
power; but by all this they do but make themselves ridiculous.
<i>The Lord shall laugh at them,</i> <scripRef id="Ps.xxxviii-p16.2" osisRef="Bible:Ps.2.4-Ps.2.5" parsed="|Ps|2|4|2|5" passage="Ps 2:4,5">Ps. ii. 4, 5</scripRef>. They are proud and insolent,
but God shall pour contempt upon them. He is not only displeased
with them, but he despises them and all their attempts as vain and
ineffectual, and their malice as impotent and in a chain; <i>for he
sees that his day is coming,</i> that is, [1.] The day of God's
reckoning, the day of the revelation of his righteousness, which
now seems clouded and eclipsed. Men have their day now. <i>This is
your hour,</i> <scripRef id="Ps.xxxviii-p16.3" osisRef="Bible:Luke.22.53" parsed="|Luke|22|53|0|0" passage="Lu 22:53">Luke xxii.
53</scripRef>. But God will have his day shortly, a day of
recompences, a day which will set all to rights, and render that
ridiculous which now passes for glorious. <i>It is a small thing to
be judged of man's judgment,</i> <scripRef id="Ps.xxxviii-p16.4" osisRef="Bible:1Cor.4.3" parsed="|1Cor|4|3|0|0" passage="1Co 4:3">1 Cor.
iv. 3</scripRef>. God's day will give a decisive judgment. [2.] The
day of their ruin. The wicked man's day, the day set for his fall,
that day <i>is coming,</i> which denotes delay; it has not yet
come, but certainly it will come. The believing prospect of that
day will enable the virgin, the daughter of Zion, to despise the
rage of her enemies and <i>laugh them to scorn,</i> <scripRef id="Ps.xxxviii-p16.5" osisRef="Bible:Isa.37.22" parsed="|Isa|37|22|0|0" passage="Isa 37:22">Isa. xxxvii. 22</scripRef>.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.xxxviii-p17">(2.) Their attempts will be their
destruction, <scripRef id="Ps.xxxviii-p17.1" osisRef="Bible:Ps.37.14-Ps.37.15" parsed="|Ps|37|14|37|15" passage="Ps 37:14,15"><i>v.</i> 14,
15</scripRef>. See here, [1.] How cruel they are in their designs
against good people. They prepare instruments of death, <i>the
sword</i> and <i>the bow,</i> no less will serve; they hunt for the
precious life. That which they design is <i>to cast down and
slay;</i> it is the blood of the saints they thirst after. They
carry on the design very far, and it is near to be put in
execution: They <i>have drawn the sword, and bent the bow;</i> and
all these military preparations are made against the helpless,
<i>the poor and needy</i> (which proves them to be very cowardly),
and against the guiltless, <i>such as are of upright
conversation,</i> that never gave them any provocation, nor offered
injury to them or any other person, which proves them to be very
wicked. Uprightness itself will be no fence against their malice.
