What does Psalm 37:5 mean?

David tells his readers to be committed to God, including with their trust, which is the essence of "faith." The Hebrew root word translated "commit" literally means "to roll." In Hebrew, this is used figuratively to describe handing over, seeking, or consigning something. The trusting believer "rolls" his burdens onto the Lord (Matthew 11:28). He trusts the Lord to take care of situations he cannot handle. This concept is highlighted in other Psalms (Psalm 55:22) and the teachings of Solomon (Proverbs 16:3). Peter seems to cite this concept in the New Testament (1 Peter 5:7).

If we trust the Lord to handle our burdens for us, we will not be anxious about wicked people (Psalm 37:1). David assures us: if we entrust our burdens to God, the Lord will act. He will ultimately deal with those who malign and threaten us (Romans 12:19).

At times, our greatest foes are alarming circumstances. They threaten our peace and even our faith, but the apostle Peter told us God cares for us, therefore we should cast all our anxieties on Him (1 Peter 5:7). The apostle Paul offered the same prescription for personal peace. He wrote in Philippians 4:6–7 to be anxious about nothing, but to make our requests known to God in prayer. As a result, the peace of God will guard our hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.