Psalms 37: Doing Good or Doing Evil

Psalms 37 seems to be prophetic. Basically, David is contrasting the destinies of those who are we wicked and those who are following God. I would have to say that based on this chapter and pretty much the entire rest of the Bible, it is a lot better to be on God’s side.

Psa 37:9  For evildoers shall be cut off: but those that wait upon the LORD, they shall inherit the earth.

Psa 37:10  For yet a little while, and the wicked shall not be: yea, thou shalt diligently consider his place, and it shall not be.

Psa 37:11  But the meek shall inherit the earth; and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace.

Psa 37:12  The wicked plotteth against the just, and gnasheth upon him with his teeth.

Psa 37:13  The Lord shall laugh at him: for he seeth that his day is coming.

I think that there are two levels of meaning here. First, I do think that there is a sense of end times prophecy. We do know eventually that God will rule over everything, and evil will be no more. I definitely see that kind of implication in this passage. For example, verse 10 tells us that the time for evil is limited. It will end.

However, I think there is also an immediate and practical consequence as well. When people do evil, it tends to catch up to them eventually. I know that as Christians we don’t adhere to the concept of Karma because of all of the Eastern religious connotations that come along with it, but I also would say that there is definitely a tendency for people who do bad things to get caught and have bad things come to them.

Gal 6:7  Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.

Gal 6:8  For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.

I think that is a call to action for us today. Obviously, the prophetic part is important too, and it should demonstrate the importance of having a relationship with Jesus Christ. However, for today, I think it is important for us to remember that our actions do make a difference. We can do good, or we can do bad. Both of them have their consequences.