Psalm 37 could be called "The Proverbs of David" or "Wise thoughts for successful godly living."  David has shared some important positive commands in the chapter: Trust, Delight, Commit, and Rest in the Lord.  Now, suddenly with the force of a concerned father, he shouts from the page: "Stop!"  As a parent, we can gently teach the wonderful positive lessons of life, but when we see anger, we need to warn with all the force and urgency of life and death before all is destroyed.  Even so, God the Father, through His servant David, warns us to Stop: Cease from anger and forsake wrath."  His words should ring in our hearts!  No matter how much we try to learn to trust, delight, commit and rest, if we do not cease from anger and wrath, it will all crumble before our eyes.  The word Cease is a strong command from God.  In grammar it is called an superlative.  God is warning us of the absolute necessity, the imperative, to cease or to stop from anger.  Isn’t it interesting that in this very famous Psalm, many people have memorized the first seven verses and stop there.  It is as if the devil tries to put a detour sign before verse eight, because he does not want us to see God’s stop sign that would prevent us from disaster.  The devil delights in anger.  Underneath all his subtlety, he is a seething, angry creature.  He tries to get us angry at each other, angry at situations, angry at God.  Then we will be like him, not like God.  I really believe that one of the devil’s intended temptations to Eve was for her to be angry with God.  Because she was still in a state of innocence, the anger could not be provoked, but doubt could.  How quickly things changed after the Fall.  Soon after, we see Cain angry with his brother Abel and with God, and the pattern has continued to this day.  How quickly and thoughtlessly we lose our tempers and find our anger.  For many it seems to lie just in reach, seething, waiting to surface, just like Satan.  How quickly we lash out, like a serpent.  How quickly we wound others and injure ourselves.  One of the biggest causes of stress, broken relationships, even many illnesses, is a deep underlying anger, constantly bubbling, coming to a boil within.  So God warns, pleads, commands: Cease from anger.  Christian friend, if we really want victory, really want to be more like Jesus, then we must cease from anger.  Part of maturity is the developed character of Christ in us that then allows us to calmly, reasonably react to a situation or person rather than to react in anger.  Anger always clouds our emotions when it erupts, so that we can not see clearly to God’s direction and way.  Ecclesiastes 7:9 warns: Be not hasty in thy spirit to be angry: for anger resteth in the bosom of fools.  I, for one, do not want to be a fool.  God continues: forsake wrath.  Totally abandon wrath, those areas of deep seated anger we carry around in our bosom.  Make wrath an alien or orphan to us.  Today, are you carrying around the heavy weight of wrath inside?  Does someone or something make you easily angry?  Stop!  Before another moment goes by, bow before your Creator and ask Him to remove the anger and then set a watch guard before your lips so anger will not spill out.  You see, anger deep within will cause you to fret and be tempted to do evil.  God’s desire is that we will not in any wise do evil.  He wants us to be pure and good.  Lord, help me today, if I feel anger welling up inside, to heed Your warning and stop immediately and, instead, choose Your way of peace and joy.  Help me to so mature in Christ that anger will no longer be natural to me, but a stranger.

This verse is right in the middle of a discussion concerning evil doers, wicked men who strike out at the just, the needy and those of upright conversation.  They are the enemies of God and of God’s people.  They seek to gain by opposing the righteous.  In contrast, we see our verse for today, But the meek shall inherit the earth, and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace.  So often we hear that "meek" or "meekness" are hard words to define.  We know that they do not mean weakness or being wishy-washy as the world would portray.  No, there is too much strength of character in the word.  As part of the fruit of the Spirit, we know that it is such a characteristic of strength that against such there is no law, nothing of the flesh that can have victory over it. (Galatians 5:23)  Part of the "secret" of definition for meekness is found in its contrast in Psalm 37.  While the wicked plot, scheme, gnash out and retaliate, the meek person does not.  With calm control he approaches situations and people with God’s justice in view.  Zephaniah 2:3 says: Seek ye the Lord; all ye meek of the earth, which have wrought his judgment; seek righteousness, seek meekness...  There is a direct relationship between God’s judgments and righteousness and the actions of the meek.  Only a saved person can be truly meek.  As we allow God’s Spirit to control our spirit, meekness will be the result.  No more warring within and without, no more retaliations and hasty reactions, but a calm, sure deliberate reaction resulting in victory and peace.  Verse 9 had proclaimed: For evil doers shall be cut off: but those that wait upon the Lord, they shall inherit the earth.  Now, in verse eleven, we see those that wait on the Lord also called the meek.  Waiting on the Lord, allowing Him to control us, resting in His promises, those are the essentials of meekness.  What marvelous promises are given to the meek!  They shall inherit the earth!  They shall have the delight of the abundance of peace!  The Israelites probably saw this verse as an assurance from God of the promise of peace on the earth, peace between nations or guaranteed peace for Israel.  But in the personal life of the believer, the abundance of peace can also be seen as a present promise from God.  When we react like the world in anger and self interest, not only will we have "wars" with others, but a great warring within ourselves.  When we react in meekness, in godly control based on His righteousness, even if others still oppose us, there will be abundant peace within.  Did it surprise you to find a famous Beatitude of Jesus from Matthew 5:5, in the Book of Psalms?  Actually, Jesus was quoting His own Word from this verse of the Psalms.  The Jews would have been well acquainted with Psalm 37.  As Jesus talked that day to the multitudes, He doubtless was talking to many who felt "the forthright conqueror shall inherit the earth."  They saw the only victory in lustful pursuing and desired a politically conquering Messiah.  Yet Jesus showed them the true victory would be found by the quality of godly meekness; the earth as a reward, not of warfare, but the gift of our inheritance from its Master, Christ.  The true joy of the believer is found in peace.  What a marvelous thought: the meek shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace.  In Christ is the only abundance of peace.  He should be our constant delight.  He is the God of our Peace now and through all eternity.  As Christians, we must remind ourselves to not be tricked into thinking of our promises from God in the abstract, but in concrete reality.  His promises are not only for the future, they are for the present, also.  Today as situations and people come into your life, seek the Lord, seek to react in meekness and discover the delights of the abundant peace that God will give within your heart.