But, [2.] How justly their malice recoils upon themselves: <i>Their
sword shall turn into their own heart,</i> which implies the
preservation of the righteous from their malice and the filling up
of the measure of their own iniquity by it. Sometimes that very
thing proves to be their own destruction which they projected
against their harmless neighbours; however, God's sword, which
their provocations have drawn against them, will give them their
death's wound.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.xxxviii-p18">(3.) Those that are not suddenly cut off
shall yet be so disabled for doing any further mischief that the
interests of the church shall be effectually secured: <i>Their bows
shall be broken</i> (<scripRef id="Ps.xxxviii-p18.1" osisRef="Bible:Ps.37.15" parsed="|Ps|37|15|0|0" passage="Ps 37:15"><i>v.</i>
15</scripRef>); the instruments of their cruelty shall fail them
and they shall lose those whom they had made tools of to serve
their bloody purposes with; nay, <i>their arms shall be broken,</i>
so that they shall not be able to go on with their enterprises,
<scripRef id="Ps.xxxviii-p18.2" osisRef="Bible:Ps.37.17" parsed="|Ps|37|17|0|0" passage="Ps 37:17"><i>v.</i> 17</scripRef>. <i>But the
Lord upholds the righteous,</i> so that they neither sink under the
weight of their afflictions nor are crushed by the violence of
their enemies. He upholds them both in their integrity and in their
prosperity; and those that are so upheld by the rock of ages have
no reason to envy the wicked the support of their broken reeds.</p>
</div><scripCom id="Ps.xxxviii-p18.3" osisRef="Bible:Ps.37.21-Ps.37.33" parsed="|Ps|37|21|37|33" passage="Ps 37:21-33" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Bible:Ps.37.21-Ps.37.33">
<h4 id="Ps.xxxviii-p18.4">Exhortations and Promises.</h4>
<p class="passage" id="Ps.xxxviii-p19">21 The wicked borroweth, and payeth not again:
but the righteous showeth mercy, and giveth.   22 For <i>such
as be</i> blessed of him shall inherit the earth; and <i>they that
be</i> cursed of him shall be cut off.   23 The steps of a
<i>good</i> man are ordered by the <span class="smallcaps" id="Ps.xxxviii-p19.1">Lord</span>: and he delighteth in his way.   24
Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down: for the <span class="smallcaps" id="Ps.xxxviii-p19.2">Lord</span> upholdeth <i>him with</i> his hand.
  25 I have been young, and <i>now</i> am old; yet have I not
seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread.   26
<i>He is</i> ever merciful, and lendeth; and his seed <i>is</i>
blessed.   27 Depart from evil, and do good; and dwell for
evermore.   28 For the <span class="smallcaps" id="Ps.xxxviii-p19.3">Lord</span>
loveth judgment, and forsaketh not his saints; they are preserved
for ever: but the seed of the wicked shall be cut off.   29
The righteous shall inherit the land, and dwell therein for ever.
  30 The mouth of the righteous speaketh wisdom, and his
tongue talketh of judgment.   31 The law of his God <i>is</i>
in his heart; none of his steps shall slide.   32 The wicked
watcheth the righteous, and seeketh to slay him.   33 The
<span class="smallcaps" id="Ps.xxxviii-p19.4">Lord</span> will not leave him in his hand,
nor condemn him when he is judged.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.xxxviii-p20">These verses are much to the same purport
with the <scripRef id="Ps.xxxviii-p20.1" osisRef="Bible:Ps.37.1-Ps.37.20" parsed="|Ps|37|1|37|20" passage="Ps 37:1-20">foregoing verses</scripRef>
of this psalm, for it is a subject worthy to be dwelt upon. Observe
here,</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.xxxviii-p21">I. What is required of us as the way to our
happiness, which we may learn both from the characters here laid
down and from the directions here given. If we would be blessed of
God, 1. We must make conscience of giving every body his own; for
<i>the wicked borrows and pays not again,</i> <scripRef id="Ps.xxxviii-p21.1" osisRef="Bible:Ps.37.21" parsed="|Ps|37|21|0|0" passage="Ps 37:21"><i>v.</i> 21</scripRef>. It is the first thing which the
Lord our God requires of us, that we do justly, and render to all
their due. It is not only a shameful paltry thing, but a sinful
wicked thing, not to repay what we have borrowed. Some make this an
instance, not so much of the wickedness of the wicked as of the
misery and poverty to which they are reduced by the just judgment
of God, that they shall be necessitated to borrow for their supply
and then be in no capacity to repay it again, and so lie at the
mercy of their creditors. Whatever some men seem to think of it, as
it is a great sin for those that are able to deny the payment of
their just debts, so it is a great misery not to be able to pay
them. 2. We must be ready to all acts of charity and beneficence;
for, as it is an instance of God's goodness to the righteous that
he puts it into the power of his hand to be kind and to do good
(and so some understand it, God's blessing increases his little to
such a degree that he has abundance to spare for the relief of
others), so it is an instance of the goodness of the righteous man
that he has a heart proportionable to his estate: <i>He shows
mercy, and gives,</i> <scripRef id="Ps.xxxviii-p21.2" osisRef="Bible:Ps.37.21" parsed="|Ps|37|21|0|0" passage="Ps 37:21"><i>v.</i>
21</scripRef>. <i>He is ever merciful,</i> or every day, or all the
day, merciful, <i>and lends,</i> and sometimes there is as true
charity in lending as in giving; and giving and lending are
acceptable to God when they proceed from a merciful disposition in
the heart, which, if it be sincere, will be constant, and will keep
us from being weary of well-doing. he that is truly merciful will
be ever merciful. 3. We must leave our sins, and engage in the
practice of serious godliness (<scripRef id="Ps.xxxviii-p21.3" osisRef="Bible:Ps.37.27" parsed="|Ps|37|27|0|0" passage="Ps 37:27"><i>v.</i> 27</scripRef>): <i>Depart from evil and do
good.</i> Cease to do evil and abhor it; learn to do well and
cleave to it; this is true religion. 4. We must abound in good
discourse, and with our tongues must glorify God and edify others.
