Psalms 37 — Overview

John Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible · John Gill (1697–1771) · Public Domain

PSALM 37[A Psalm] of David. This psalm, it is very probable, was written at the same time, and upon the same occasion, with the former; and describes the different states of good and bad men; and is full of exhortations, instructions, and advice to the people of God; intermixed with various encouraging promises.

A late learned writer thinks it was written for Mephibosheth's consolation under Ziba's calumny. Delaney's Life of King David, vol. 2. p. 219.Ver. 1. Fret not thyself because of evildoers,.... The saints may be grieved at them and for them, because of their evil doings, and may be angry with them for them; yet are not to show any undue warmth, at least in an indecent way, by calling them opprobrious names; for the words may be rendered, "do not show thyself warm" or "angry" : in a sinful way; or fret not at their outward prosperity, as it is explained Ps 37:7.

The Targum adds, "to be like them", which agrees with Ps 37:8;neither be thou envious against the workers of iniquity; that is, at their present temporal happiness; see Ps 73:3. The Targum adds, as before, to be joined with them; which sense some parallel places seem to incline to, Pr 3:31.

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Psalms 37 — OverviewPsalms 37 · Matthew Henry's Commentary on the Whole BibleThis 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…Psalms 37 — OverviewPsalms 37 · Treasury of Scripture KnowledgePsalms 37:1, David persuades to patience and confidence in God, by the different estate of the godly and the wicked.Psalms 37:1-6Psalms 37:1-6 · Matthew Henry's Commentary on the Whole BibleThe 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. I. We are…Psalms 37:1Psalms 37:1 · The Pulpit CommentaryFret not thyself because of evildoers. According to Aristotle, we have a special emotion implanted in our nature— νέμεσις—which causes us to "fret" when we witness undeserved prosperity ('Rhet.,' 2.9, § 1). Certainly…Psalms 37:1-6Psalms 37:1-6 · The Pulpit CommentaryDoubts raised by the Divine providence, and how to meet them. The difficulty which perplexes the mind of the psalmist here is—How does God judge the wicked, if he allows them to prosper; and how reward the righteous,…Psalms 37:1-40Psalms 37:1-40 · The Pulpit CommentaryEXPOSITION THIS is another of the alphabetical psalms (see above, Psalms 9:1-20; Psalms 25:1-22; and 34.), and, though more free from irregularities than the previous ones, is not altogether without them. While,…

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