"Do Not Fret Because Of Evil Men!"

The Bible offers wise counsel under every kind of circumstance. We as Christians need to realize this as we stagger under the blows of what wicked men have done to innocent lives and families in Iraq, Afghanistan, across our nation, and various other parts of the world.

King David, in his old age, with inspired reflection, considered evil men and what happens to them. He offers to us the following advice and counsel: “Do not fret because of evil men” (Psalm 37:1 NIV). To fret is to worry, to have heartburn, to fume, to agitate, to agonize, to get one’s self into a troubled state. Before we get in such a troubled state, we should consider what the end is for evil men.

David tells us, “For like the grass they will soon wither, like green plants they will soon die away” (Psalm 37:2). Again, in verse 9, David tells us they “will be cut off.” In verse 10 he states, “A little while, and the wicked will be no more, though you look for them, they will not be found.” David further assures us that “their power will be broken” (vs. 17); ”their swords shall pierce their own hearts, and their bows will be broken” (vs. 15). In the meantime, “the Lord laughs at the wicked, for he knows their day is coming” (Psalm 37:13). So we need not fret because of evil men.

Rather, we should “Trust in the LORD and do good” (Psalm 37:3) — Faith cures fretting and so does doing good. Let us use our energy in constructive activities and causes. Let us be “trusting and doing good”; Let us also, “Delight yourself in the LORD” (Psalm 37:4) — make Him the source of our joy and strength; “Commit your way to the LORD” (Psalm 37:5) — Roll the whole burden of life upon Him with the firm determination to walk in His ways; And then, “Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for him; do not fret when men succeed in their ways, when they carry out their wicked schemes” (Psalm 37:7) — Patient waiting is needed in the great trials of life (Psalm 37:34).

Beloved, in this era of great wickedness, a careful and reverent reading of Psalm 37 will encourage and give peace to our soul. A careful and reverent reading of reading of Psalm 73 will do the same. 

—Mike Riley, Gospel Snippets