It is part of the character of a righteous man (<scripRef id="Ps.xxxviii-p21.4" osisRef="Bible:Ps.37.30" parsed="|Ps|37|30|0|0" passage="Ps 37:30"><i>v.</i> 30</scripRef>) that his <i>mouth speaketh
wisdom;</i> not only he speaks wisely, but he speaks wisdom, like
Solomon himself, for the instruction of those about him. <i>His
tongue talks</i> not of things idle and impertinent, but <i>of
judgment,</i> that is, of the word and providence of God and the
rules of wisdom for the right ordering of the conversation. Out of
the abundance of a good heart will the mouth speak that which is
good and to the use of edifying. 5. We must have our wills brought
into an entire subjection to the will and word of God (<scripRef id="Ps.xxxviii-p21.5" osisRef="Bible:Ps.37.31" parsed="|Ps|37|31|0|0" passage="Ps 37:31"><i>v.</i> 31</scripRef>): <i>The law of God,</i>
of his God, <i>is in his heart;</i> and in vain do we pretend that
God is our God if we do not receive his law into our hearts and
resign ourselves to the government of it. It is but a jest and a
mockery to speak wisdom, and to talk of judgment (<scripRef id="Ps.xxxviii-p21.6" osisRef="Bible:Ps.37.30" parsed="|Ps|37|30|0|0" passage="Ps 37:30"><i>v.</i> 30</scripRef>), unless we have the law
in our hearts, and we think as we speak. The law of God must be a
commanding ruling principle in the heart; it must be a light there,
a spring there, and then the conversation will be regular and
uniform: <i>None of his steps will slide;</i> it will effectually
prevent backsliding into sin, and the uneasiness that follows from
it.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.xxxviii-p22">II. What is assured to us, as instances of
our happiness and comfort, upon these conditions.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.xxxviii-p23">1. That we shall have the blessing of God,
and that blessing shall be the spring, and sweetness, and security
of all our temporal comforts and enjoyments (<scripRef id="Ps.xxxviii-p23.1" osisRef="Bible:Ps.37.22" parsed="|Ps|37|22|0|0" passage="Ps 37:22"><i>v.</i> 22</scripRef>): <i>Such as are blessed of
God,</i> as all the righteous are, with a Father's blessing, by
virtue of that <i>shall inherit the earth,</i> or <i>the land</i>
(for so the same word is translated, <scripRef id="Ps.xxxviii-p23.2" osisRef="Bible:Ps.37.29" parsed="|Ps|37|29|0|0" passage="Ps 37:29"><i>v.</i> 29</scripRef>), the land of Canaan, that glory
of all lands. Our creature-comforts are comforts indeed to us when
we see them flowing from the blessing of God, we are sure not to
want any thing that is good for us in this world. <i>The earth
shall yield us her increase</i> if God, as <i>our own God, give us
his blessing,</i> <scripRef id="Ps.xxxviii-p23.3" osisRef="Bible:Ps.67.6" parsed="|Ps|67|6|0|0" passage="Ps 67:6">Ps. lxvii.
