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Discover the Arts! Each day a different image from the Literary, Performing, or Visual Arts representing a portion of Scripture
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2015 March 10



Sunset at Ivry (1873)
Armand Guillaumin (1841-1927)
Impressionism Style
Musee d'Orsay, Paris, France
Image Source: Web Gallery of Art


     Explanation: Psalm 37 Is an acrostic Psalm; (see below for a list). In it, David encourages the righteous to steadfastly trust the LORD in spite of great affliction. Today's painting illustrates verse 20 which speaks of the wicked vanishing like smoke.

          [ THEMATICALLY AND CHRONOLOGICALLY RELATED SCRIPTURES: ACROSTIC PSALMS: Psalm 9. Psalm 10. Psalm 25. Psalm 34. Psalm 37. Psalm 111. Psalm 112. Psalm 119. Psalm 145. ]

          [ CHRONOLOGY: General. Patriarchs (Traditional). Judges # 1. Judges # 2. Kings # 1. Kings # 2. Prophets # 1. Prophets # 2. NT # 1. NT # 2. NT # 3. ]

          [ MAPS: Maps # 1. Maps # 2. Maps # 3. Maps # 4. Maps # 5. ]

          [ COMMENTARIES, ETC: GENERAL: Bible Study Tools; Bible Hub: Study Light; Blue Letter Bible // PSALMS: Monergism: Precept Austin: The Treasury of David; John Gill; John Calvin - Volumes 1, 2, 3, 4, 5]

          [ MUSIC: GENERAL: The Cyber Hymnal // PSALMS: Genevan Psalter (Instrumental). Psalm 37 - #1. ]

     David tells his readers not to fret (or become heated in spirit) because of evildoers and workers of iniquity because they shall soon be cut down (1-2). He tells them to trust in the LORD, to do good, and they shall dwell in the land and be fed. He tells them to delight themselves (to deeply delight) in the LORD and he will give them the desires of their heart (3-4). Also, they should commit their way to the LORD and trust him; and the LORD will bring their desires to pass, and will bring forth their righteousness and win their case for them (5-6). Therefore, they should rest (or stand still) patiently for him. And, again, he tells them not to fret (be heated in spirit) when they see someone prospering in wickedness (7). They should put away anger, wrath, fretting, and evil-doing. Evildoers will be cut off; but those who wait on the LORD shall inherit the earth (8-9). But in a short while the wicked will vanish; and the meek will inherit the earth (10-11). The wicked plot against the just and gnash their teeth against them; but the LORD laughs at them because he sees that their day is coming (12-13). The wicked get their swords and bows ready to slay the upright; but they are killed with their own weapons (14-15). The little which the righteous have is better than the riches of many wicked ones. The arms of the wicked will be broken; but the LORD upholds the righteous (16-17). The LORD knows the days of the righteous; and he gives them an eternal inheritance. And they will not be ashamed in evil times; and they will be satisfied in days of famine (18-19). But the wicked will perish and will vanish away like smoke (20). The wicked borrow but do not repay. However the righteous show mercy and give to others. Those who are blessed by the LORD inherit the earth; but those who are cursed by him are cut off (21-22). The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD. And he delights in his way. If he falls, he will not be utterly cast down, because the LORD upholds him with his hand (23-24). At this point in the Psalm, David interjects his personal testimony and affirms that from his youth to his old age he had never seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread. The righteous are always merciful; they always lend; and his seed is blessed (25-26). So, says David, depart from evil, do good, and dwell for evermore. The LORD loves judgment and will not forsake his saints. He preserves them forever; but the seed of the wicked perish. The righteous inherit the land and dwell in it foreveer (27-29). The righteous speak wisdom and judgment. The law of God is in his heart; and none of his steps slide (30-31). The wicked watch the righteous, seeking to slay them. But the LORD will not leave them in their hand, nor will he condemn him when he is judged (32-33). Wait on the LORD, says David. Keep his way, and he will cause them to inherit the land; but he will cut off the wicked; and the righteous will see it (34). And, again offering his testimony, David says that he has seen the wicked in great power, spreading himself like a green tree, but he passed away and could not be found (35-36). So he tells his hearers to mark the perfect and upright man, because his end is peace. But transgressors will be destroyed and cut off (37-38). But the righteous will be saved by the LORD. He will be their strength in time of trouble. He will help them and deliver them from the wicked because they trust in him (39-40).


