Psalm 37:5 - Printer Friendly

ESV: Commit your way to the LORD; trust in him, and he will act.

NIV: Commit your way to the LORD; trust in him and he will do this:

NASB: Commit your way to the Lord, Trust also in Him, and He will do it.

CSB: Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him, and he will act,

NLT: Commit everything you do to the Lord. Trust him, and he will help you.

KJV: Commit thy way unto the LORD; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass.

NKJV: Commit your way to the Lord, Trust also in Him, And He shall bring it to pass.

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.

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.