6</scripRef>. And as <i>those whom God blesses are</i> thus
<i>blessed indeed (for they shall inherit the land</i>), so
<i>those whom he curses are cursed indeed;</i> they <i>shall be cut
off</i> and rooted out, and their extirpation by the divine curse
will set off the establishment of the righteous by the divine
blessing and be a foil to it.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.xxxviii-p24">2. That God will direct and dispose of our
actions and affairs so as may be most for his glory (<scripRef id="Ps.xxxviii-p24.1" osisRef="Bible:Ps.37.23" parsed="|Ps|37|23|0|0" passage="Ps 37:23"><i>v.</i> 23</scripRef>): <i>The steps of a good
man are ordered by the Lord.</i> By his grace and Holy Spirit he
directs the thoughts, affections, and designs of good men. He has
all hearts in his hand, but theirs by their own consent. By his
providence he overrules the events that concern them, so as to make
their way plain before them, both what they should do and what they
may expect. Observe, God orders the steps of a good man; not only
his way in general, by his written word, but his particular steps,
by the whispers of conscience, saying, <i>This is the way, walk in
it.</i> He does not always show him his way at a distance, but
leads him step by step, as children are led, and so keeps him in a
continual dependence upon his guidance; and this, (1.) Because
<i>he delights in his way,</i> and is well pleased with the paths
of righteousness wherein he walks. <i>The Lord knows the way of the
righteous</i> (<scripRef id="Ps.xxxviii-p24.2" osisRef="Bible:Ps.1.6" parsed="|Ps|1|6|0|0" passage="Ps 1:6">Ps. i. 6</scripRef>),
knows it with favour, and therefore directs it. (2.) That he may
delight in his way. Because God orders his way according to his own
will, therefore he delights in it; for, as he loves his own image
upon us, so he is well pleased with what we do under his
guidance.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.xxxviii-p25">3. That God will keep us from being ruined
by our falls either into sin or into trouble (<scripRef id="Ps.xxxviii-p25.1" osisRef="Bible:Ps.37.24" parsed="|Ps|37|24|0|0" passage="Ps 37:24"><i>v.</i> 24</scripRef>): <i>Though he fall, he shall
not be utterly cast down.</i> (1.) A good man may be overtaken in a
fault, but the grace of God shall recover him to repentance, so
that he shall not be utterly cast down. Though he may, for a time,
lose the joys of God's salvation, yet they shall be restored to
him; for God shall uphold him with his hand, uphold him with his
free Spirit. The root shall be kept alive, though the leaf wither;
and there will come a spring after the winter. (2.) A good man may
be in distress, his affairs embarrassed, his spirits sunk, but he
shall not be utterly cast down; God will be the strength of his
heart when his flesh and heart fail, and will uphold him with his
comforts, so that the spirit he has made shall not fail before
him.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.xxxviii-p26">4. That we shall not want the necessary
supports of this life (<scripRef id="Ps.xxxviii-p26.1" osisRef="Bible:Ps.37.25" parsed="|Ps|37|25|0|0" passage="Ps 37:25"><i>v.</i>
25</scripRef>): "<i>I have been young and now am old,</i> and,
among all the changes I have seen in men's outward condition and
the observations I have made upon them, <i>I never saw the
righteous forsaken</i> of God and man, as I have sometimes seen
wicked people abandoned both by heaven and earth; nor do I ever
remember to have seen the seed of the righteous reduced to such an
extremity as to beg their bread." David had himself begged his
bread of Abimelech the priest, but it was when Saul hunted him; and
our Saviour has taught us to except the case of persecution for
righteousness' sake out of all the temporal promises (<scripRef id="Ps.xxxviii-p26.2" osisRef="Bible:Mark.10.30" parsed="|Mark|10|30|0|0" passage="Mk 10:30">Mark x. 30</scripRef>), because that has such
peculiar honours and comforts attending it as make it rather a gift
(as the apostle reckons it, <scripRef id="Ps.xxxviii-p26.3" osisRef="Bible:Phil.1.29" parsed="|Phil|1|29|0|0" passage="Php 1:29">Phil. i.
