Psalm 37:2 - Printer Friendly

ESV: For they will soon fade like the grass and wither like the green herb.

NIV: for like the grass they will soon wither, like green plants they will soon die away.

NASB: For they will wither quickly like the grass, And decay like the green plants.

CSB: For they wither quickly like grass and wilt like tender green plants.

NLT: For like grass, they soon fade away. Like spring flowers, they soon wither.

KJV: For they shall soon be cut down like the grass, and wither as the green herb.

NKJV: For they shall soon be cut down like the grass, And wither as the green herb.

The prior verse instructed Christians not to be anxious—literally "heated up"—by the actions of evildoers. Their actions will eventually lead to disaster (Mark 8:36). In that sense, the wicked will not always be around. Soon they will fade away like the grass and wither like vegetation.

In the Middle East, where David lived, grass and vegetation thrives in the rainy season, but it disappears when rain no longer falls, and a hot sun scorches the earth. Isaiah 40:6–7 reminds us, "All flesh is grass, and all its beauty is like the flower of the field. The grass withers, the flower fades." The apostle James points out in James 4:14 that all life is temporal. He compares it to "a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes." When the Israelites journeyed through the wilderness, they learned how brief life is. They saw a whole generation die there because they refused to believe God who commanded them to enter the Promised Land. Life is too brief to waste time being anxious over evildoers (Matthew 6:25–34).

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.

Accessed 5/3/2024 8:21:29 AM