When the bad guys win, do the math (Part II)

We are back in Psalm 37 today, and we are focused on what our reactions should be when we look around us and see that the bad guys are winning. When evildoers prosper, what should we do? 
We saw last time that we studied, that David said to subtract fretting (irritation), envy, and anger from our lives.

Today, we will take up the addition side - what did David say we should add to our lives?

We are still focused on the first eleven verses of Psalm 37; of course, I hope you have your Bible open as we study! The first thing we can notice in these verses is that when we see evil men and women prospering, we need to shift our focus to the Lord. There are five times that David mentions the Lord by name, and five more times that he uses "He" to refer to the Lord. He's saying to all who will listen, "Hey! Don't get frustrated when the wicked prosper -- here is the antidote! Be God-centered; submit to His leadership and quit focusing on those evildoers."

David says that we need to add trust to our lives:

Trust in the Lord and do good;
    dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture.

Commit your way to the Lord;
    trust in him and he will do this: (vs 3 and 5)

To trust in the Lord means more than just mouthing the words. It means a course of action. It means a way of life. When the wicked seem to be winning and we seem to be treading water (or losing), we roll the whole problem onto our Lord. And we watch Him vindicate us in His time:

He will make your righteous reward shine like the dawn,
    your vindication like the noonday sun. (v. 6)

Next, David says to add obedience:

do good;
    dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture. (v 3b)

Leave things in the Lord's hands (that's the trust part, right?) and go on with our tasks and responsibilities. We have to be careful that the other person's sin doesn't lead US into sin. God has given us tasks to do, so we must add obedience to our trust.

David also says we must add patience:

Be still before the Lord
    and wait patiently for him; (v 7a)

Whew! Isn't that the hardest part of submitting to God's plan? Yep. Submitting to His timing. He may not act on our timetable. Instead of taking days, it may take months or years for God to vindicate us. But if we add trust and obedience, why stop there? Add in patience, too.

Lastly, David says to add humility (the NIV translates it "meek.")

But the humble will inherit the land
And will delight themselves in abundant prosperity. (v 11)

Being humble means that we won't puff up with pride and self-righteously judge the wicked. After all, apart from the mercy of God, we would act just as they do. Being humble means that we will be aware of our own sinfulness and the grace of Christ, our Savior. And just in case anyone is getting the wrong idea, being humble and meek does NOT mean weakness. It doesn't mean we are a doormat for others. We have studied before that the term used in the Hebrew (and in the Greek, in the New Testament) carries with it the meaning of a strong but powerful horse -- not weak, but submissive to its master's hand on the reins.

Does verse eleven sound familiar? Well, it should: Jesus took that verse as His third Beatitude:

Blessed are the meek,
    for they will inherit the earth. (Matthew 5:5)

The world we live in says the exact opposite! "Blessed are those who assert themselves and stand up for their own rights and desires!" Jesus and David disagree with the world, and they say the humble (NIV says "gentle") will ultimately come out on top. The prosperity of verse eleven is literally an abundance of peace . . . it doesn't refer to material things. The person who trusts in the Lord and patiently waits in humble obedience will find abundant peace.

David reminds us in verse four of the theme of his previous psalm (36).

Delight yourself in the Lord;
And He will give you the desires of your heart. (v. 4)

All of these additions can be summed up in the phrase "delight yourself in the Lord." When we gain the Lord, we gain everything else we will ever need . . . this doesn't mean that He will give someone anything they selfishly desire! It means that if we delight in Him, our desires will be in line with what He desires for us.

Let's say that a wicked person disrespects us or harms us in some way. We will be tempted to fret, to envy, or to get angry - but a response rooted in those feelings will harm our testimony. If we respond to the wrong by subtracting those things and adding trust, obedience, patience, and humility, that wicked person will think, "That person is different! That's something I need in my life!" He or she may be brought to repentance and then to salvation . . . whatever the outcome, though, and whatever the timing, we can have abundant peace from the Lord.