29</scripRef>) than a loss or grievance. But there are very few
instances of good men, or their families, that are reduced to such
extreme poverty as many wicked people bring themselves to by their
wickedness. He had not <i>seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed
begging their bread. Forsaken</i> (so some expound it); if they do
want God will raise them up friends to supply them, without a
scandalous exposing of themselves to the reproach of common
beggars; or, if they go from door to door for meat, it shall not be
with despair, as the wicked man <i>that wanders abroad for bread,
saying, Where is it?</i> <scripRef id="Ps.xxxviii-p26.4" osisRef="Bible:Job.15.23" parsed="|Job|15|23|0|0" passage="Job 15:23">Job xv.
23</scripRef>. Nor shall he be denied, as the prodigal, that
<i>would fain have filled his belly, but no man gave unto him,</i>
<scripRef id="Ps.xxxviii-p26.5" osisRef="Bible:Luke.15.16" parsed="|Luke|15|16|0|0" passage="Lu 15:16">Luke xv. 16</scripRef>. Nor shall he
grudge if he be not satisfied, as David's enemies, when they
<i>wandered up and down for meat,</i> <scripRef id="Ps.xxxviii-p26.6" osisRef="Bible:Ps.59.15" parsed="|Ps|59|15|0|0" passage="Ps 59:15">Ps. lix. 15</scripRef>. Some make this promise relate
especially to those that are charitable and liberal to the poor,
and to intimate that David never observed any that brought
themselves to poverty by their charity. It is <i>withholding more
than is meet that tends to poverty,</i> <scripRef id="Ps.xxxviii-p26.7" osisRef="Bible:Prov.11.24" parsed="|Prov|11|24|0|0" passage="Pr 11:24">Prov. xi. 24</scripRef>.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.xxxviii-p27">5. That God will not desert us, but
graciously protect us in our difficulties and straits (<scripRef id="Ps.xxxviii-p27.1" osisRef="Bible:Ps.37.28" parsed="|Ps|37|28|0|0" passage="Ps 37:28"><i>v.</i> 28</scripRef>): <i>The Lord loves
judgment;</i> he delights in doing justice himself and he delights
in those that do justice; and therefore he forsakes not his saints
in affliction when others make themselves strange to them and
become shy of them, but he takes care that they be <i>preserved for
ever,</i> that is, that the saint in every age be taken under his
protection, that the succession be preserved to the end of time,
and that particular saints be preserved from all the temptations
and through all the trials of this present time, to that happiness
which shall be for ever. He will <i>preserve them to his heavenly
kingdom;</i> that is a preservation for ever, <scripRef id="Ps.xxxviii-p27.2" osisRef="Bible:2Tim.4.18 Bible:Ps.12.7" parsed="|2Tim|4|18|0|0;|Ps|12|7|0|0" passage="2Ti 4:18,Ps 12:7">2 Tim. iv. 18; Ps. xii. 7</scripRef>.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.xxxviii-p28">6. That we shall have a comfortable
settlement in this world, and in a better when we leave this. That
we shall <i>dwell for evermore</i> (<scripRef id="Ps.xxxviii-p28.1" osisRef="Bible:Ps.37.27" parsed="|Ps|37|27|0|0" passage="Ps 37:27"><i>v.</i> 27</scripRef>), and not be <i>cut off</i> as
the <i>seed of the wicked,</i> <scripRef id="Ps.xxxviii-p28.2" osisRef="Bible:Ps.37.28" parsed="|Ps|37|28|0|0" passage="Ps 37:28"><i>v.</i> 28</scripRef>. Those shall not be tossed that
make God their rest and are at home in him. But on this earth there
is no dwelling for ever, no continuing city; it is in heaven only,
that city which has foundations, that the righteous shall dwell for
ever; that will be their everlasting habitation.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.xxxviii-p29">7. That we shall not become a prey to our
adversaries, who seek our ruin, <scripRef id="Ps.xxxviii-p29.1" osisRef="Bible:Ps.37.32-Ps.37.33" parsed="|Ps|37|32|37|33" passage="Ps 37:32,33"><i>v.</i> 32, 33</scripRef>. There is an adversary
that takes all opportunities to do us a mischief, a wicked one that
watches the righteous (as a roaring lion watches his prey) and
seeks to slay him. There are wicked men that do so, that are very
subtle (they watch the righteous, that they may have an opportunity
to do them a mischief effectually and may have a pretence wherewith
to justify themselves in the doing of it), and very spiteful, for
they seek to slay him. But it may very well be applied to the
wicked one, the devil, that old serpent, who has his wiles to
