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RETURN TO SYLLABUS
PSALM 37
LESSON #29
GODS PILLBOX OF TRANQUILIZERS
MEMORY VERSE: PSALMS 37:18
PSALM 37 IS A UNIQUE PSALM IN MANY WAYS. FIRST, IT IS AN ACROSTIC PSALM. WE HAVE SEENACROSTIC PSALMS BEFORE IN OUR STUDY. REMEMBER THAT AN ACROSTIC PSALM BEGINS EVERY VERSEWITH A SUBSEQUENT LETTER OF THE HEBREW ALPHABET. PSALM 37 USES EACH LETTER OF THE HEBREWALPHABET TWICE. ANOTHER WAY IN WHICH THIS PSALM IS UNIQUE IS THAT IT CONTAINS A LOT OFCOMMANDS.
WHEN THERE ARE COMMANDS IN THE BIBLE, IT IS GOD TELLING US TO DO SOMETHING. WE MUST PAYATTENTION TO THE COMMANDS IF WE WANT TO FOLLOW GOD.
PRIMARY INTERPRETATION AND PERSONAL APPLICATION:
READ PSA 37:1-8 GODS PILLBOX OF TRANQUILIZERS
WHEN YOU GO TO THE DOCTOR, HE GIVES YOU SOME MEDICINE TO TAKE. HE TELLS YOU TO BE SURE TOTAKE IT 3 TIMES A DAY, EVERY DAY. THIS PSALM IS LIKE THAT. IT IS GOD GIVING US SOMEMEDICINE. HE COMMANDS US TO TAKE IT. THERE ARE 7 PILLS IN THIS MEDICINE BOX. IN OTHERWORDS THERE ARE 7 COMMANDS:
1. FRET NOT (1) (7) (8).
THE HEBREW WORD, “FRET” MEANS = TO GET WARM OR BURN. IT IS THE SAME WORD FORCHARCOAL. IT IS THE BEGINNING OF BURNING ANGER OR WRATH.
“FRET NOT” IS REPEATED 3 TIMES BECAUSE IT IS HARD FOR US TO TAKE THIS PILL. ITSPECIFICALLY RELATES TO DIFFERENT AREAS OF OUR LIVES:
A. DONT BE OVERLY CONCERNED ABOUT ALL THE NEGATIVE THINGS YOU HEAR ABOUT IN THENEWS. (1)
B. DONT BE CONCERNED OVER THE ECONOMY AND WHEN EVIL PEOPLE SEEM TO BE SUCCESSFUL.(7)
C. DONT BE ENTICED BY ALL THE IMMORALITY IN THE WORLD . (8)
2. TRUST IN THE LORD (3)
THIS LITTLE WORD “TRUST” MEANS = TO HIDE SECURELY FOR REFUGE; TO GLUE. WE MUSTGLUE OURSELVES TO GOD.
3. DO GOOD (3)
THIS IS FAITH IN ACTION. WE MUST MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN THIS EVIL WORLD.
4. DELIGHT THYSELF IN THE LORD (4)
THIS GIVES US POSITIVE ENCOURAGEMENT IN AN EVIL WORLD.
“DELIGHT” MEANS = TO BE SOFT, PLIABLE, LUXURIOUS. THIS ATTITUDE BEGINS WITHPRAISING GOD EVEN WHEN WE DO NOT FEEL LIKE IT. THIS ACTIVITY OCCURS IN YOURPRIVATE DEVOTIONS, AND IN THE FELLOWSHIP OF OTHER CHRISTIANS (IN CHURCH).
5. COMMIT THY WAY TO THE LORD (5)
THE WORD “COMMIT” MEANS = TO ROLL OR TO THROW ON, TO LAY SOMETHING DOWN, OR TORUN AFTER. THE IDEA IS TO KEEP ROLLING YOUR PROBLEMS IN A BALL, RUNNING AFTER JESUS, ANDTHROWING ON HIM THE DIFFERENT AREAS OF YOUR LIFE.
WE ARE TO THROW OUR WILL, OUR PROBLEMS, OUR WHOLE LIFE ON JESUS CHRIST.
6. REST IN THE LORD AND WAIT PATIENTLY (7)
THE WORD “REST” MEANS = TO BE SILENT, TO HOLD PEACE, TO STAND STILL, TO WAIT.
