An Old Man's Advice for Troubled Times
Bob Yandian
By the title, you probably think I will be using my own insight from my own life and ministry. Although, I am older and have had many experiences in my years as a Bible school instructor and pastor, I will be quoting the 37th Psalm of David as he reflected and taught from an overview of his own life. Knowledge from an older minister carries more weight than a younger one.
The encouragement that comes from older believers, and especially older ministers, is not a review of God’s promises, but instead is an abundance of testimonies and personal stories. When I was young and trusted God’s word for healing or overcoming life’s circumstances, I quoted the promises many times to encourage myself and build myself up in faith. Although, this is still true and still important, it has been replaced with a quiet rest that the God Who has never failed me in the past will not fail me today. I rest on the past experiences of God’s faithfulness to me. Many times, God came through quickly. But just as many times, He seemed to come through at the last minute. Nevertheless, He always came through and I always won. I am assured He will not fail me today.
The Psalm in a Nutshell
“I have been young, and now am old; yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his descendants begging bread.” Psalms 37:25
In this key, pivotal verse of the Psalm we are all familiar with, David lets us know He is presently an old man. The word I want to lift out is seen. David does not teach a sermon, or give a great number of scriptures. Instead, he gives an oversight of his life to this point, “I have never seen the righteous forsaken or his children begging bread.” David uses his eyes instead of his faith. His senses have even been exercised enough to use as a testimony (Hebrews 5:14). David’s word to the young believer and minister then and now is, “chill, it will be alright.” Not only will the believer be alright, David adds, “or his offspring begging bread.” You do not need to be concerned about your children. Despite the economy, government, liberal world control or Satan himself, your children will be protected and provided for by the same God who will not forsake you. The entire Psalm is advice and encouragement to young believers by an old man’s reflection on God’s grace and care.
Don’t Fret
Three times, in this psalm (verses 1, 7, 8), David tells us not to fret. And, although evil doers will increase and grow worse and worse before Jesus comes back (2 Timothy 3:13), we are commanded not to fret.
“Do not fret because of evildoers, neither be envious against the workers of iniquity.” Psalm 37:1
Evildoers are the evil unbelievers in our world. They not only are committing sins, but they are out to overthrow God’s order in this world. They are committed to assisting Satan in overtaking the world and establishing his kingdom to replace God’s. These are the seeming “doers of good” who want to assist all mankind by evenly spreading the wealth to all, have government watch over our lives and health, and even assist the earth to maintain its proper balance. What would nature do without these good people? What would mankind do without them also? Their facade and veneer of good only cover the anger and evil they have toward God and God’s people, Israel and the Church of Jesus Christ. We call them liberals, radicals and left wingers. What is worse, they seem to be increasing in power and wealth every day. Often, it is easy to become angry at them and begin to worry over their agenda. At times, as Christians, we feel powerless as they continue to amass the world’s wealth and ruling power.
It is fine to become involved in prayer, political action and voting to help put good people in office. It is fine to react to the evil in our world with Christian action. But we are never to fret.
What Does It Mean To Fret?
The word Jesus used for fretting was “take no thought” or “don’t worry” concerning the necessities of life (Matthew 6:25).
The Hebrew word for fret means “to kindle” or “wax hot.” Both David and Jesus were telling us, “don’t be burned up” in your anger toward the world. Proper anger toward the world and Satan’s devices is acceptable. We can be angry and not sin (Ephesians 4:26, 27). But, when you begin to fret, to worry, you assume Satan and the world are winning and we have little or no hope. We do not need to fret because we know what will become of evil doers and all unbelievers. We know the end of the game. Anyone who DVR’s a football game to show his friends does not fret during the replay of it when it looks like his team is losing. If he already knows his home team wins the game, he can grin when his friends are groaning in fear because it looks like they are losing. This confidence in the end of the Bible is our assurance each day. We may become concerned at the present, temporary successes of the world and become involved in any way we can, but we refuse to become worried and fret as if we could lose the war. We need to keep our eyes on Jesus and His word knowing our Redeemer is coming soon.
David says it is easy for young people to fret over the world’s condition. They have little past record of God’s faithfulness to meet needs, supply wants or heal their body. That record is growing each day. They also have little knowledge of the biblical plans of God found in His Word. That knowledge is also growing each day. But, by David’s age and his faithfulness to stay with God’s plan for his life, He has an abundance of testimonies to God’s faithfulness and plenty of God’s promises to guarantee him a successful future in heaven and God’s kingdom. No wonder David’s first bit of advice to the young was to “chill”, “don’t fret.”
David’s Advice to Help Us Not to Fret
Our future is secure in the Lord Jesus. We know that we are saved each day, no matter what we face or how powerful the world seems to become. Our future home is in heaven and until that time, we have a Savior and personal companion, the Holy Spirit, who will never leave us or forsake us. But listen to all the points David gives in Psalms 37 about the future of evildoers, those who reject Jesus and His salvation and are out to overthrow God’s kingdom. Be prepared, this list is long.
David said, “They shall soon be cut down” (vs. 2). “They shall soon be cut off” (vs. 9). “They soon shall be no more (vs. 10). “His day is coming” (vs. 13). “Their sword shall enter their own heart. Their bows shall be broken” (vs. 15). “Their arms shall be broken” (vs. 17). “They shall perish, shall be burned as the fat of lambs into smoke” (vs. 20). “They shall be cut off” (vs. 22). “They shall pass away and be no more and not found” (vs. 36). “They shall be destroyed all together” (vs. 38).
They don’t have much of a future, do they? Why should you worry because they, for the moment, seem to be prospering quicker than you? In other passages of scripture, we are told they will lose their riches. You may prosper slower trusting in God’s plan, but your riches are durable (cannot be destroyed) and will continue past your life into the lives of your children and children’s children.
Trust in the Lord
David’s advice for the young person is to place their trust in God’s plan and not their own. Four other synonyms are used for trust in this psalm. We are told to “lean on Him” (vs. 3), “delight yourself in the Lord” (vs. 4), “commit your ways unto the Lord” (vs. 5), and “rest, wait patiently” (vs. 7).
Isaiah gives us a great result of trusting in the Lord.
“You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on you because he trusts in you.” Isaiah 26:3
Trust is one of our commands of living in this world each day. And, along with Isaiah, David also gives us a tremendous result of trusting in God and the impact of that trust on our lives. We will dwell in safety in the land and eat the best, the good of it (vs. 3). I ask you again, why should you fret? So simply do what David asks us to do in the midst of life’s storms, then “wait patiently on the Lord.”