During the Depression in America, the situation of this verse was demonstrated.  As poverty and financial distress swept the land, many Christians were drawn closer to the Lord, even as they lost earthly possessions.  Many of the unsaved suffered loss also, but without the calm peace that only faith can bring.  Then there were others who used the Depression as an opportunity to gain from other’s losses.  These cold hearted and greedy men became richer off of other’s misfortunes.  They even schemed and planned to take all they could regardless of what happened to others.  When years had passed, many of these men had amassed great wealth, but what was the cost in their lives?  While they had money and possessions, many had lost the love and respect of friends and family.  Their lives had become so centered on things, that they had grown insensitive to needs of the heart.  Rich in the things of the world, they had became poor in the things that were really important.  Then there were the precious Christians, many who seemed to have lost everything of the world’s possessions.  If they had remained faithful to the Lord, their love and families were strong in the things that were eternal: love and faith.  In their poverty, the Lord had supplied.  They may have just gotten through financially, but in their hearts was great wealth.  They could have the peace and honor of knowing they had upheld God’s standards, even in the midst of difficulty.  In our lives today, we can often be tempted to envy as we view the riches of others.  Even though there are many wealthy honorable Christians who serve the Lord, many of the richest people are not godly.  Their riches have become their idols.  Think of the fabulously rich drug dealers.  Their estates in Columbia look like the residences of princes.  Wealth became so important that the lives of others had no meaning.  Should we envy those evil men because of their beautiful homes?  I am thankful for the little I have with the riches of a pure heart toward God and man, made righteous by Christ, Himself.  In the world to come each one of us who claims Christ as our Savior will not only have a mansion on the estate grounds of Heaven, but be joint heirs with Christ the King of Glory.  God chooses which of us to bless with earthly riches, but to each of His redeemed He grants full and free redemption, salvation purchased by the precious blood of Christ, riches so far above the temporary riches of the world that we can not even compare them.  Next time that you are tempted when you see the riches of others, remember, you do not know at what price they were obtained.  Look at the little you have in worldly goods and praise the Lord for the riches that outshine any earthly estate or large bank account.  You, as the purchased of God, have riches unspeakable and full of glory...that moth and rust will never corrupt and that no one can steal from you.  Lord, help me to be so thankful for the little that I have on this earth, that I will never forget Who the Provider is.  Help me to be thankful for the things that really count, for salvation, for family, for loved ones and friends.  Lord, when I think of all that You have provided for me, I am overwhelmed at how truly rich I am!  When You bring to naught the worldly goods of evil men, Lord, they will be poor beyond degree.  It humbles me to know that someday I will stand as a joint heir with Your precious Son, a princess in Your kingdom.  Lord, thank You for making me so very rich!