WE MUST WAIT FOR GODS PERFECT TIMING. THIS MEANS WE ARE LISTENING TO HIS GUIDANCE SOWE WILL KNOW WHEN IS THAT PERFECT TIMING. THERE IS A TIME TO BE SILENT IN PRAYER AND LETGOD TALK TO US.
7. CEASE FROM ANGER FORSAKING WRATH (8)
EVEN THOUGH THERE IS A LOT OF EVIL AND INJUSTICE IN THE WORLD, WE MUST NOT BECOME ANGRYAND VINDICTIVE.
THE WORD “CEASE” MEANS = TO FORSAKE, OR TO LEAVE IT ALONE
GODS PILLBOX OF TRANQUILIZERS TAKES THE FRUSTRATION, THE WORRY, AND THE FEAR OUT OFLIFE. WE ALL NEED TO TAKE THIS MEDICINE!
READ PSA 37:9-22 THE WICKED WILL BE PUNISHED
DAVIDS CONCERN ABOUT THE PROSPERITY OF EVIL PEOPLE
THERE ARE MANY TIMES WHEN IT IS TEMPTING TO CONTEMPLATE THE PROSPERITY OF EVIL PEOPLE. ITIS DIFFICULT TO UNDERSTAND WHY GOD WOULD ALLOW SO MUCH PROSPERITY AMONG EVIL PEOPLE WHENMANY OF GODS PEOPLE ARE SUFFERING. TO THE NATURAL HUMAN MIND, THAT SEEMS UNFAIR.THIS WAS DAVIDS CONCERN IN THIS PSALM. WHY DO CHRISTIANS SEEM TO SUFFER SO MUCH WHENEVIL PEOPLE SEEM TO PROSPER?
THIS SAME PROBLEM IS THE CONCERN IN THE BOOK OF JOB, AS WELL AS IN OTHER PSALMS. (49, 73)
DAVID HELPS US TO SEE THE ETERNAL PERSPECTIVE OF THIS PROBLEM. HE POINTS OUT 2 OF OURWRONG ATTITUDES.
1. USUALLY WE ARE LOOKING AT A SHORT SPAN OF TIME IN A PERSONS LIFE. WE NEED TO LOOKAT LIFE FROM GODS PERSPECTIVE. EVENTUALLY GOD WILL MAKE EVERYTHING RIGHT. GOD WILLTAKE ALL ETERNITY TO EXECUTE PERFECT JUSTICE.
SEVEN VERSES (2, 9, 20, 22, 28, 34, 38) TELL US THAT THE WICKED SHALL BE “CUTDOWN”, “CUT OFF”, AND “CONSUMED” IN THE END.
2. USUALLY WE THINK THAT PROSPERITY IS THE MOST IMPORTANT THING IN LIFE. THIS IS WHAT THEWORLDS VALUE SYSTEM SAYS. “HE WHO HAS THE MOST TOYS AT THE END OF LIFE,WINS!”
VERSE 16 TELLS US THAT THE LITTLE THAT A RIGHTEOUS MAN HAS IS WORTH MORE THAN THE GREATRICHES OF A WICKED PERSON.
READ PSA 37:23-31 GODS LOVE AND BLESSING
IN CONTRAST TO THE REWARD OF THE EVIL PERSON, IS THE REWARD OF THE RIGHTEOUS PERSON:
1. PROTECTION (23-24)
2. PROVISION IN HARD TIMES (25,26)
BY THE WAY, FAMINE IS MENTIONED IN VERSE 19. FAMINE IN THE BIBLE IS A CURSE ON THE LANDSENT BY GOD BECAUSE OF DISOBEDIENCE.
3. LOVE AND ETERNAL SECURITY (27)
4. GODS WISDOM (30-31)
READ PSA 37:32-40 THE CONFLICT BETWEEN GOOD AND EVIL
THIS CONFLICT BETWEEN GOOD AND EVIL IS A PART OF THE WORLD IN WHICH WE LIVE. IT PERVADESTHE SPIRITUAL REALM AND THE PHYSICAL REALM. IN OTHER WORDS, THE BATTLE IS LARGER THAN WECAN SEE OR IMAGINE. WE PERSONALLY SEE ONLY A SMALL CORNER OF THE CONFLICT AND TEND TOJUDGE FROM WHAT WE SEE.