entrap the righteous, his devices which we should not be ignorant
of,—that great red dragon, who seeks to slay them,—that roaring
lion, who goes about continually, restless and raging, and seeking
whom he may devour. But it is here promised that he shall not
prevail, neither Satan nor his instruments. (1.) He shall not
prevail as a field-adversary: <i>The Lord will not leave him in his
hand;</i> he will not permit Satan to do what he would, nor will he
withdraw his strength and grace from his people, but will enable
them to resist and overcome him, and <i>their faith shall not
fail,</i> <scripRef id="Ps.xxxviii-p29.2" osisRef="Bible:Luke.22.31-Luke.22.32" parsed="|Luke|22|31|22|32" passage="Lu 22:31,32">Luke xxii. 31,
32</scripRef>. 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
hands, <scripRef id="Ps.xxxviii-p29.3" osisRef="Bible:1Cor.10.13" parsed="|1Cor|10|13|0|0" passage="1Co 10:13">1 Cor. x. 13</scripRef>. (2.)
He shall not prevail as a law-adversary: <i>God will not condemn
him when he is judged,</i> though urged to do it by the accuser of
the brethren, who <i>accuses them before our God day and night.</i>
His false accusations will be thrown out, as those exhibited
against Joshua (<scripRef id="Ps.xxxviii-p29.4" osisRef="Bible:Zech.3.1-Zech.3.2" parsed="|Zech|3|1|3|2" passage="Zec 3:1,2">Zech. iii. 1,
2</scripRef>), <i>The Lord rebuke thee, O Satan! It is God that
justifies,</i> and then <i>who shall lay any thing to the charge of
God's elect?</i></p>
</div><scripCom id="Ps.xxxviii-p29.5" osisRef="Bible:Ps.37.34-Ps.37.40" parsed="|Ps|37|34|37|40" passage="Ps 37:34-40" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Bible:Ps.37.34-Ps.37.40">
<h4 id="Ps.xxxviii-p29.6">Exhortations and Promises.</h4>
<p class="passage" id="Ps.xxxviii-p30">34 Wait on the <span class="smallcaps" id="Ps.xxxviii-p30.1">Lord</span>, and keep his way, and he shall exalt thee
to inherit the land: when the wicked are cut off, thou shalt see
<i>it.</i>   35 I have seen the wicked in great power, and
spreading himself like a green bay tree.   36 Yet he passed
away, and, lo, he <i>was</i> not: yea, I sought him, but he could
not be found.   37 Mark the perfect <i>man,</i> and behold the
upright: for the end of <i>that</i> man <i>is</i> peace.   38
But the transgressors shall be destroyed together: the end of the
wicked shall be cut off.   39 But the salvation of the
righteous <i>is</i> of the <span class="smallcaps" id="Ps.xxxviii-p30.2">Lord</span>:
<i>he is</i> their strength in the time of trouble.   40 And
the <span class="smallcaps" id="Ps.xxxviii-p30.3">Lord</span> shall help them, and
deliver them: he shall deliver them from the wicked, and save them,
because they trust in him.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.xxxviii-p31">The psalmist's conclusion of this sermon
(for that is the nature of this poem) is of the same purport with
the whole, and inculcates the same things.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.xxxviii-p32">I. The duty here pressed upon us is still
the same (<scripRef id="Ps.xxxviii-p32.1" osisRef="Bible:Ps.37.34" parsed="|Ps|37|34|0|0" passage="Ps 37:34"><i>v.</i> 34</scripRef>):
<i>Wait on the Lord and keep his way.</i> Duty is ours, and we must
mind it and make conscience of it, keep God's way and never turn
out of it nor loiter in it, keep close, keep going; but events are
God's and we must refer ourselves to him for the disposal of them;
we must wait on the Lord, attend the motions of his providence,
carefully observe them, and conscientiously accommodate ourselves
to them. If we make conscience of <i>keeping God's way,</i> we may
with cheerfulness wait on him and commit to him our way; and we
shall find him a good Master both to his working servants and to
his waiting servants.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.xxxviii-p33">II. The reasons to enforce this duty are
much the same too, taken from the certain destruction of the wicked
and the certain salvation of the righteous. This good man, being
tempted to envy the prosperity of the wicked, that he might fortify
himself against the temptation, <i>goes into the sanctuary of
God</i> and leads us thither (<scripRef id="Ps.xxxviii-p33.1" osisRef="Bible:Ps.73.17" parsed="|Ps|73|17|0|0" passage="Ps 73:17">Ps.