In our Locket Verses, we have had several verses dealing with the "way" that we should go.  Our way is made up of individual steps.  Our life is laid out before us, and along life’s way we must take one step at a time.  That step will either lead us further down the correct path, or away from the chosen road, or might even cause us to stumble.  Just one little step can make the entire difference in the path we take.  How differently that makes us view each step we take!  So often we think that a decision is not really that important, when we do not truly know the consequences of that decision.  In our own strength we dare not take even a small step.  How much better to trust the One who sees the path and knows the dangers and the blessings ahead.  God has a prescribed order for the steps of a saved person.  We need to live so closely to Him that we will be able to walk each step within that ordered path.  We can also understand the idea of ordered steps in another marvelous way.  In God’s Word are all the commands, all the orders, that a Christian needs to live and to choose the right way.  God has already laid out His master plan for the steps of a good man.  If we desire to walk correctly, to choose the right path, we need to become more acquainted with God’s map book, the Bible.  Before we take a step, no matter how small it looks to us, or how large, we need to be very sure that it is in complete adherence to the Word of God.  If in any way the decision could possibly conflict, then we know that it would be against God’s orders.  How often it is the little word we speak or the small decision we make, that ends up being so significant in our lives.  Oh, Lord, I know in my own right I have nothing good to claim, but You have chosen me to be "good" in Christ.  Help me to live up to this marvelous standard that You have chosen for me.  Help me to follow in Your ordered path!  What a confidence we can have to walk in that ordered path.  No more indecision or confusion, no more anxiety or concern, just a sure steady step at a time in the light of His glorious path.  Surely the Christian can find delight in that!  As we walk along that ordered pathway, what delights we will see there!  It will be better than any scenic vacation we could ever imagine.  Even if we stumble and fall along that way, God promises that we will not utterly be cast down because God, Himself, will hold our hand.  What a loving picture of our Heavenly Father.  Remember when your child was very small and just learning to walk.  You would walk along by his side and hold his hand.  If he stumbled, your steady grip was there to prevent serious injury.  Oh, there might have been a bruised knee, or stubbed toe, but as you helped him steady his steps and start again on the path, he felt the calm assurance of your love and care.  We need not be anxious along God’s ordered path, our loving Father is holding our hand.

We are always hearing that our young people need good examples to look up to in their lives.  Many parents decry the "idols" of the day that many teenagers seem to idolize.  They wish that the youth of today had more positive role models.  God knew the importance of that long before television or mass media.  Psalm 37:37, shows us how to find a good role model, not only for our youth, but for ourselves.  God does not say: think of the most important, rich or famous person you know.  No, for His standards He says, Mark the perfect man, and behold the upright.  The mature and upright person might be any one of the thousands of sincere humble Christians that has given his life totally to the Lord.  We are to mark the person who shows maturity in Christ to use as an example to our children.  We are to say, "Look at Mr. Smith.  He is a fine man, he really loves the Lord."  I wonder how many times we have done that in our lives?  How often have we praised another Christian’s actions to our children.  Instead, we so often admire someone in the world for their brilliance of mind or handsomeness of face.  God says that man looks on the outward appearance, but God looks on the heart.  As a born again Christian, we should desire to look as God looks, to the true inward values that matter.  As a parent, I should want to constantly guide my children in the way God would want for them.  In pointing them to godly men and women of the past and present, hopefully I will be teaching them the principles of character that they will want to emulate.  As they observe others making wise and courageous decisions, in spite of worldly pressure to do otherwise, they will be helped to choose what is right and pleasing in God’s eyes.  Each person is writing his own life story.  Each page builds to a chapter, each chapter to the finale.  In the "end" all the threads will be woven together.  As we read the life of an ungodly person, we see the disasters, troubles and frustrations his life choices gave as his "end."  It will be a novel of tragedy.  The biography of the godly person will, however, be one of adventure and romance with the Lord Jesus as the main character.  The last chapter will open a vista into a never ending story of peace as they enter into the joy of their Lord.  As I admire the lives of others and realize that true peace follows those that are matured and perfected in Christ, it should challenge me.  Lord, through this verse today, You are talking directly to me.  You are saying, "Look at the man that really loves Me, child.  Consider deeply in your heart.  Don’t you want the qualities you see in his life in your life, too?"  Yes, Lord, I want Your peace, I want to please You.  Help me today to be one who is being perfected in Your sight.  Help me to make proper choices.  Help me to be upright in my living.  Lord, help me to mark Your standards into the plans of my life today.  Help me to set before my eyes the person You can make of me, if I will just let You.  I fall so short so many times, Lord.  Work in my life, mark me out for Your perfecting care.  Remold and remake me into that example You want me to be.

