psalm-37:4-6

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Psalms 37:1-8

1. A call to continuing trust 37:1-8 read more

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Psalms 37:1-40

Psalms 37This wisdom psalm advances the thought of Psalms 36. Note the mention of doers of iniquity in Psalms 36:12 and the reference to evildoers in Psalms 37:1. Here David urged the righteous not to let the prosperity of the wicked upset them but to continue to trust in God’s justice. Similar encouragements characterize Psalms 49, 73. Here the psalmist used several proverbial expressions to convey his exhortation."In a moving way the psalmist deals with the issues of life and death, wisdom... read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Psalms 37:3-4

Positively, we should center our lives on God. We should continue to trust in the Lord to do what is right and persist in doing right ourselves. For the Israelite this meant staying in the Promised Land rather than leaving it for greener pastures elsewhere. Those who take delight in the Lord will receive their hearts’ desires. The righteous who delight in the Lord will want to see His will done, and that will happen eventually for them. read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Psalms 37:5-7

Committing one’s way to the Lord means submitting one’s life and its daily events to the will of God. If we do this, we will experience what He wants for us. Eventually God will reward our righteousness and show that our confidence was wise."An obsession with enemies and rivals cannot be simply switched off, but it can be ousted by a new focus of attention . . . It includes a deliberate redirection of one’s emotions (4a, take delight; cf. Paul and Silas in prison, singing as well as praying),... read more

John Dummelow

John Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 37:1-40

This is an acrostic Ps., in which the alphabetic arrangement is carried without a break through 22 stanzas of varying length, to which the vv. of the English Bible do not correspond. The contents are closely akin to the maxims of the book of Proverbs, but they are touched with a fervour which elevates them into true poetry. The creed of the Psalmist is that sooner or later, even in this life, wickedness is punished, and righteousness vindicated. This is a theory which, of course, is too simple... read more

Charles John Ellicott

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - Psalms 37:5

(5) Commit . . .—See margin, and Psalms 22:8. (Comp. Proverbs 16:3.) In Psalms 55:22 the word is different. read more

Charles John Ellicott

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - Psalms 37:6

(6) The light.—The image is from an Eastern dawn and the progress of the sun to its meridian glory. (Comp. Job 11:17; Isaiah 58:10.) read more

William Nicoll

Expositor's Dictionary of Texts - Psalms 37:1-40

Unto All Nations Psalms 37:2 A Church which is in no sense a Missionary Church is really dead. I. The spiritual prosperity of the Church at home becomes a fountain to feed missions abroad. The Gospel in its essence is remedial. It claims to be the one means of healing for the common malady of human nature. We may say that all missions are medical missions. The Gospel contemplates the whole world as one vast hospital full of sick souls and wounded hearts, and warped and diseased wills. II. And... read more

William Nicoll

Expositor's Bible Commentary - Psalms 37:1-40

Psalms 37:1-40THERE is a natural connection between acrostic structure and didactic tone, as is shown in several instances, and especially in this psalm. The structure is on the whole regular, each second verse beginning with the required letter, but here and there the period is curtailed or elongated by one member. Such irregularities do not seem to mark stages in the thought or breaks in the sequence, but are simply reliefs to the monotony of the rhythm, like the shiftings of the place of the... read more

Arno Clemens Gaebelein

Arno Gaebelein's Annotated Bible - Psalms 37:1-40

Psalms 37:0 The Blessed Lot of the Righteous Contrasted with the Wicked 1. Waiting for Jehovah and His promise (Psalms 37:1-11 ) 2. The doom of the wicked and the portion of the righteous (Psalms 37:12-20 ) 3. The ways of the righteous and the wicked (Psalms 37:21-29 ) 4. God’s gracious ways with the righteous (Psalms 37:30-40 ) This Psalm is also alphabetical in structure and somewhat proverbial in character. It is full of sweet comfort and encouragement to faith. All the saints of... read more