lxxiii. 17</scripRef>); there he understands their end, and thence
gives us to understand it, and, by comparing that with the end of
the righteous, baffles the temptation and puts it to silence.
Observe,</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.xxxviii-p34">1. The misery of the wicked at last,
however they may prosper awhile: <i>The end of the wicked shall be
cut off</i> (<scripRef id="Ps.xxxviii-p34.1" osisRef="Bible:Ps.37.38" parsed="|Ps|37|38|0|0" passage="Ps 37:38"><i>v.</i> 38</scripRef>);
and that cannot be well that will undoubtedly end so ill. The
wicked, in their end, will be cut off from all good and all hopes
of it; a final period will be put to all their joys, and they will
be for ever separated from the fountain of life to all evil. (1.)
Some instances of the remarkable ruin of wicked people David had
himself observed in this world—that the pomp and prosperity of
sinners would not secure them from the judgments of God when their
day should come to fall (<scripRef id="Ps.xxxviii-p34.2" osisRef="Bible:Ps.37.36 Bible:Ps.37.35" parsed="|Ps|37|36|0|0;|Ps|37|35|0|0" passage="Ps 37:36,35"><i>v.</i>
36, 35</scripRef>): <i>I have seen a wicked man</i> (the word is
singular), suppose Saul or Ahithophel (for David was an old man
when he penned this psalm), <i>in great power, formidable</i> (so
some render it), <i>the terror of the mighty in the land of the
living,</i> carrying all before him with a high hand, and seeming
to be firmly fixed and finely flourishing, <i>spreading himself
like a green bay-tree,</i> which produces all leaves and no fruit;
like a native home-born Israelite (so Dr. Hammond), likely to take
root. But what became of him? Eliphaz, long before, had learned,
when he saw the foolish taking root, to curse his habitation,
<scripRef id="Ps.xxxviii-p34.3" osisRef="Bible:Job.5.3" parsed="|Job|5|3|0|0" passage="Job 5:3">Job v. 3</scripRef>. And David saw
cause for it; for this bay-tree withered away as soon as the
fig-tree. Christ cursed: <i>He passed away as a dream,</i> as a
shadow, such was he and all the pomp and power he was so proud of.
