Psalm 37, written by David, has a similar theme to Psalm 73. However, the tone of this psalm is more consistently confident than the language in Psalm 73. The psalm begins, "Do not fret because of the wicked; do not be envious of wrongdoers, for they will soon fade like the grass, and wither like the green herb."
The psalmist knows the time of the wicked is limited, and their prosperity is fleeting. The use of parallelism gives a sense of reinforcement to these claims. The similes "fade like the grass" and "wither like the green herb" create a vivid image of what shall eventually happen to evildoers.
Everyone has seen green grass that turns brown and dry after a few sunny days. Besides the grass giving us a mental image, the psalmist further implies that the wicked aren't worth worrying about; nothing is as benign and forgettable as grass. "The green herb" gives a similar impression.
Besides being Satanic sellouts, what do the following individuals have in common?
That's right; they're all mortal, and they're all old. Sooner or later they're going to prove the point of Psalm 37. Though wicked people often seem to have long lifespans, their existence is still a vapor of smoke in the grand scheme of eternity.
That's why unlike Asaph, David seems unfazed by the apparent success evil people enjoy. His advice is, "Be still before the LORD, and wait patiently for Him; do not fret over those who prosper in their way, over those who carry out evil devices....For the wicked shall be cut off, but those who wait for the LORD shall inherit the land."
In these lines, David expresses great trust in God and His justice. The words "cut off" in regard to the wicked expand upon the simile of comparing evildoers to grass, which is easily cut and discarded. The advice to be still before the Lord is what Asaph describes in Psalm 73, which quieted his anger and led to peace.
No comments:
Post a Comment