Psalm 37:3 - Printer Friendly

ESV: Trust in the Lord, and do good; dwell in the land and befriend faithfulness.

NIV: Trust in the Lord and do good; dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture.

NASB: Trust in the Lord and do good; Live in the land and cultivate faithfulness.

CSB: Trust in the Lord and do what is good; dwell in the land and live securely.

NLT: Trust in the Lord and do good. Then you will live safely in the land and prosper.

KJV: Trust in the Lord, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed.

NKJV: Trust in the Lord, and do good; Dwell in the land, and feed on His faithfulness.

David continues his wise counsel (Psalm 37:1–2) by telling his audience to put their confidence in the Lord and do what's right. Those concepts are inseparable: trusting God and obeying Him go hand in hand. The book of James was written to teach that legitimate faith leads to related works. James 2:18 comments, "Show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my works." Chapter 2 ends by insisting that "faith apart from works is dead" (James 2:26). Legitimate faith leads to good works in keeping with that faith (John 14:15).

The command to "dwell in the land" echoes the New Testament's call to "abide" in Christ (John 15). The meaning is something more than merely existing or surviving (Galatians 5:16). The following verses speak about delight and commitment. To "dwell" in the land, or to "abide" in one's faith, requires wholehearted engagement (Deuteronomy 6:5; Luke 10:27).

Another way to see this statement is in contrast to an English expression, "the grass is always greener on the other side of the fence." The cliché describes how people often think different will be better, instead of recognizing the good we already have. That might apply to our church, our family, or other aspects of our lives (1 Timothy 6:6). Israel's real-world experience with the Promised Land typifies God's will for His people (Hebrews 3:15–19). When we refuse to enter it, we're choosing our own fears or preferences over the will of God (Hebrews 3:12–13).

Psalm 37:1–11 encourages David's audience to maintain a proper relationship with God by refusing to wallow in anxiety over their circumstances. Instead, they ought to trust in the Lord, find their joy in the Lord, and commit their future to the Lord. The tone of this passage resembles Proverbs chapter two, which explains the benefits of following godly wisdom. Matthew 5:5 holds a promise that parallels verses 9 and 11 of this psalm.

In this psalm, David contrasts the way God protects and saves His people, contrasted with the ruin which awaits the wicked. Much of this seems to be based on David's own experiences (Psalm 37:25, 35). As with many other passages in Psalms and Proverbs, this passage encourages godly wisdom. Those who reject God and His ways can expect uncertainty on earth and disaster in eternity.

Psalm 37 lies in the first division of Psalms and addresses mankind. Its tone resembles that of the book of Proverbs. The psalm dispenses wisdom about the security of the righteous man and the insecurity and fate of the wicked man. Psalms 36 and 39 also describe the insecurity and fate of the wicked. The covenant God made with Israel in Leviticus 26 and Deuteronomy 27—30 is the basis for David's assurance that the righteous are secure. The issue of the prosperity of the wicked is also featured in Psalms 49 and 73. David most likely wrote Psalm 37 in his old age.

The book of Psalms is composed of individual songs, hymns, or poems, each of which is a ''Psalm'' in and of itself. These works contain a wide variety of themes. Some Psalms focus on praising and worshipping God. Others cry out in anguish over the pain of life. Still other Psalms look forward to the coming of the Messiah. While some Psalms are related, each has its own historical and biblical context.