DAVID TELLS US THAT JUSTICE WILL REIGN SUPREME IN THE END.
1. THE WICKED WILL REAP WHAT THEY SOW (14-15)
2. THE RIGHTEOUS WILL “INHERIT THE LAND”
THIS PHRASE, “INHERIT THE EARTH OR THE LAND” IS MENTIONED 5 TIMES IN THIS PSALM(9,11, 22, 29, 34)
THIS PSALM ENDS WITH AN ETERNAL VALUE TO REMEMBER (39-40)
IT IS GOD WHO SAVES US AND IS OUR STRENGTH. WE ONLY NEED TO “TRUST” (HAVE FAITHIN) GOD. HE PUTS A MARK ON THOSE WHO TRUST IN HIM. READ 2 TIM 2:19
PROPHETIC INTERPRETATION
THE PROPHETIC TIME PERIOD IN VIEW IN THIS PSALM IS THE MILLENNIAL KINGDOM OF CHRIST.THIS IS WHEN JESUS CHRIST WILL REIGN ON THIS EARTH FOR 1,000 YEARS. IT IS DURING THAT1,000 YEARS THAT GOD WILL FULFILL THIS PROMISE THAT THE MEEK OR THE RIGHTEOUS WILL INHERITTHE EARTH (MAT 5:5). NO NON-BELIEVER WILL INITIALLY ENTER THE MILLENNIAL KINGDOM. THEYWILL ALL BE CUT OFF WITH THE ANTI-CHRIST AND THE FALSE PROPHET AT THE END OF THETRIBULATION PERIOD.
APPLICATION:
HERE IS A CHRISTIAN ACROSTIC THAT INSTRUCTS US IN SOME OF THE THINGS WE HAVE LEARNEDTHROUGH OUR STUDY OF THE PSALMS.
A
-LTHOUGH THINGS ARE NOT PERFECT
B-ECAUSE OF TRIAL OR PAIN
C-ONTINUE IN THANKSGIVING
D-O NOT BEGIN TO BLAME
E-VEN WHEN THE TIMES ARE HARD
F-IERCE WINDS ARE BOUND TO BLOW
G-OD IS FOREVER ABLE
H-OLD ON TO WHAT YOU KNOW
I-MAGINE LIFE WITHOUT HIS LOVE
J-OY WOULD CEASE TO BE
K-EEP THANKING HIM FOR ALL THE THINGS
L-OVE IMPARTS TO THEE
M-OVE OUT OF “CAMPCOMPLAINING”
N-O WEAPON THAT IS KNOWN
O-N EARTH CAN YIELD THE POWER
P-RAISE CAN DO ALONE
Q-UIT LOOKING AT THE FUTURE
R-EDEEM THE TIME AT HAND
S-TART EVERY DAY WITH WORSHIP
T-O “THANK” IS A COMMAND
U-NTIL WE SEE HIM COMING
V-ICTORIOUS IN THE SKY
W-ELL RUN THE RACE WITH GRATITUDE
E- X-ALTING GOD MOST HIGH!
Y-ES, THERELL BE GOOD TIMES ANDYES, SOME WILL BE BAD, BUT,
Z-ION WAITS IN GLORY…WHERE NONE AREEVER SAD!
HOMEWORK
PSALMS 38 AND 39
THIS IS A SELF-STUDY. PLEASE DO NOT SEND HOMEWORK ANSWERS TO THE TEACHER FORCORRECTION.
APPLICATION OF PSA 37
HAS THE PROSPERITY OF THE WICKED BEEN A STUMBLING BLOCK IN YOUR LIFE? (FOR MANY YOUNGPEOPLE, IT IS)
WHAT HAVE YOU LEARNED IN THIS PSALM THAT IS GOING TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN THE CHOICES YOUMAKE FOR YOUR LIFE?
PREPARATION FOR PSA 38 AND 39
READ PSA 38:1-22
FOR BACKGROUND READ:
2 CHRONICLES 26
LEV 13
OF WHAT DO YOU THINK LEPROSY IS A SYMBOL IN THE BIBLE?
READ PSA 39:1-13
WHAT DOES DAVID SAY IS THE PURPOSE FOR LIFE?
MEMORY VERSE: 1PETER 2:24