He was gone in an instant: <i>He was not; I sought him</i> with
wonder, <i>but he could not be found.</i> He had acted his part and
then quitted the stage, and there was no miss of him. (2.) The
total and final ruin of sinners, of all sinners, will shortly be
made as much a spectacle to the saints as they are now sometimes
made a spectacle to the world (<scripRef id="Ps.xxxviii-p34.4" osisRef="Bible:Ps.37.34" parsed="|Ps|37|34|0|0" passage="Ps 37:34"><i>v.</i> 34</scripRef>): <i>When the wicked are cut
off</i> (and cut off they certainly will be) <i>thou shalt see
it,</i> with awful adorations of the divine justice. <i>The
transgressors shall be destroyed together,</i> <scripRef id="Ps.xxxviii-p34.5" osisRef="Bible:Ps.37.38" parsed="|Ps|37|38|0|0" passage="Ps 37:38"><i>v.</i> 38</scripRef>. In this world God singles out
here one sinner and there another, out of many, to be made an
example <i>in terrorem—as a warning;</i> but in the day of
judgment there will be a general destruction of all the
transgressors, and not one shall escape. Those that have sinned
together shall be damned together. <i>Bind them in bundles, to burn
them.</i></p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.xxxviii-p35">2. The blessedness of the righteous, at
last. Let us see what will be the end of God's poor despised
people. (1.) Preferment. There have been times the iniquity of
which has been such that men's piety has hindered their preferment
in this world, and put them quite out of the way of raising
estates; but those that keep God's way may be assured that in due
time he will <i>exalt them, to inherit the land</i> (<scripRef id="Ps.xxxviii-p35.1" osisRef="Bible:Ps.37.34" parsed="|Ps|37|34|0|0" passage="Ps 37:34"><i>v.</i> 34</scripRef>); he will advance them
to a place in the heavenly mansions, to dignity, and honour, and
true wealth, in the New Jerusalem, to inherit that good land, that
land of promise, of which Canaan was a type; he will exalt them
above all contempt and danger. (2.) Peace, <scripRef id="Ps.xxxviii-p35.2" osisRef="Bible:Ps.37.37" parsed="|Ps|37|37|0|0" passage="Ps 37:37"><i>v.</i> 37</scripRef>. Let all people <i>mark the
perfect man, and behold the upright;</i> take notice of him to
admire him and imitate him, keep your eye upon him to observe what
comes of him, and you will find that <i>the end of that man is
peace.</i> Sometimes the latter end of his days proves more
comfortable to him than the beginning was; the storms blow over,
and he is comforted again, after the time that he was afflicted.
However, if all his days continue dark and cloudy, perhaps his
dying day may prove comfortable to him and his sun may set in
brightness; or, if it should set under a cloud, yet his future
state will be peace, everlasting peace. Those that walk in their
uprightness while they live shall enter into peace when they die,
<scripRef id="Ps.xxxviii-p35.3" osisRef="Bible:Isa.57.2" parsed="|Isa|57|2|0|0" passage="Isa 57:2">Isa. lvii. 2</scripRef>. A peaceful
death has concluded the troublesome life of many a good man; and
all is well that thus ends everlastingly well. Balaam himself
wished that his death and his last end might be like that of the
righteous <scripRef id="Ps.xxxviii-p35.4" osisRef="Bible:Num.23.10" parsed="|Num|23|10|0|0" passage="Nu 23:10">Num. xxiii. 10</scripRef>.
(3.) Salvation, <scripRef id="Ps.xxxviii-p35.5" osisRef="Bible:Ps.37.39-Ps.37.40" parsed="|Ps|37|39|37|40" passage="Ps 37:39,40"><i>v.</i> 39,
40</scripRef>. <i>The salvation of the righteous</i> (which may be
applied to the great salvation of which <i>the prophets enquired
and searched diligently,</i> <scripRef id="Ps.xxxviii-p35.6" osisRef="Bible:1Pet.1.10" parsed="|1Pet|1|10|0|0" passage="1Pe 1:10">1 Pet. i.
10</scripRef>) <i>is of the Lord;</i> it will be the Lord's doing.
The eternal salvation, that salvation of God which those shall see
that <i>order their conversation aright</i> (<scripRef id="Ps.xxxviii-p35.7" osisRef="Bible:Ps.50.23" parsed="|Ps|50|23|0|0" passage="Ps 50:23">Ps. l. 23</scripRef>), is likewise of the Lord. And he
that intends Christ and heaven for them will be a God
all-sufficient to them: <i>He is their strength in time of
trouble,</i> to support them under it and carry them through it.
<i>He shall help them and deliver them,</i> help them to do their
duties, to bear their burdens, and to maintain their spiritual
conflicts, help them to bear their troubles well and get good by
them, and, in due time, shall deliver them out of their troubles.
He shall deliver them from the wicked that would overwhelm them and
swallow them up, shall secure them there, where the wicked cease
from troubling. He shall <i>save them,</i> not only keep them safe,
but make them happy, <i>because they trust in him,</i> not because
they have merited it from him, but because they have committed
themselves to him and reposed a confidence in him, and have thereby
honoured him.</p>
</div></div2>