Psalms 37:35

_I HAVE SEEN THE WICKED IN GREAT POWER, AND SPREADING HIMSELF LIKE A GREEN BAY TREE._ I have ... great power - `in formidable power' х_ `AARIYTS_ (H6184)] (cf. Job 5:3). SPREADING ... GREEN BAY TREE - rather, 'as a green (tree) that groweth in his own soil;' indigenous; one not yet transplated, and therefore flourishing with the vigour of its native soil х_ 'EZRAACH_ (H249)]. A native Israelite, with all the privileges, temporal and spiritual, of such; not a foreigner; yet all the while a wicked man. The possessions of an indigenous Israelite could not be alienated: he was free from oppression by usury; his children could not want, since the nearest relative was always bound to help them. Such a one seemed the farthest removed from ruin, guarded as he was with privileges....

35.and36_I have seen the wicked terrible, etc. _David here confirms from his own experience what I have just said, namely, that although the wicked are intoxicated with their prosperity, and held in admiration by all on account of it, yet their happiness is transitory and evanescent, and, therefore, nothing else than a mere illusion. In the 35th verse he tells us, that it is no strange or unwonted thing for the ungodly, puffed up with their prosperity, to spread themselves far and wide, and to give occasion of terror to the innocent. Then he adds, that their greatness, which had been regarded with so much wonder, disappears in a moment. As to the meaning of the words, עריף, _arits, _which we have rendered _terrible, _might also be translated _strong, _because the word from which it is derived signifies sometimes _to terrify, _and sometimes to strengthe

34-40 Duty is ours, and we must mind it; but events are God's, we must refer the disposal of them to him. What a striking picture is in ver. Psalms 37:35; Psalms 37:36, of many a prosperous enemy of God! But God remarkably blights the projects of the prosperous wicked, especially persecutors. None are perfect in themselves, but believers are so in Christ Jesus. If all the saint's days continue dark and cloudy, his dying day may prove comfortable, and his sun set bright; or, if it should set under a cloud, yet his future state will be everlasting peace. The salvation of the righteous will be the Lord's doing. He will help them to do their duties, to bear their burdens; help them to bear their troubles well, and get good by them, and, in due time, will deliver them out of their troubles. Let sinners then depart fro...

Verse Psalms 37:35. _I HAVE SEEN THE WICKED IN GREAT POWER, AND SPREADING_ _HIMSELF LIKE A GREEN BAY-TREE._] Does not this refer to Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, and to the _vision_ he had of the _great tree which was in the midst of the earth, the head of_ _which reached up to heaven_? See Daniel 4:10, c....

I HAVE SEEN - I have had an opportunity, in my long life Psalms 37:25, of witnessing the accuracy of the statement just made, that a righteous man may live to see a confirmation of the truth that wickedness, however prosperous the wicked man may be, will lead to ultimate ruin - as I have had an opportunity of seeing Psalms 37:25 the effect of a course of righteousness on the ultimate prosperity and happiness of its possessor. The same experience, with the same result, is referred to in Job 5:3. IN GREAT POWER - The word used here - עריץ _‛__ârı̂yts_ - means properly “terrible; inspiring terror.” It is applied to God in

EXPOSITION THIS is another of the alphabetical psalms (see above, Psalms 9:1; Psalms 25:1; and 34.), and, though more free from irregularities than the previous ones, is not altogether without them. While, generally, each letter heads a stanza consisting of two verses, there are three occasions on which the stanza assigned to a letter is formed of only one verse (see Psalms 37:7, Psalms 37:20, and Psalms 37:34). Further, there are two occasions when the stanza begins with a wrong letter, לtaking the place of ,ע and וof .ת The

I HAVE SEEN THE WICKED IN GREAT POWER,.... Meaning some particular person invested with great power, in great authority among men, one of the spiritual wickednesses in high places; such a man as Haman in Ahasuerus's court; and though the psalmist does not choose to mention his name, he doubtless had him in his mind; as either Saul, or Doeg the Edomite, or Ahithophel, or some such man, who was in an exalted station of life; and it may be when he himself was in low and distressed circumstances: the word used c signifies one formidable and terrible, striking terror to all around; of whom others are afraid, as Aben Ezra interprets it, Isaiah 29:20; AND SPREADING HIMSELF LIKE A GREEN BAY TREE: or like one that grows up out of the earth of itself, and is in its native soil, and very flourishing: and the metaphor denotes an increase of riches and honour, and a seemingly settled

It may be, beloved friends, that there is a word of comfort for some of you in this «Psalm of David.» If any of you have been perplexed and worried, and there has been a stern conflict within your spirit, here are some cheering words which will bring a message from God to you.It may be worth your while to remember that the 37 th Psalm and the 73 rd are upon the same subject. They are the same figures reversed, but they both deal with the great mystery which has vexed the hearts of godly men in all generations. Psalms 37:1. _Fret not thyself because of evildoers, neither be thou envious against the workers of iniquity. For they shall soon be cut down like the grass, and wither as the green herb._ What a contrast there is between the grass before the mower comes with his scythe, and that same grass when it is cut down; and there is the same kind of difference between the

Psalms 37 The Blessed Lot of the Righteous Contrasted with the Wicked _ 1. Waiting for Jehovah and His promise (Psalms 37:1)_ 2. The doom of the wicked and the portion of the righteous (Psalms 37:12) 3. The ways of the righteous and the wicked (Psalms 37:21) 4. God's gracious ways with the righteous (Psalms 37:30) This Psalm is also alphabetical in structure and somewhat proverbial in character. It is full of sweet comfort and encouragement to faith. All the saints of God have fed on its beautiful statements,

XXXVII. An acrostic poem. Its object is to teach patience and hope. The pious Jews, the Hasidim of Psalms 4:3 * who observe the Law strictly, are at present poor and oppressed. They are to wait for the end, when God will separate the good from the bad and will recompense men according to their deserts. PSALMS 37:1 agrees almost verbally with Proverbs 29:14. For the envy intended, see Psalms 73:3. Psalms 37:4_ a_. Render as _mg._ Godly men find their delight in Yahweh because they do His will, and He in return answers their praye