Delight Yourself in the Lord

Read Psalm 37

Gas prices. Inflation. Food and supply shortages. People in high places, getting away with crimes for which the ordinary little guy would be in prison. The wicked are enough to make us fret. That's why the psalmist warns us , " Do not fret because of evildoers... Psalm 37:1

It can be quite overwhelming when the innocent are oppressed and the wicked seem to prosper. When the scales of  justice are not balancing at all, we can find ourselves fretting, upset and asking God, " "When are You going to intervene and help us?"

The Word of God reminds us that the wicked will perish; That their days are numbered and that they will not inherit the land. To the unbeliever, this world is the best it gets. Sadly, for them, its their heaven. But Praise be to God, for the follower of Jesus Christ, this world, with all of its sorrow and trouble,  is the worst we will ever endure. 

 The comfort that we glean from this entire psalm is not so much about what will happen to those who set themselves up against the Lord God Almighty ,but rather what the righteous will experience when they set their heart toward God.  The exhortation to the righteous ones is the emphasis!  We are told not to spend our energy on being upset and angry with the evil we see around us,  but instead,  " Trust in the LORD and do good. Dwell in the land and cultivate faithfulness"( Ps 37:3)  Focus on the Lord and His goodness, He is faithful and He will do what He says He will do! Dwell where He has planted you and cultivate faithfulness in your own life.  

As Jesus said to his worried earthly parents when they "lost " him in the celebratory crowd in Jerusalem, "Don't you know that I had to be about My Fathers business?", we too are to be about our Heavenly Fathers business. ( Lk 2:49)

 Verse 4 of this Psalm continues.... "Delight yourself in the LORD and He will give you the desires of  your heart" 

I've learned to quote this verse when I pump gas. Instead of being irate over the wickedness of it all,  I chose to delight myself in the Lord- to enjoy Him. To enjoy His presence. To enjoy the blessings I do have. To enjoy the beauty of His creation that is around me each and every day. I must choose to obey verse 8 which commands me to " cease from anger and forsake wrath. Do not fret , it leads only to evildoing" 

I refuse to let my heart grow bitter over the evil doing of others. God will deal with them. Perhaps some may even come to repentance and be saved! I will pray that no matter how much doom and gloom may be in the world today, I will delight myself in God. I will enjoy my Saviors fellowship! I pray you will do the same!