David was in real trouble.  We are not certain of all that he was going through, but Psalm 38 speaks of physical trouble, wounds that won’t heal, enemies that oppose him, strength failing, friends and foes alike standing afar off.  The note at the beginning of the Psalm in my Bible calls this David’s "pitiful case."  His case may have been pitiful, yet, David still cries out to God in full confidence that the Lord hears, understands and can answer in His will.  Let’s read our verse with a verse later in the Psalm, verse 15: Lord, all my desire is before thee; and my groaning is not hid from thee...For in thee, O Lord, do I hope; thou wilt hear, O Lord my God.  No matter how difficult the situation, how much pain it involved, how impossible the outcome looked, David continued to hope and trust in the Lord.  He knew that all his desires, all his needs, all his secret fears and hopes, were known to God.  He knew that in his agony, in his groaning, God was close beside him, caring for him as the Great Physician.  No matter what the circumstances, David knew that God was still his Lord and though all else fail, God would not.  David knew his Lord was still the God who deserved David’s full trust and devotion.  We might not be king of Israel, or the mighty warrior of God in the Old Testament, but we are just as known to God as David was.  In each of our lives there comes situations, illness, troubles, times of grief, when we could feel as "pitiful" as David did.  The world and the devil would like us to say, "Oh, poor me, God must have forsaken me."  Or, "Lord, why did You let this happen to me, don’t You care?"  But the pages of Scripture plead with us to continue to be strong in faith, trusting in God.  When all seems at its lowest point, remember to look to the One who is higher than all circumstances, the Lord of your salvation.  He loves you, He cares for you.  No matter what the difficulty, He knows all about it.  Isn’t it wonderful that nothing is hid from God.  We can not be in any trial or difficulty that God does not already know about.  Before we call, He is already answering our need.  To know this is to have hope, peace and comfort in our soul.  As I have gone into surgery, I know that I will be unable to pray during that deep physical crisis, but the Holy Spirit will be praying for me.  No matter what may transpire, God is still in control.  During one surgery, I had several cardiac arrests.  This was completely unpredicted, even my husband was unaware that it was happening.  Yet God, in all His power and omniscience, was vitally involved with me.  I was still in His care and control, as were those that were providing my medical care.  Truly nothing was hid from God, everything was before Him and He was still the God in whom I could trust.  Today if you have some difficulty, if someone opposes you, or the pain of a grief or illness seems to become overwhelming, turn to the Lord as David did.  Know beyond a shadow of a doubt that God hears, cares and will act.  Hope in God!  Rejoice that all your desires are before Him, even those you would not tell to any other person, and that all your groaning, physically and emotionally, is known to Him.  Hope in God!

This verse stands as one of the most important soul winning verses in the Bible!  It tells us what we need to do and gives the promise of a sure result: Many shall see it, and fear, and shall trust in the LORD.  If we want to be used of the Lord to turn sinners to trust and faith in God, we need to learn to live this verse.  God has given His promise of a sure success, we need to so learn the meaning of Psalm 40:3, that we can see that success in our own lives and in the lives of others.  At salvation, God put a new song in our mouths.  What is this new song?  Our verse tells us it is praise unto our God.  We need to acknowledge to others that the Lord is OUR God.  No place for secret Christians here!  We have to speak of Him for others to hear.  Though we can have a new song in our heart, and really must have it there for it to be a reality in our spoken words and songs, we must let that new song spill out of our mouths so that others will know of our wonderful Lord and what He has done for us.  We must praise Him.  Many other verses tell of this new song given to us at salvation.  Psalm 33 tells us we are to play (or speak) it skillfully.  Are you acquainted skillfully with God’s Word and how to effectively praise Him before others?  Make the skill of witnessing as important in your life as the musician, who must spend selected time everyday practicing his instrument.  Become a skillful witness.  Psalm 96:1 and 98:1, tell us to sing this new song unto the Lord before all the earth because He hath done marvelous things and He hath gotten the victory.  The victory was won at the Cross of Calvary.  We must speak of Christ’s unique and complete atonement to others.  We can not be compromising here, He has won the victory.  It is not a church or a ritual or a system of life, it is Christ and Him alone that we must proclaim as the Victor.  He has truly done marvelous things, He is the mighty Creator, the Sustainer of life.  He does many marvelous things in our lives everyday, but specifically, He has done marvelous things in relation to our salvation (Psalm 98 speaks of salvation, righteousness, mercy and truth as the marvelous things He has done).  Be brave and bold to speak of these things to others.  Several of the other verses about the new song speak of us doing it openly before others.  Then, we come to the verse picturing the redeemed throng in Heaven singing that new song: And they sing the song of Moses the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying, Great, and marvelous are thy works, Lord God Almighty; just and true are thy ways, thou King of saints.  Have you sung the song of Moses, the song of mighty deliverance and praise to God for His power?  It is interesting to note the last two verses of Moses’ song, Psalm 90, because Moses wanted his song to have results in lives.  Let thy work appear unto thy servants, and thy glory unto their children.  And let the beauty of the Lord our God be upon us; yea, the work of our hands establish thou it.  Is God’s beauty being seen by others in our lives?  Are we working as unto Him in all areas?  God will use our lives to be a song of praise to Him.  He will use the song to help us establish a conversation with a lost person.  Lord, help me to sing aloud the new song You have given to me.  Let Your beauty and glory be seen in my humble life so that others will see, fear and trust You, the Mighty One, and then learn that new song for themselves.  Let me be Your skilled musician in the song of redemption, O Lord my God.