When the bad guys are winning, be content

We've discussed that when the "bad guys" (or gals) are winning, we first need to submit to the Lord, by "doing the math" --  subtracting fretting, envy, and anger and adding patience, humility, and trust to our lives. 
In the next section of our psalm (number 37), David tells us more:

The wicked plot against the righteous
    and gnash their teeth at them;
 but the Lord laughs at the wicked,
    for he knows their day is coming.

 The wicked draw the sword
    and bend the bow
to bring down the poor and needy,
    to slay those whose ways are upright.
 But their swords will pierce their own hearts,
    and their bows will be broken. (Psalm 37:12-15)

David gives us a picture here of judgment. I think his theme in these verses is to be content in the Lord -- because it is He Who will judge. 

Whaaaaaatttttt? Easy for him to say, right?

I mean, he's the king and all. Sitting in his palace, with mighty men of valor to guard him. Nations around his are at peace with him for the time being, and all is well. 
So what does he know about the kind of thing that's going on in my life?

Well, this psalm doesn't come from an ivy-covered castle. It's not the result of living in an ivory tower. David's early life was no picnic. Plucked from the job of shepherd, he was thrust into the limelight by facing a giant, then pursued hither and yon by a vengeful, jealous king. Even on his good days, Saul had a tendency to throw things at David (grin) and on his bad days, he sought him everywhere to kill him. David's life experiences included brushes with righteous men and wicked ones, so he knew quite well the conflict between the two. 

We may be facing some difficult times that truly try our faith. We may be afflicted. We may be needy. But whatever the trial, David says we can learn to be content in the Lord. Verse thirteen says that God isn't worried about the schemes and pride of the wicked. He knows that the seeming victories that they exult over are only going to last for a short time. Then their judgment will come - and sometimes their own schemes come right back on them.

As believers, we can rest assured that if the Lord doesn't settle the evildoers' accounts in this life, there is a time coming when everything will be made right.

For the Son of Man is going to come in his Father’s glory with his angels, and then he will reward each person according to what they have done. (Matthew 16:27)

We can leave vengeance to God, trusting and being content in Him.

It is mine to avenge; I will repay.
    In due time their foot will slip;
their day of disaster is near
    and their doom rushes upon them. (Deuteronomy 32:35)

Jesus told us the end of the wicked:

Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’ (Matthew 7:23)

And the eternal life of the righteous:

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. (John 3:16-17)