For many of us, when we think Psalm 37, we think five wonderful commands to obey. Somewhere along the way, someone has either pointed out to us, or we’ve discovered ourselves, that Psalm 37 contains five encouraging exhortations as it pertains to pursuing the Lord. “Trust in the LORD” (v.3) . . . “Delight yourself in the LORD” (v.4) . . . “Commit your way to the LORD” (v.5) . . . “Be still before the LORD” (v.7) . . . “Wait for the LORD” (v.34). Amen and Amen! But this morning it was a different command within this Psalm that caught my attention . . . a warning repeated three times . . .

Fret not yourself because of evildoers; be not envious of wrongdoers! . . . fret not yourself over the one who prospers in his way, over the man who carries out evil devices! . . . Refrain from anger, and forsake wrath! Fret not yourself; it tends only to evil. (Psalm 37:1, 7b, 8 ESV)

Fret not yourself . . . avoid getting choked . . . don’t blow a gasket . . . literally, do not “heat up with vexation.” The object that can fuel such flames of indignation? . . . evildoers who prosper in their ways. David, who found himself in his fair share of unjust situations, pens some sage wisdom when it comes to getting fixated on those who do the wrong stuff in the wrong way for the wrong reasons and yet, seem to reap the right results. Here David is trying to do the Lord’s will in the Lord’s way and things just aren’t going according to plan . . . yet he looks over the fence at the yard of the wicked and there sits the RV and the boat and that dude is sipping his lemonade by the pool and doesn’t seem to have a care in the world. It’s enough to set a slow boil a going . . . a “righteous wrath” to start brewing . . . you see red . . . and eventually, you’re fixated on the ways of darkness rather than pursuing the paths of light.

It’s in this context, that David encourages the weary pilgrim, who’s been struggling to remain faithful to the Narrow Way, to avert his eyes from those who appear to be on Easy Street, and instead focus on the One who has called them to the journey. It’s in this contradiction of sin apparently paying off better than righteousness, that the Psalmist reminds those with ears to hear that “in just a little while, the wicked will be no more . . . but the meek shall inherit the land and delight themselves in abundant peace” (37:11). For those who maintain a cool head, those who avoiding being consumed with a rage which can only lead itself to evil, there is the reminder that “the steps of a man are established by the LORD” and “He will not forsake His saints” (37:23, 28).

So easy to get myself tied up in knots with what’s happening around me. So easy to be distracted. So easy to waste resources on focusing on that which bears no fruit. Instead, avoiding heated vexation, there is capacity to look up rather than look around . . . to meditate on the promise rather than be manic about the paradox . . . to remember the LORD’s thoughts to me rather than fixate on the wicked’s thoughts of himself . . . to know afresh, and believe anew, that “better is the little that the righteous has than the abundance of many wicked” (37:16).

And when I obey this command . . . to fret not . . . then I can focus on the others. To trust in the Lord . . . for He is faithful and His promises are sure. To delight myself in the Lord . . . knowing that as a father loves to give his children, so too, my Heavenly Father will, in His time and for His purposes, give me the desires of my heart. To commit my way to the Lord . . . resting in that He has established my steps and know the plans He has for me. To be still before the Lord . . . to wait patiently . . . to know, in the quietness, that He is God . . . and He is good. And finally, to wait for the Lord . . . knowing that in Him, all His promises are yes . . . and that the day will come when “he will exalt you to inherit the land” (37:34b).

Fret not, weary pilgrim. But focus . . . focus on the LORD . . . for “the salvation of the righteous is from the LORD; He is their stronghold in the time of trouble” (37:39).