THE PSALTER:

BOOK ONE OF FIVE:

Psalms 1-41.


Psalm 37

1 A Psalm of David. *

[Aleph]
Fret not thyself because of evildoers, neither be thou envious against the workers of iniquity.
2 For they shall soon be cut down like the grass, and wither as the green herb.

[Beth]
3 Trust in the LORD, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed.
4 Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.

[Gimel]
5 Commit thy way unto the LORD; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass.
6 And he shall bring forth thy righteousness as the light, and thy judgment as the noonday.

[Daleth]
7 Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for him: fret not thyself because of him who prospereth in his way, because of the man who bringeth wicked devices to pass.

[He]
8 Cease from anger, and forsake wrath: fret not thyself in any wise to do evil.
9 For evildoers shall be cut off: but those that wait upon the LORD, they shall inherit the earth.

[Vau]
10 For yet a little while, and the wicked shall not be: yea, thou shalt diligently consider his place, and it shall not be.
11 But the meek shall inherit the earth; and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace.

[Zain]
12 The wicked plotteth against the just, and gnasheth upon him with his teeth.
13 The Lord shall laugh at him: for he seeth that his day is coming.

[Cheth]
14 The wicked have drawn out the sword, and have bent their bow, to cast down the poor and needy, and to slay such as be of upright conversation.
15 Their sword shall enter into their own heart, and their bows shall be broken.

[Teth]
16 A little that a righteous man hath is better than the riches of many wicked.
17 For the arms of the wicked shall be broken: but the LORD upholdeth the righteous.

[Jod]
18 The LORD knoweth the days of the upright: and their inheritance shall be for ever.
19 They shall not be ashamed in the evil time: and in the days of famine they shall be satisfied.

[Caph]
20 But the wicked shall perish, and the enemies of the LORD shall be as the fat of lambs: they shall consume; into smoke shall they consume away.

[Lamed]
21 The wicked borroweth, and payeth not again: but the righteous sheweth mercy, and giveth.
22 For such as be blessed of him shall inherit the earth; and they that be cursed of him shall be cut off.

[Mem]
23 The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD: and he delighteth in his way.
24 Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down: for the LORD upholdeth him with his hand.

[Nun]
25 I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread.
26 He is ever merciful, and lendeth; and his seed is blessed.

[Samech]. [Ain].
27 Depart from evil, and do good; and dwell for evermore.
28 For the LORD loveth judgment, and forsaketh not his saints; they are preserved for ever: but the seed of the wicked shall be cut off.
29 The righteous shall inherit the land, and dwell [Ain] therein for ever.

[Pe]
30 The mouth of the righteous speaketh wisdom, and his tongue talketh of judgment.
31 The law of his God is in his heart; none of his steps shall slide.

[Tsade]
32 The wicked watcheth the righteous, and seeketh to slay him.
33 The LORD will not leave him in his hand, nor condemn him when he is judged.

[Koph]
34 Wait on the LORD, and keep his way, and he shall exalt thee to inherit the land: when the wicked are cut off, thou shalt see it.

[Resch]
35 I have seen the wicked in great power, and spreading himself like a green bay tree.
36 Yet he passed away, and, lo, he was not: yea, I sought him, but he could not be found.

[Schin]
37 Mark the perfect man, and behold the upright: for the end of that man is peace.
38 But the transgressors shall be destroyed together: the end of the wicked shall be cut off.

[Tau]
39 But the salvation of the righteous is of the LORD: he is their strength in the time of trouble.
40 And the LORD shall help them, and deliver them: he shall deliver them from the wicked, and save them, because they trust in him.


* NOTE: On Opening and Closing Comments in the Psalms.
[Some commentators take the Psalm in Habakkuk 3 to be a standard model for the Psalms.
Habakkuk's Psalm begins with the name of the composer (Habakkuk) and a musical notation ("upon Shigionoth").
It closes with a dedication or a "send to" notice ("To the chief singer on my stringed instruments").
I have arranged similar material, where it is found in the Psalter, in accord with the model in Habakkuk.]




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